Stop Automatic Sprinkler Water Damage Before It Start

Although it might seem overly dramatic, each spring and summer in Minnesota tends toward flooding or drought. To make it even more frustrating, it is not uncommon for a month or two to be wet and soggy, followed by weeks of dry and hot weather, with widespread fire bans and worries about wild and grass fires. 

Many homeowners who pride themselves on lush lawns, brilliantly-colored flower borders, and a bountiful backyard vegetable garden even out the moisture requirements by investing in underground automatic sprinkler systems. Headaches arise if the system experiences leaks, breakage, or inappropriately directed spray. Water mitigation issues in Minneapolis arise when in-ground irrigation goes rogue, damaging landscaping, waterlogging yards, and seeping or spraying inside residences, causing significant water damage.

How Sprinkler Systems Lead to Water Damage

Three principal vulnerabilities cause the majority of breakdowns that lead to water damage in Minneapolis from automatic underground sprinkler systems.

Cracks in Pipes and Broken Connections

  • Irrigation pipes and connectors lie buried 8 to 10 inches below the surface. Minneapolis freezing and thawing cycles cause instability.

  • Pipes move closer to the surface, crushing underfoot or under lawnmowers or other yard machinery, allowing water seepage.

  • Pipes separate at joints, allowing water to spread into the ground rather than circulate to the sprinkler heads.

Burst Pipes from Frozen Water

When an automatic irrigation system is not winterized in Minneapolis,  residual moisture freezes and expands, bursting pipes and dislocating fittings. If you choose to install and use an in-ground irrigation system, you must learn how to shut it off and drain it for the winter to prevent winter damage and breakage.

Overspray and Misdirected Sprinkler Heads

Sprinkler heads often spray directly onto your home instead of your yard or garden as intended. Water that hits siding, foundation blocks, or window frames repeatedly eventually breaks down building materials. Over time, the water causes wood rot, staining, mold growth, and structural issues on the exterior and seeps into lower levels or through small cracks and crevices on exterior walls and framing.

Mitigate Water Damage from Sprinkling Systems

Although the damage from broken piping and poorly aimed sprinkler heads can be devastating, the good news is routine inspection, maintenance, and repairs will keep irrigation systems from causing a residential disaster. Adjusting sprinkler heads, replacing damaged components, and checking for leaks can go a long way toward preventing seasonal water damage. Check for signals of water leaks, such as:

  • Upticks in water bills

  • Swampy areas on the lawn

  • Seepage inside foundations and into basements 

  • Observation of the direction and intensity of water sprays

Lightspeed Restoration of Twin Cities East Metro specializes in mitigating and remedying sprinkler system water damage. Call (651) 459-2662 to schedule an assessment and emergency services.

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