Inspecting A Home's Sprinkler System--Before You Buy

Posted

Inspecting A Home’s Sprinkler System—Before You Buy a =" (NAPSA)—Many homebuyers know to thoroughly inspect a home’s foundation, electrical sys- Sy tem and plumbing before agreeing to buy a house. But experts say it’s important to check out what’s outside a home’s walls as well. For instance, taking a few steps to inspect a property’s sprinklersystem could keep you from waking up to a problem downthe road. Old sprinkler systems or systems in ill repair are vulnerable to a variety of problems—from leaks to blockage. These problems can harm the It’s important that homebuyers inspect a house’sirrigation system before making a purchase. serious damage to your yard and valves contain a screw or knob on avoid buying someoneelse’s outdoor irrigation issue, Dave Johnson, an irrigation expert at Rain Bird,offers these tips: hand. health of your lawn and even cause landscaping. To help homeowners Find and check the automatic sprinkler timer and makesureit is plugged into an unobstructed and visibly safe power supply ina weather-safe environment. An improperly placed electrical timer box is more susceptible to an electrical short, which can wreak havoc on an automatic irrigation system. Test the timer to make sure that each individual sprinkler zone can be turned on manually from the timeritself. e After the system has been turned on for a few minutes, stroll around the yard to check for any moisture in unusual spots: exposed pipes that may be prone to cracking, major brown spots around sprinkler heads, saturated turf or soil, sick and diseased plants. Open and close each individ- ual valve, checking for moisture caused by cracks or broken seals in the pipes or exterior casing. Most top that can be easily turned by e Turn on each watering zone and check each sprinkler head. Any head that does not pop up or otherwise operates improperly may needto be replaced. It is also possible that a sprinkler head that does not pop up is a sign of a problem with the water pressure, and may indicate that there is a leak in the system somewhere. If the system is connected to a rain sensor, test the sensor by first turning on one of the zones, and then giving the rain sensor a good soaking with a garden hose. If the irrigation system does not stop, there may be a problem. e Ask the sellers if they have a maintenance record, or a receipt from the last time they hadthe system winterized by a professional. If you are not comfortable conducting an inspection of the sprinkler system yourself, find an area landscape professional to do a routine inspection. For more information, visit www.rainbird.com.