When a system either refuses to run or runs continuously without stopping, the issue is almost always a failing master valve or zone valve.

Stuck Open: The internal rubber diaphragm has torn or debris has jammed the valve open, allowing water to continuously bleed through downstream pipes, causing pooling and driving up water bills.

Stuck Closed: The electrical solenoid has failed, the internal ports are clogged, or the wiring from the controller has broken, preventing the valve from lifting to release water.

For Central Texas landscapes and heavy clay soil, deep and infrequent watering encourages deep root growth. Rather than watering every day for 10 minutes, run your system 2 to 3 times per week using a "cycle-and-soak" method. Clay soil cannot absorb heavy water quickly; splitting a 20-minute run into two 10-minute cycles spaced an hour apart allows water to soak deep into the root zone instead of sheeting off into the street.

This typically points to one of three common issues:

Mismatched Head Types:

Rotor nozzles (which rotate streams) apply water much slower than fixed spray nozzles (which mist continuously). If both head types are on the same zone, one section will flood while the other starves.

Sunken or Broken Heads:

If a pop-up head is cracked underground or buried beneath thatch, water pools below grade instead of spraying across the turf.

Subsurface Pipe Fracture:

A cracked lateral pipe leaks gallons of water directly beneath the turf every time that zone fires, creating a persistent mud pit.

Your backflow assembly is a mechanical safety device that keeps dirty irrigation water (containing fertilizers, pesticides, and soil bacteria) from siphoning back into your home’s drinking water. Municipal water providers require backflow devices to be tested annually to verify that the internal check valves hold pressure and prevent cross-contamination.

The right drainage solution depends on how water accumulates on your property:

Catch Basins (Surface Water): Ideal for capturing standing water that pools quickly on hard surfaces, roof downspouts, or low spots in the yard during heavy downpours.

French Drains (Subsurface Water): A perforated pipe embedded in a trench of washed gravel wrapped in filter fabric. These collect water trapped underground that keeps soil constantly soggy, spongy, or threatens home foundations days after the rain has stopped

In Texas, expansive clay soils swell when saturated and shrink when dry, which can cause significant foundation movement. Water pooling against foundations is usually caused by gutter downspouts emptying right next to the slab, negative yard grading sloping back toward the home, or poor soil compaction. Extending downspouts underground and installing proper swales or French drains redirects this water safely away.

While sod can be installed almost year-round in Texas if watered properly, the prime windows are spring (April–May) and fall (September–October). Laying sod during moderate temperatures reduces heat stress, limits transplant shock, and allows root systems to establish deeply before peak summer heat or hard winter freezes arrive.

Overwatering is just as harmful as underwatering. In dense clay soils, excess water displaces oxygen in the root zone, effectively drowning the plant and causing root rot. If leaves look pale yellow, wilted, or drop easily while the soil feels wet inches down, reduce runtime immediately and ensure the bed has proper drainage.

Maintain a consistent depth of 2 to 3 inches of shredded hardwood mulch. Mulch insulates roots from summer heat, retains soil moisture, and suppresses weeds. Avoid "mulch volcanoes" piled directly against tree trunks and shrub bases, which invites fungal rot and insect damage.

Yes, we charge a standard diagnostic trip assessment fee for irrigation troubleshooting and system evaluations. Our technicians conduct a thorough on-site audit—testing static water pressure, inspecting backflow assemblies, locating buried valves, and checking each zone for line fractures or head misalignments. When you approve the recommended repairs, that assessment fee is credited directly toward your project total.

You can book directly through our online scheduler right on our website, select an arrival window that fits your schedule, or submit a request form with photos and details about your property. You will receive real-time appointment confirmations and text reminders before our team arrives on-site.