Irrigation Questions
Sprinklers, zones, heads, valves, controllers, pressure, leaks, and watering — the questions Kingwood homeowners actually ask us, answered the way we answer them on the job.
There are 445 questions in this section. Every answer is written in plain language, from the way we actually do the work in Kingwood, Atascocita, Porter, Humble, and the Lake Houston area.
Back to all questions. Related services: Sprinkler Installation Kingwood · Sprinkler Repair Kingwood · Smart Controllers Kingwood · Backflow Testing Kingwood · Fertigation Systems Kingwood.
All irrigation questions questions
- Why does my sprinkler system have low pressure all of a sudden?
- Why does one sprinkler zone look weak while the others work correctly?
- Why does my lawn have dry spots even though the sprinkler system runs?
- Why is one area of my lawn much greener than everything around it?
- Why are my sprinkler heads misting instead of producing a clean spray?
- Why do my sprinkler heads barely rise above the grass?
- Why does water continue leaking from sprinkler heads after the zone turns off?
- Why does one sprinkler zone run even when the controller is off?
- Why will one sprinkler zone not turn on?
- Why does my sprinkler controller show that a zone is running when no water comes out?
- Why does my sprinkler controller keep losing its program?
- Is a Wi-Fi sprinkler controller worth installing?
- Why is my sprinkler system watering the driveway and street?
- Why do sprinkler nozzles keep clogging?
- Should I repair the sprinkler system before installing new sod?
- Should I water my Houston-area lawn every day during August?
- Why does water run down the curb before my lawn finishes watering?
- Why do mosquitoes seem worse around one part of my yard?
- How do I know whether my sprinkler system needs a repair or a full overhaul?
- What does a complete sprinkler system assessment include?
- Why should sprinkler heads have head-to-head coverage?
- Why are 6-inch sprinkler heads better for thick St. Augustine grass?
- Why does grass block the spray from a sprinkler head?
- Why should a sprinkler head be installed on a swing joint?
- Why is connecting a sprinkler head directly to rigid PVC a bad idea?
- Why does a sprinkler head stay up after the zone shuts off?
- Why does a sprinkler head not pop up completely?
- Why does a sprinkler head leak around the stem while it is running?
- Why does the lowest sprinkler head drain after the system turns off?
- What is a sprinkler check valve?
- Why is my sprinkler head spraying onto the driveway?
- Why does my sprinkler head spray farther than it should?
- Why does my sprinkler head not spray far enough?
- Why does my sprinkler spray look like fog or mist?
- Why is dirt getting inside my sprinkler nozzle?
- Why does a clogged sprinkler nozzle cause a dry spot?
- Why does a missing sprinkler nozzle create a geyser?
- Why does sprinkler nozzle size matter?
- Why shouldn’t you mix random sprinkler nozzles on the same zone?
- What does matched precipitation mean in irrigation?
- Why shouldn’t spray heads and rotors normally be on the same zone?
- Why do rotary sprinklers usually run longer than spray heads?
- Why does changing a sprinkler nozzle affect the whole zone?
- Can too many sprinkler heads cause low pressure on a zone?
- Can oversized sprinkler nozzles cause low pressure?
- Why does one sprinkler zone have lower pressure than the others?
- Can a broken lateral pipe cause low sprinkler pressure?
- Can a valve that doesn’t fully open cause low sprinkler pressure?
- Why does sprinkler pressure change when the house is using water?
- What is static water pressure?
- What is dynamic water pressure?
- Why doesn’t good static pressure guarantee a sprinkler system will work properly?
- Why is water flow just as important as pressure in a sprinkler system?
- Why does sprinkler pipe size matter?
- Why does pressure drop through a long sprinkler pipe?
- Why does one sprinkler zone not turn on?
- What does a sprinkler valve solenoid do?
- How can a broken sprinkler wire stop a zone from working?
- What does the common wire do in a sprinkler system?
- Why can several sprinkler zones stop working at once when the common wire breaks?
- Why does a sprinkler valve work manually but not from the controller?
- Why does a sprinkler valve stay on after the controller shuts it off?
- What does the diaphragm inside a sprinkler valve do?
- Why can a torn sprinkler valve diaphragm cause problems?
