Sprinkler Systems and Flooding
It’s May and everyone is ready to start watering their grass and planting their gardens. But as many people out here know, weather can be very unpredictable in Northern Colorado and Southeast Wyoming. It’s important to wait until after the last deep freeze which can often be in the middle of May and temperatures aren’t dropping below freezing before you turn on your automatic sprinkler system. If you don’t you could have damage done to your sprinklers and flooding in the crawlspace or basement. “We usually tell our customers to wait until after Mother’s day to turn on their automatic sprinkler systems,” explained Doug, owner, and operator of Water Extraction Experts in Northern Colorado and Southeast Wyoming. “Usually after Mother’s Day, you’re safe from hard freezes.”
Spring and summer are very busy for Water Extraction Experts. Once sprinklers get turned on, water damage can happen very quickly. “In Albuquerque and Santa Fe New Mexico areas, our weather is milder than Northern Colorado and Wyoming, but we still see a lot of issues with flooding due to people watering their yards and gardens,” mentioned Matt, owner, and operator of Water Extraction Experts in New Mexico. “People will turn on a hose and forget about it,” continued Matt. “The water will end up flooding their home and even their neighbors…it can be a real mess, especially if left untreated and mold grows.”
Broken sprinkler lines are very common this time of the year. During the winter, sprinkler lines and heads can easily break or become damaged due to freezing temperatures or tree roots. “It’s important to do an inspection before you start your sprinkler schedule,” explained Doug. “If you turn on your automatic sprinklers and don’t realize you have an issue, you could have a river running into your crawlspace or around the windows, door, and vents to your basement.” We’ve seen many homes flooded this way, as well as mold problems,” explained Doug.
Before starting up your sprinkler system this spring, here are some tips:
- Check all your sprinkler heads and make sure all the heads are working properly and spraying the right direction with even pressure.
- Check the hose bibs or outdoor spigots along the outside of your home to make sure they’re working. These pipes freeze over the winter time and can break. Decreased water pressure is a sign that there may be an issue with your hose bib. If the broken pipe isn’t detected, water can drain into window wells, basements, crawlspaces, garages and damage the foundation.
- Test each sprinkler station to ensure that areas in the yard are not becoming soggy or that there is low pressure. These are signs of a broken sprinkler line underground.
Follow these tips and minimize flooding during sprinkler start-up. However, if you do have flooding in your crawlspace or basement, give us a call. We can provide you an estimate for clean-up and restoration. If you think you may have mold due to water damage, we can help remove the mold. Our expert, certified technicians will provide you with a detailed plan on how we’ll get your home or business back in order.
EMERGENCY 24/7 WATER DAMAGE CALL:
Northern Colorado 970-581-4498
Albuquerque / Santa Fe, New Mexico 505-250-6500