Most irrigation problems don't announce themselves dramatically — they start small and get expensive over time. A slow leak that wastes a few gallons a day becomes hundreds of dollars on your water bill by the end of summer. Here are the seven warning signs our team sees most often on service calls across Perris, Menifee, Moreno Valley, and the broader Inland Empire.
1. Wet or Soggy Spots That Don't Dry Out
If you're noticing an area of your lawn that's consistently wet — especially between watering days — you likely have an underground leak. This can be a cracked pipe, a leaking valve, or a broken lateral line. Left unchecked, underground leaks waste enormous amounts of water and can undermine hardscape like sidewalks and driveways.
2. Dry Patches Despite Regular Watering
Brown or yellow patches in an otherwise green lawn usually mean a zone isn't covering that area properly. Common culprits: a clogged or broken sprinkler head, a head that's been knocked out of alignment, or a zone with a stuck or failed valve. Don't just increase your overall watering time — find and fix the root cause.
3. Sprinkler Heads That Don't Pop Up (or Don't Go Down)
Heads that stay stuck up after a cycle are a tripping hazard and often get hit by lawnmowers. Heads that don't rise fully during a cycle usually indicate low water pressure in that zone — which could mean a partially closed valve, a clogged filter, or a broken pipe upstream.
Quick check: Run each zone manually and watch every head. Any that don't pop up fully, spray unevenly, or mist instead of stream need attention.
4. Unusually High Water Bills
If your water bill spikes without a change in your schedule, your irrigation system is the first place to look. A single broken valve that fails to shut off can run hundreds of gallons overnight. Compare your current bill to the same month last year — a 20% or more increase with no schedule change is a red flag.
5. Water Pooling on Sidewalks or the Street
This usually means heads are aimed incorrectly, the run time is too long for your soil to absorb, or you have a broken head spraying at the wrong angle. Beyond wasting water, runoff onto sidewalks is actually a violation of Riverside County water-use ordinances and can result in a notice from your water district.
6. Low or Uneven Water Pressure
If some zones spray strong while others barely dribble, you have a pressure issue. This could be a partially closed shutoff valve, a backflow preventer that needs service, a clog in a filter, or a main line problem. Uneven pressure means uneven coverage — some areas get too much water while others get too little.
7. The System Runs at the Wrong Times or Won't Turn Off
Controller malfunctions, faulty wiring, or a stuck solenoid can cause zones to run outside their scheduled time — or not shut off at all. If you notice your system running at random times or during rain, your controller or solenoid valves likely need service.
Seeing Any of These Signs?
We diagnose and repair all irrigation issues across Perris, Menifee, Moreno Valley, and the Inland Empire. Same-day service available.
📞 Call (951) 259-2100 — Free QuoteWhat to Do While You Wait for a Repair
If you've spotted a problem and can't get it repaired immediately, here's how to minimize damage: manually shut off the affected zone at your controller (set it to "off" or skip that zone). If a valve is stuck open and won't stop running, locate your main irrigation shutoff and close it. You can still water manually with a hose in the meantime.
The sooner you get a repair done, the less water is wasted and the less structural damage occurs. Most sprinkler repairs we do take under two hours and cost far less than a month of wasted water.