Start With One Question: When Is It Wet?
Stop watering for a couple of days, as long as no rain is on the way. Then see what the spot does.
| What you see | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Stays wet with the system off and no rain | Underground leak, or a valve that will not close | Repair |
| Wet around the lowest head after a zone shuts off | Water draining out of the line | A check valve |
| Wet on watering days, then dries out | Zone runs too long, or a tilted head | A schedule change or head adjustment |
| Wet only after rain | Slow soil, low ground or downspouts | Drainage work |
If It Stays Wet With the System Off
This is the one not to wait on. The EPA says water pooling between cycles could be a sign of an underground leak. It also warns that a valve that cannot close completely lets your system seep water even when it is off.
A quick check helps. Make sure nothing in the house is using water, then look at your water meter. If it is still moving, you have a leak somewhere, and it may not be in the yard.
and $280 can be lost over a six-month irrigation season to cracked pipes and broken heads, according to the EPA.
Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense
If It Is Wet Around the Lowest Head
When a zone shuts off, the water left in the pipe can run downhill and leak out of the lowest head. It is most common on slopes. Utah State University Extension recommends checking the lowest head in each zone and installing check valves, or heads with them built in. A valve that does not seal can look the same, so it is worth ruling that out first.
If It Is Wet on Watering Days
Look at your schedule and your heads. Tilted heads can cause ponding and uneven coverage, and straightening one is often a small job.
Then look at run time. The EPA says water can easily pool on clay-rich soils or slopes if it goes on too quickly. Splitting a zone into shorter cycles with breaks gives it time to soak in. Our guide on how long to run your sprinklers shows you how to set that up.
If It Is Wet Only After Rain
Now you are looking at a drainage problem, and clay is a common reason. Alabama Extension reports that clay loam may take in only 0.1 to 0.5 inch of water an hour. A heavy storm can drop far more than that.
- Compacted soil: UGA notes that compaction is a problem in Georgia's clay soils. Aerating can help if the spot gets heavy foot or vehicle traffic.
- Downspouts: See where they empty. A buried line can carry that water away from the wet area.
- Low ground: If water has nowhere to go, it needs a path out. That usually means a French drain or catch basin.
On the coast, sand drains fast, but heavy rain on a flat lot can still leave water with nowhere to go.
When to Call
Call us if the spot stays wet with the system off, if a zone will not shut off, or if water is collecting near your home. Before digging anywhere in your yard, call 811 to have underground utilities marked.
We can look at both sides of the problem: sprinkler repair and yard drainage.