- Why does dirt inside a sprinkler valve matter?
- Why is my sprinkler valve box full of water while the zone is running?
- Why is my sprinkler valve box wet when the system has not run?
- Why do sprinkler valve boxes disappear underground?
- How do irrigation technicians locate buried sprinkler valves?
- Why do tree roots grow inside sprinkler valve boxes?
- Can tree roots damage a sprinkler valve?
- Why is my sprinkler system leaking when no zones are running?
- Why does an irrigation mainline stay under pressure?
- Why does a broken lateral line leak only when that zone runs?
- Why does an underground sprinkler leak create a soft spot in the yard?
- Why does an underground sprinkler leak create a greener patch of grass?
- Why does an underground sprinkler leak create a hole in the yard?
- Can a sprinkler leak cause a high water bill?
- Why can a small irrigation mainline leak waste water 24 hours a day?
- Can my water meter help identify an irrigation leak?
- Why should irrigation pipe under concrete be sleeved?
- Why is an unsleeved sprinkler pipe under a driveway difficult to repair?
- Why should irrigation wiring be sleeved under concrete?
- Why do sprinkler pipes break near sidewalks and driveways?
- Why does sprinkler pipe break after fence installation?
- Why does sprinkler wiring get damaged during landscaping?
- Why should sprinkler heads be moved after a landscape bed is expanded?
- Why should sprinkler heads be moved after installing a new patio?
- Why should irrigation be modified before installing a pool?
- Why is my sprinkler controller completely dead?
- Why does my sprinkler controller have power but no zones run?
- Why does my sprinkler controller show a zone running when no water comes out?
- Why does my sprinkler system run twice in the same morning?
- What is a sprinkler controller start time?
- Why is my sprinkler system watering every day?
- Why is my sprinkler system running at the wrong time?
- Why did my sprinkler controller skip watering after rain?
- What does a sprinkler rain sensor do?
- Why does a sprinkler rain sensor need the right location?
- Why should I consider a Wi-Fi sprinkler controller?
- What does a weather-based sprinkler controller do?
- Can a smart sprinkler controller fix bad sprinkler coverage?
- Can a smart sprinkler controller fix a leaking sprinkler system?
- Why does my sprinkler controller keep losing Wi-Fi?
- Why should irrigation schedules change during the year?
- Why shouldn’t I water my Houston lawn the same amount all year?
- Why is early morning usually a good time to run sprinklers?
- Why can watering during the hottest part of the day waste water?
- Why shouldn’t St. Augustine grass be watered every day?
- Why does St. Augustine grass need different watering in sun and shade?
- Why can watering longer make a dry spot worse instead of fixing it?
- Why does my grass die between two working sprinkler heads?
- Why does my lawn have a perfect brown arc around a sprinkler?
- Why does one part of my lawn stay wet while another stays dry?
- What is sprinkler precipitation rate?
- Why does sprinkler runtime depend on precipitation rate?
- What is cycle-and-soak irrigation?
- Why does water run off my lawn before the sprinkler cycle finishes?
- Why does Houston clay affect sprinkler runtimes?
- Why shouldn’t sprinkler water run down the street?
- Why shouldn’t sprinklers water the sidewalk?
- Why should grass and flower beds be on separate irrigation zones?
- Why can drip irrigation work well in flower beds?
- Why does a drip emitter stop flowing?
- Why does drip tubing come apart?
- Why does drip irrigation need pressure regulation?
- Why does drip irrigation need filtration?
- Why can buried drip irrigation be difficult to repair?
- What does an irrigation backflow preventer do?
- Why does a sprinkler system need backflow protection?
- Why should an irrigation system have its own shutoff valve?
- Why is knowing where your sprinkler shutoff valve is important?
- Why should exposed backflow equipment be protected during a Houston freeze?
- Why should I inspect my sprinkler system after a Houston freeze?
- Why should sprinkler heads be checked after lawn work?
- Why should a sprinkler system be checked after tree work?
- Why should a sprinkler system be checked after fence work?
- Why should a sprinkler system be checked after a pool installation?
- Why is a sprinkler system map useful?
- Why should sprinkler zones match the landscape they water?
- Why does sprinkler design matter more than simply adding more heads?
- Why can an old sprinkler system still work well?
