An irrigation inspection is a series of tests on an underground lawn irrigation system that determines how efficient the system is. An inspector will check the application rate, uniformity, and pressure of your system to determine how the efficiency of the system can be improved and to develop an appropriate watering schedule for the landscape. The entire process takes up to a couple of hours for the average residence depending on the size of the irrigation system.
The inspector will check the following areas of your irrigation system:
Backflow preventer
Controller and rain sensor - make sure devices are working properly and installed correctly
Operating the system - walk each zone to ensure no leaks or breaks exist in the main line or section piping, all valves are opening and closing correctly, check wiring connections to ensure proper wire connectors have been used, check for broken sprinkler heads, nozzles, shrub risers, drip irrigation, improper spray over impervious surfaces, head-to-head coverage, low or high pressure, low-head drainage and sprinkler heads set too high or too low.
When purchasing a home with an automatic irrigation system it is advisible to include the irrigation inspection at the time of the home inspection. Irrigation system failure can cost hundreds of dollars to repair and a leaking system can cost you hundreds if not thousands on your water bill.