Residential sprinkler systems should be inspected more than once a year. Heads move, nozzles clog, plants grow into spray patterns and small leaks can develop without anyone noticing.
Spring start-up inspection
Run every zone when the system is first activated. Check for winter damage, leaking fittings, tilted heads, weak pressure, controller settings and exposed plumbing.
Monthly visual checks during the season
You do not need to disassemble the system. Run each zone long enough to watch the heads operate and look for geysers, clogged nozzles, spray hitting pavement, bubbling water and zones that do not start or stop correctly.
Midseason matters
By midsummer, turf growth and landscaping can block sprinklers that worked fine in spring. Heat can also expose coverage problems that cooler weather masked earlier.
Before winterization
Make note of known repairs before shutdown. Some issues can be handled in fall, while others are easier to address at the following spring start-up.
Why small problems are worth catching
A cracked fitting or partly clogged nozzle may not seem urgent, but it can distort coverage for weeks and encourage unnecessary extra runtime.
Related guides
Read underground leak signs, overspray causes and fixes, and our seasonal irrigation maintenance page.
Inspection guidance
EPA WaterSense recommends inspecting irrigation systems monthly for leaks, broken or clogged heads and other problems. EPA WaterSense