- Why doesn’t replacing a sprinkler controller fix an old irrigation system?
- Why should a sprinkler system be inspected instead of just replacing the broken head?
- What is a complete sprinkler system inspection?
- What’s the difference between Hunter and Rain Bird sprinkler systems?
- Rain Bird 5000 vs. Hunter PGP: what’s the difference?
- Can I replace a Hunter rotor with a Rain Bird rotor?
- Can I mix Hunter and Rain Bird sprinkler heads in the same system?
- What is Rain Bird Rain Curtain technology?
- Why does a sprinkler rotor spray separate streams of water?
- Is the grass between the streams from my rotor actually getting watered?
- Why does a rotor water right next to the sprinkler head?
- Why is the grass around my rotor dry even though it sprays far enough?
- Why does my sprinkler rotor stop turning?
- Why does my sprinkler rotor turn really slowly?
- Why is my sprinkler rotor spinning too fast?
- Why does my sprinkler rotor get stuck pointing in one direction?
- Why does my rotor rotate past where I adjusted it?
- Why won’t my rotor go all the way back to its starting point?
- What does the arc adjustment on a sprinkler rotor do?
- What does the radius adjustment on a sprinkler rotor do?
- Can I reduce a rotor’s distance without changing the nozzle?
- Can I make a sprinkler rotor spray farther by adjusting it?
- What does the screw in front of a rotor nozzle actually do?
- Why is the adjustment screw sticking into my rotor’s water stream?
- Can I adjust a sprinkler rotor while it’s running?
- What’s the difference between an adjustable rotor and a full-circle rotor?
- What’s the difference between a 4-inch and 6-inch rotor?
- Should I use 6-inch rotors in St. Augustine grass?
- What is a low-angle rotor nozzle?
- When should you use a low-angle rotor nozzle?
- Does changing a rotor nozzle change how far it sprays?
- Does changing a rotor nozzle change how much water it uses?
- What do the numbers on sprinkler rotor nozzles mean?
- Can I put a bigger nozzle in my rotor to make it spray farther?
- Can I put a smaller nozzle in a rotor to save water?
- Why did changing one rotor nozzle make other heads work differently?
- Why are rotor nozzles different sizes on the same zone?
- Should a full-circle rotor have a bigger nozzle than a quarter-circle rotor?
- What are matched-precipitation rotor nozzles?
- Why is my full-circle rotor area drier than my half-circle rotor area?
- Why does one rotor look stronger than every other rotor on the zone?
- Why does the last rotor on my zone barely spray?
- Can too many rotors be installed on one zone?
- How many rotors can I put on one sprinkler zone?
- How much water does a sprinkler rotor use?
- How do I know what nozzle is installed in my rotor?
- Why does my rotor spray a heavy stream in one spot?
- Why does my rotor have good distance but bad coverage?
- Why is wind blowing my sprinkler water away?
- Do larger sprinkler droplets handle wind better?
- Why do my sprinklers look like fog?
- Can high water pressure actually make sprinklers water worse?
- What is a pressure-regulated sprinkler head?
- What does PRS mean on a sprinkler head?
- What’s the difference between a 30 PSI and 40 or 45 PSI pressure-regulated sprinkler body?
- Why are spray nozzles commonly paired with 30 PSI pressure regulation?
- Why are rotary nozzles often paired with 40 or 45 PSI pressure regulation?
- What does EPA WaterSense mean on a sprinkler head?
- Does EPA WaterSense certify sprinkler nozzles?
- Can pressure-regulated sprinkler bodies actually save water?
- Should every sprinkler system have pressure-regulated heads?
- Can I regulate pressure for the whole sprinkler system instead of every head?
- Why does pressure matter so much with sprinkler nozzles?
- What is a rotary nozzle?
- What is a Hunter MP Rotator?
- What’s the difference between an MP Rotator and a regular spray nozzle?
- Can I replace regular spray nozzles with MP Rotators?
- Can I mix MP Rotators and regular spray nozzles on the same zone?
- Why do MP Rotators need longer runtimes?
- Do MP Rotators use less water?
- Why isn’t my MP Rotator turning?
- Why is my MP Rotator spinning too fast?
