Did Your Sprinkler System Cause Water Damage?

Yakima has a cold desert climate, receiving about 9 inches of rain and 18 inches of snow yearly. In Yakima, we have uneven precipitation spread throughout the year, where many months are quite dry. Many homeowners use automatic sprinkler systems for those dry periods. According to the EPA, about a fifth of American homes has an automatic irrigation system. It’s not uncommon for those sprinkler systems to fail and cause water to flood into the nearby property.

Water Damage Restoration In Yakima

All methods of watering need a schedule to avoid over-watering your grass. More importantly, the equipment must be maintained to avoid your home from flooding. Leaks and drainage issues can cause expensive and extensive water damage to your foundation, basement, exterior, and interior. Here are a few things you should be aware of with your sprinkler system:

Sprinkler Systems Can Cause Foundation Damage

If your sprinkler system is malfunctioning and the water is soaking the ground next to your home, there’s a good chance that you will find pools of water lying right next to your foundation. This event can cause water damage in your basement as it seeps through the walls or any crevices. With the water filling the ground, it can swell and shrink, causing your home’s foundation to shift or even crack. If the foundation isn’t in good shape, the cracks and movement can damage or break pipes, creating further water damage. If the water continues to rise above the foundation line, the likelihood of the water seeping and soaking into your walls, flooring, and basement increases immensely.

Damage To The Exterior

Sprinklers have a Programmation to use a high-pressure jet of water that often reach the side of your home depending on the positioning. Over time, this jet stream of water can cause damage to the siding, brick façade, veneer, or stucco of the home. If there is a small hairline crack that gets water up to three times a week, the entire wall can begin to weaken. Sometimes, the moisture that stays can cause mold and mildew on the insulation behind the siding. Leaks from pools and sprinkler lines can create sinkholes and below-ground cavities. They can crack or cave-in pool decks, sidewalks, patios, and decks. Immediate action is the best way to prevent intensive water damage.

Water damaged wooden floors in a Yakima home.

Damage Inside The Home

Whenever you run a large amount of water outside, there is a chance that it can cause a problem inside. For example, since the sprinkler system is linked to your home’s water line, high-pressure levels can lead to a pipe bursting, causing a flood inside your house. When excess water lingers inside, it creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Excessive mold can lead to health problems such as respiratory issues and allergic reactions in kids, adults with health concerns, and pets.

Sprinkler Maintenance Tips

If your newly installed system is still under warranty, ask your provider for advice. Have them quickly replace any broken components ASAP. If you maintain the system yourself:

Clean the filter: Clean between the water main and valve box at the beginning of the season and at least once each month during use.
Look for underground leaks: If your sprinklers aren’t spraying as far as they should or have dirty water, search for a crack in the system or contact a professional for assistance.
Repair or replace parts indicated by gushers, blow-outs, and separations.
Limit system usage: Experts recommend using a sprinkler system for 30 minutes three times a week. Avoid running the system during the hottest times of the day. Skip some days if there has been good rain.

Review the design of your sprinkler system for efficiency. Keep sprinklers away from your home so the water doesn’t run down the wall into the foundation, onto the windows, or into window wells.

In Conclusion

While your garden thrives with a steady supply of water over the summer, your home doesn’t appreciate the additional moisture. It is imperative to get an expert water damage restoration crew on site to assess the damage and begin to clean up before the sprinklers cause further damage. Clean Image Services has 20 years of experience in Kittitas County.