subject: Simple Steps To Finding Irrigation Leaks [print this page] An irrigation leak can be a serious threat to your garden, lawn and landscaping materials if left alone to their own devices. Many times, t-joints, bends, elbows, couplingsthe areas where plumbing pipes are connected togetherare the main cause of these underground water leak catastrophes. Slow leaks can remain undetected for years, causing oxygen levels in the soil to become depleted, water saturation to overwhelm root structures and fungus growth to accumulate. In just a few short months, over-watering can not only cause your landscaping to die, it can also cost you a fortune in wasted water bills and repair costs.
There are a wide variety of solutions to most underground irrigation leaks, but only a limited way of pinpointing them. After youve exhausted the following steps, take the next logical step and hire Southern Leak Detection to find all of your underground water leaks. We have been in business in the greater Birmingham area for over 18 years and have what it takes to find and fix any underground utility problems you may havelarge or small. Call us right now so we can solve all your underground irrigation troubles and stop any underground leak problem today.
Checking the Main
Before you get to work checking the many trunk lines, control valves and sprinkler zones of your irrigation system, check the main feed first. This is a simple step that starts by turning off the main water supply to the system feed. Keep the water supply on from the well or city line on full blast. If you notice the pump turning on or the water meter numbers spinning, youve narrowed down your irrigation leak to the main feed line. Now an underground leak detection company can pinpoint the troubles in the main line and make the repairs right away.
Checking the Zones
If the above check fails to turn up the leak, prepare to get a bit dirty. Youll need to plug a few heads in a particular zone and work by trial and error until youre able to find the leaking zone. You can easily unscrew your sprinkler heads and replace them with a cap that prevents water from coming out of the top valve. You may need to plug all of the sprinklers in one zone to find a leak. Turn off all the other zones but the plugged ones and check the water usage meter on your control panel. If the water usage indicator light comes on, youve pinpointed the zone in which the leak exists. If not, youll need to uncap your sprinklers, shut off that zone, and try another area using the same steps as described above.
Pinpointing Leaks
Leaks have to be checked the old fashioned way when you DIY irrigation leaksby hand. Youll need to dig up the existing lines to check for splits, cracks or broken pipes and fittings. This can be a time consuming and tedious process that often causes more problems than it solves. Avoid the troubles of excavating your irrigation yourself by calling a licensed and insured underground leak detection company to find and fix your irrigation problems before its too late for your landscaping.
