Sprinkler Questions, Answered

It depends on what is broken. A single head is a small repair; a main line leak or a new valve is more. We find the problem first and tell you the price before any work. Nothing gets done until you say yes.

Set the controller to Off. If water keeps running, close the irrigation shut-off valve, usually next to the backflow device near the house or in a box near the water meter. Call 469-902-9800 if you cannot find it.

Most often the valve for that zone has a bad solenoid, the wire to it is cut, or the controller is not sending power. We test the signal at both ends to find out which.

Usually debris or a torn diaphragm in the valve keeps it open. Turn off the irrigation shut-off and call us.

A cracked pipe, a leaking valve or a broken head. If it is wet even when the system is off, it is likely the main line or a valve. If it shows up only when one zone runs, it is on that zone.

A hidden sprinkler leak is a common cause, as is a controller set to water too often or a zone that does not shut off. Turn off everything in the house and check the leak indicator on your water meter.

It is the brass device that keeps sprinkler water from flowing back into your drinking water. Texas rules require one on lawn irrigation systems connected to public water.

Testing is required when it is installed and when your water provider asks for it, which can include after repairs. Follow the schedule on any notice your city sends.

Turn the controller off, close the irrigation shut-off, drain the backflow device and cover it with an insulated cover. See our freeze protection page for the steps.

In summer, established lawns in Dallas clay usually do well with one or two deep waterings a week, split into shorter cycles so the water soaks in. In spring and fall, less. In winter, very little. Always follow your city's watering days.

Both are separate from Dallas. In each, even-numbered addresses water on Sunday and Thursday and odd-numbered on Wednesday and Saturday, with no sprinkler watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between April 1 and October 31. Hand watering and soaker hoses are allowed. Check uptexas.org or hptx.org for current details.

No more than twice a week: Sunday and Thursday for even-numbered addresses, Wednesday and Saturday for odd, never Monday, Tuesday or Friday. No sprinkler watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day of the year. Hand watering, soaker hoses and drip are allowed any time. See the City of Dallas site (savedallaswater.com) for current rules.

Instead of one long run, the controller runs a zone two or three times for a few minutes each, with a break in between. Our clay soil takes water in slowly, so this lets it soak in instead of running off.

For most homes, yes. A smart controller adjusts to weather and can save a good amount of water, but only when each zone is set up correctly.

Texas rules have required a rain or moisture shut-off on new automatic irrigation systems since 2009, and Dallas requires rain and freeze sensors on automatic systems. University Park requires rain, freeze or moisture shut-off on new automatic systems and bans running sprinklers at or below freezing. It is a small add-on to most controllers.

Yes, including Rain Bird, Hunter, Toro, Irritrol, Orbit and Rachio.

Yes. We install full systems for new builds and add or rework zones after remodels, pools and new landscaping.

Texas requires most irrigation installation and repair work to be done by or under the supervision of an irrigator licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Backflow testing requires a licensed backflow tester. It is fair to ask anyone, including us, for license numbers.

Yes. Give us their contact and we will schedule with them and report back to you.

A few minutes of draining is normal. If it goes on for hours, the valve may not be closing, or you may need a check valve in that head, which is common on sloped yards.