- Why isn’t my MP Rotator spraying far enough?
- Can you adjust the distance on an MP Rotator?
- Can you adjust the arc on an MP Rotator?
- What is an MP Rotator side-strip nozzle?
- What’s the difference between standard MP Rotators and MP800 nozzles?
- Can MP Rotators be used in narrow strips of grass?
- Why do rotary nozzles have filters?
- Can I clean a clogged MP Rotator?
- Why does my rotary nozzle spray uneven streams?
- What is sprinkler nozzle trajectory?
- Why does sprinkler trajectory matter near shrubs?
- Can shrubs block sprinkler coverage even if the head is working?
- Why did my sprinkler coverage get worse as my landscaping grew?
- Should sprinkler heads be moved when shrubs mature?
- Can I put a sprinkler head on a riser above my shrubs?
- Should flower beds use sprays, rotary nozzles or drip irrigation?
- What is microirrigation?
- What’s the difference between dripline and individual drip emitters?
- What is inline drip tubing?
- What is blank drip tubing?
- What does GPH mean on a drip emitter?
- Should every plant get the same size drip emitter?
- How many drip emitters does a tree need?
- Why shouldn’t I put one drip emitter right against a tree trunk?
- Does drip irrigation need a pressure regulator?
- Does drip irrigation need a filter?
- Why is my drip zone spraying instead of dripping?
- Why does my drip tubing keep blowing apart?
- Why do the plants at the end of my drip line get less water?
- Can drip irrigation be too long?
- Can you bury drip irrigation?
- How do you know if buried drip irrigation is working?
- Why is buried drip harder to troubleshoot?
- Can roots clog drip emitters?
- Why does my drip zone keep running after the controller shuts off?
- Can I convert a spray zone to drip irrigation?
- Can drip and spray irrigation be on the same zone?
- What is a sprinkler valve solenoid?
- How does a 24-volt sprinkler valve work?
- Why does my sprinkler valve buzz?
- Why is my sprinkler valve clicking but not opening?
- Can a sprinkler solenoid get weak?
- How do you test a sprinkler valve solenoid?
- What are sprinkler solenoid ohms?
- Why does my sprinkler controller show a fault on one zone?
- Why does my controller blow a fuse when one zone runs?
- Can two sprinkler valves run from one controller station?
- Why are two sprinkler zones coming on at the same time?
- Why does one sprinkler zone come on when another zone runs?
- What is a master valve on a sprinkler system?
- Why would a sprinkler system use a master valve?
- How do I know if my sprinkler system has a master valve?
- Can a bad master valve stop every sprinkler zone from working?
- What is a pump-start relay on a sprinkler system?
- Why does my sprinkler controller say the zone is running but the pump doesn’t start?
- What is a flow sensor on a sprinkler system?
- What can a sprinkler flow sensor actually detect?
- Can a flow sensor detect a broken sprinkler head?
- Can a flow sensor detect an underground sprinkler leak?
- Can a smart sprinkler controller shut the water off if a pipe breaks?
- What’s the difference between a flow meter and a master valve?
- Do I need both a flow sensor and a master valve?
- Why is my sprinkler flow sensor showing high flow?
- Why is my sprinkler flow sensor showing low flow?
- Can a sprinkler flow sensor find a slow leak?
- Does every smart sprinkler controller support a flow meter?
- What is a smart sprinkler controller?
- What makes a sprinkler controller EPA WaterSense certified?
- What’s the difference between a smart controller and a Wi-Fi controller?
- Does adding Wi-Fi automatically make a sprinkler controller smart?
- What’s the difference between weather-based and soil-moisture-based sprinkler controllers?
- How does a weather-based sprinkler controller know when to water?
- Does a smart sprinkler controller know how much rain fell at my house?
- Can a smart controller be wrong about the weather?
- Why did my smart sprinkler controller water after it rained?
- Why did my smart sprinkler controller skip watering when my yard looked dry?
- Does a smart sprinkler controller replace a rain sensor?
- What’s the difference between a rain sensor and a smart sprinkler controller?
- How does a sprinkler rain sensor work?
- What’s the difference between a wired and wireless rain sensor?
- Are wireless rain sensors reliable?
- Do wireless sprinkler rain sensors need batteries?
