How To Test Your Irrigation System

Testing Your Irrigation Systems

The best way to test your irrigation system is to turn it on. Be sure to use the flow rate specified for the irrigation system.

For example, most lawn sprinkler irrigation systems need up to 50 PSI, whereas drip irrigation systems need 15 to 25 PSI. If you use the wrong pressure, your irrigation system will start to malfunction immediately.

How To Test Your Lawn Sprinkler System

Before we start, there are a few things you need to look out for when testing your lawn sprinkler system:

• Broken heads
• Heads out of adjustment
• Leaks
• Dry Spots (Areas Not Getting Enough Water)

Broken Sprinkler Heads: if your system is leaking with little pressure, you might have a damaged or broken sprinkler head. The sprinkler head could be faulty overall or it could have a damaged seal.

Damaged pipes: If you have constant water leaks, leaks near a tree or roots, then you might have damaged or cracked pipes.

High, Uncontrollable Water Pressure: If you turned off the water (and checked the valve), but the water has an uncontrollable water pressure, or it keeps leaking, than you have a fault valve. If it doesn't shut off and you check the valve, it could be another issue like a bad solenoid or other something electrical.

Soggy Spots or Brown Spots: Soggy or muddy spots around the lawn typically mean you have a large leak (usually obvious). But if you start noticing dry, brown patches, you might have a small or hidden leak due to a malfunction of the sprinkler system. Standing water will brown up a lawn quick.

Stuck valves: If your sprinkler heads start to work harder after you shut them off then your you may have valves that can't close to shut off the water flow. You might need to have the valve box opened to determine if there is a serious problem.

So when you turn on the lawn irrigation system, walk the lines. If you start seeing water going where it shouldn't or sprinkler heads leaking, you have an issue. Most of these will be obvious: water spraying everywhere, water leaking out of the lines, sprinkler heads broken or not working, etc.

Water Testing For Sprinkler Heads

If you want, you can do what is known as the Bucket Test. Place a bunch of buckets or cans around the yard to see if your sprinkler systems are giving an even amount of water across the lawn. Turn on the water supply for 15 minutes, or give your lawn about an inch of water. If you have differing levels of water in the can, you probably have an issue.

This is also a good chance to check your water quality. You can either take a sample and send it out for water testing, or simply observe the water to see if it looks good enough for your taste (we recommend doing a test if you are serious about a green lawn).



Now your water source doesn't need to give out drinking water (in fact it won't), but testing the water will determine if there are high concentrations of chemicals that can be harmful to your lawn or to other plants (if drip irrigation water).

How To Test Your Drip Irrigation System

To test your drip irrigation system, you need to turn on the water and walk the line. Start at the head assembly, as they are a big reason why most drip irrigation systems can leak:

High water pressure: We said this above, but if your faucet pressure is running above 30 PSI, you need to get a pressure regulator to reduce the pressure in the drip system. Drip irrigation systems typically run between 15 - 25 PSI. Be sure to use the right psi to prevent damage.

Poor connections: If the leak came out of nowhere, check the connections. Make sure they are hand-tight - not too tight, not too loose. If you overtighten them, you can cause leaks, and if you under tighten them, you might start to see the assembly rotate wildly. Do not use any wrenches on the head assembly. This advice is particular to your head assembly where you have a pressure regulator, a backflow device and other parts with plastic casing.

Leaking Between Parts: If you have a leaking head assembly specific to two parts of the assembly, take the two parts apart and check the gasket. The connection will leak if the gasket is damaged, out of alignment, or missing. On top of the gasket, you want to ensure you use compatible threads between components. Pipe threads (PT) need to be connected to other PT parts, whereas Hose Threads (HT) need to be connected to other HT parts.

Filter: If the leak is near the filter, ensure it's not clogged. Take the filter out of the head assembly and check the screen. If it's filthy, then give it a good rinse before you put it back.

Constant static pressure: Constant static pressure can be a silent killer for small plastic parts. Most parts in a drip irrigation system aren't rated for the constant water pressure from the faucet. Be sure that you buy something rated for the static pressure. In most drip systems, this will be the drip irrigation timer.

We said this in the sprinkler system section, but consider getting your water supply tested for higher levels of chemicals. Certain crops or plant species and make for sensitive plants. On top of that, if you plan on eating any of your vegetables, then you want to make sure your water supply is clean.

Why should you test your irrigation systems?

You should test your lawn irrigation system or your drip irrigation system to make sure it's working correctly. Start from the water supply and walk down all the lines to determine if you have clogs, leaks or another serious issue.



Don't worry if you do, most problems can be alleviated with relatively limited financial burden. It's a good practice to check your system every now and then after the initial setup to ensure it's working properly. Sprinkler systems can be a but more finicky than drip irrigation so keep that in mind.

Testing Your Irrigation System FAQs

Before you go...

Now you know how to test an irrigation system. It's a critical step in setting up your drip system. Be sure to check out some of our other guides to learn more.