Your irrigation system runs quietly in the background — until it doesn’t. By the time most Wichita homeowners notice a problem, the damage is already done: brown patches, flooded beds, or sky-high water bills.
1. Uneven Watering and Dry Spots
Walk your lawn after sprinklers run. If sections are soaked while others stay dry, you have a coverage problem. Common causes include misaligned or sunken heads, clogged nozzles, low water pressure from leaks, and head spacing issues from landscape changes.
2. Unusually High Water Bills
A spike without schedule changes likely means a leak. Underground leaks are common in older Wichita homes with 15–20 year old PVC lines. Signs include soggy areas that never dry, sinkholes along irrigation paths, or green streaks in otherwise stressed turf.
3. Sputtering or Leaking Sprinkler Heads
Cracked heads from mower damage or freeze-thaw cycles, worn seals, debris in lines, or broken risers all cause sputtering. Replacing a single head is quick — ignoring it leads to bigger problems.
4. Zones That Won’t Turn On (or Won’t Turn Off)
Won’t turn on: Faulty solenoid, broken wiring, or stuck valve diaphragm.
Won’t shut off: Debris in the valve, torn diaphragm, or controller malfunction.
Either situation needs professional diagnosis to prevent flooding or drought in specific zones.
5. No Proper Spring Start-Up
After winterization, your system needs a professional spring start-up — not just flipping the water back on. This includes slowly re-pressurizing, inspecting every zone, checking head alignment, testing the controller, and identifying freeze damage.
Why Wichita Lawns Need Reliable Irrigation
Wichita averages over 30 days above 90°F each summer. A malfunctioning sprinkler system during a heat wave can undo an entire season’s worth of lawn care in days. Fertilization, weed control, aeration — none of it matters if the lawn can’t get water when it needs it.
When to Call a Professional
Most irrigation issues involve buried lines, electrical components, and water pressure diagnostics that require experience. At The Greener Side, we handle sprinkler service and repair as part of our full lawn care program — we often catch issues early because we’re already on your property.
Need your irrigation system inspected? Request a free quote or call (316) 706-8339