- How long does a wireless rain-sensor battery last?
- Where should a sprinkler rain sensor be installed?
- Why is my rain sensor not stopping my sprinklers?
- Why does my rain sensor keep my sprinklers off too long?
- Why do my sprinklers run while it’s raining?
- Can I add a rain sensor to an old sprinkler controller?
- Can I add a wireless rain sensor without running new wire outside?
- What is seasonal adjustment on a sprinkler controller?
- Should I use seasonal adjust on my sprinkler controller?
- What does 50% seasonal adjustment mean on my sprinkler controller?
- Why did all my sprinkler runtimes suddenly get shorter?
- Why did my sprinkler runtimes suddenly get longer?
- What is a rain delay on a sprinkler controller?
- What’s the difference between rain delay and turning the controller off?
- What is a sprinkler controller program?
- Why does my sprinkler controller have Programs A, B and C?
- Do I need to use all the programs on my sprinkler controller?
- Why does my sprinkler system run again later the same morning?
- What’s the difference between a start time and a zone runtime?
- If I have six sprinkler zones, do I need six start times?
- Why is my sprinkler system running for hours?
- Can two sprinkler programs overlap?
- What does odd/even watering mean on a sprinkler controller?
- What does interval watering mean on a sprinkler controller?
- What does “permanent day off” mean on a sprinkler controller?
- Why would I set a permanent day off for my sprinkler system?
- What happens to my sprinkler controller when the power goes out?
- Will I lose my sprinkler schedule during a power outage?
- Why is the time wrong on my sprinkler controller after a power outage?
- Does my sprinkler controller need a backup battery?
- Can a sprinkler controller get damaged by a power surge?
- Can lightning damage sprinkler valves too?
- Why did several sprinkler zones stop working after a storm?
- Should my sprinkler controller be plugged into a GFCI outlet?
- Can a sprinkler controller be installed outside?
- Can an indoor sprinkler controller be installed in the garage?
- What’s the difference between an indoor and outdoor sprinkler controller?
- Can I replace my old sprinkler controller without replacing the whole system?
- Will a new smart controller work with my old sprinkler valves?
- How many zones should my new sprinkler controller have?
- Should I buy a sprinkler controller with extra zones?
- What is a modular sprinkler controller?
- What’s the difference between fixed-station and modular sprinkler controllers?
- What is Rachio?
- What is Hunter Hydrawise?
- What is the Rain Bird sprinkler app?
- Rachio vs. Hunter Hydrawise: what’s the practical difference?
- Rachio vs. Rain Bird Wi-Fi controller: what’s the difference?
- Hunter Hydrawise vs. Rain Bird Wi-Fi: which should I choose?
- Do I need a Rachio controller to have smart irrigation?
- Does Hunter Hydrawise still work if the internet goes down?
- Will my Wi-Fi sprinkler controller still water if my Wi-Fi goes down?
- Why does my sprinkler controller keep losing Wi-Fi?
- Does my sprinkler controller need 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?
- Why won’t my sprinkler controller connect to my new router?
- Will changing my Wi-Fi password disconnect my sprinkler controller?
- Can I control my sprinklers when I’m away from home?
- Can my sprinkler contractor access my smart controller remotely?
- Should I give my irrigation contractor access to my smart controller?
- Can more than one person control a smart sprinkler system?
- Can I manually run one zone from my sprinkler app?
- Can I shut my whole sprinkler system off from my phone?
- Can a smart controller notify me when something is wrong?
- Can my sprinkler controller tell me I have a leak?
- Does a smart sprinkler controller actually save water?
- Is a smart sprinkler controller worth upgrading to?
- Can a smart controller fix an overwatered lawn?
- Can a smart controller fix a dry spot?
- What information does a smart sprinkler controller need about each zone?
- Why does soil type matter to a smart sprinkler controller?
- Why does sun exposure matter to a smart sprinkler controller?
- Why does sprinkler type matter when setting up a smart controller?
- What is evapotranspiration in sprinkler irrigation?
- What does ET have to do with my sprinkler schedule?
- Does my lawn need the same amount of water every week in summer?
- Why shouldn’t I set my sprinkler controller once and never touch it again?
- How does Houston humidity affect lawn watering?
- How does Houston clay soil affect sprinkler scheduling?
- Why does my Houston lawn run water into the street before it gets enough water?
- What is infiltration rate?
- What is a catch-can test for sprinklers?
- Can I measure sprinkler output with tuna cans?
- How do I know how many inches my sprinklers put down?
- Why do you need multiple catch cans instead of one?
- What is distribution uniformity in irrigation?
- Can a sprinkler system have good pressure but poor distribution uniformity?
- Why does poor sprinkler coverage waste water?
- What does sprinkler efficiency actually mean?
- Is watering longer always better during a drought?
- Should I water my St. Augustine lawn deeply or frequently?
- How can I tell when St. Augustine grass actually needs water?
- Why does St. Augustine grass fold its leaves when it needs water?
- Why do my footprints stay visible in dry St. Augustine grass?
- Can too much sprinkler water hurt St. Augustine grass?
- Can watering every day make grass roots shallower?
- Should newly installed St. Augustine sod be watered differently?
- When should I reduce watering on new sod?
- Why is new sod drying out between sprinkler heads?
- Why is new sod staying soaking wet?
- Should shaded St. Augustine get the same sprinkler runtime as full-sun grass?
- Why is the grass under my trees wet when the rest of the yard is dry?
- Can tree roots steal water from my lawn?
- Can tree roots break sprinkler pipes?
- Should sprinkler lines be run right next to large trees?
- Why do sprinkler heads sink into the ground over time?
- Why are my sprinkler heads suddenly too low?
- Can you raise a sprinkler head without replacing it?
- Why is a sprinkler head leaning sideways?
- Does a sprinkler head need to be perfectly straight?
- Why does my sprinkler head move when I step near it?
- Why does my sprinkler head keep breaking after I replace it?
- Can lawn mowers damage sprinkler heads?
- Can cars driving over sprinkler heads break them?
- Why do sprinkler heads break next to the driveway?
- Should sprinkler heads be installed flush with the ground?
- Why is dirt packed around my sprinkler nozzle?
- Why won’t my sprinkler head retract after watering?
- Can sand or dirt damage sprinkler heads?
- Why does water squirt from the base of my sprinkler riser?
- Should I replace just the sprinkler nozzle or the entire head?
- Can you replace the inside of a rotor without digging up the body?
- Why would you replace rotor guts instead of the whole sprinkler?
- Can I replace a sprinkler head with a different brand without digging up the fitting?
- What size pipe thread do residential sprinkler heads use?
- Why do spray heads and rotors use different inlet sizes?
- What is funny pipe in a sprinkler system?
- Is funny pipe the same thing as polyethylene irrigation pipe?
- How long should a sprinkler swing-pipe connection be?
- Can sprinkler funny pipe kink?
- Can roots crush sprinkler swing pipe?
- What is a sprinkler saddle fitting?
- Should sprinkler systems use saddle fittings?
- What’s the difference between Schedule 40 PVC and Class PVC irrigation pipe?
- Why do some sprinkler systems use thin-wall PVC?
- Can you glue Schedule 40 fittings onto Class PVC pipe?
- What causes PVC sprinkler pipe to split?
- Why does sprinkler PVC break right next to a fitting?
- Can sprinkler pipe fail years after installation?
- Why does an old sprinkler repair start leaking again nearby?
- Does repairing a sprinkler system cause other old parts to fail?
- Why did more sprinkler leaks appear after I started using an old system again?
- Should I replace every old sprinkler head just because some are leaking?
- When is a sprinkler system too old to keep repairing?
- Can a 20-year-old sprinkler system still work well?
- Should I replace my entire sprinkler system or repair the one I have?
- What should be checked when buying a house with a sprinkler system?
- Should I have the sprinkler system inspected before buying a house?
- What should a professional sprinkler system inspection include?
- What’s the biggest mistake homeowners make with sprinkler systems?
Still not sure?
If your question is not here, or the answer sounds like your yard, call or text Orion’s Rain at (281) 504-9998 — 24 hours a day. We will test the system and tell you what is actually wrong, and what it will take to fix it the right way.
See also: All questions · Our Services · Contact us
Orion’s Rain Smartscapes and Exteriors — (281) 504-9998 — LI0029444