Professional Sprinkler Repair
in Wekiva Springs

Lawn Irrigation Contractor Wekiva Springs

If you have traveled through Wekiva Springs recently, you may have noticed some lawns that receive adequate watering and others that appear under-watered. This is a clear distinction during our dry months from November to May. I have been repairing sprinkler systems in Wekiva Springs for more than 50 years. We receive most of our calls from three main locations; the neighborhoods surrounding Wekiva Springs State Park, the newer developments along Markham Woods Road and the older home sites in the Wekiva Springs Road area where the original systems are failing.

Common Sprinkler Repair Issues in Wekiva Springs

This area is built on sandy soil and it drains quickly. Sandy soil is very fast draining. That is why your neighbors system may operate for 20 minutes, whereas your system operates for 30 minutes to achieve the same level of coverage. We see this frequently when we visit customers to perform sprinkler repair services.

Sprinkler Heads Break Frequently in Wekiva Springs

Armadillos dig up irrigation lines to feed on the grubs. We have made many repairs to damaged PVC pipes caused by armadillos and we often refer to them as “nightly” damage. Broken sprinkler heads occur frequently in Wekiva Springs. They are frequently broken due to lawn mower operation, children stepping on them, and finally, mineral build-up in the water causes them to fail over time. A broken spray sprinkler head in zone #3 can result in wasted water to the tune of 200 gallons per week before you notice the resulting soggy area.

Zone Controllers Also Fail

Zone controllers fail too. Heat from a garage can cause damage to the circuit board over time. We have repaired controllers that had functioned well for 8 years, but failed in the middle of July.

Sprinkler System Installation in Wekiva Springs

Are you building a new home in Wekiva Springs? We develop custom sprinkler systems based on your specific lot. Properties adjacent to the Wekiva River require different types of irrigation coverage than the drier areas above the river. We consider your type of grass, sun exposure and whether you have thick St. Augustine or Bahia grasses when designing your irrigation system. Good installation results in fewer future repairs. We create a map of your zones so that each zone receives the correct amount of water. For example, the front lawn may be exposed to full sun, while the back lawn is partially shaded due to nearby oak trees.

Property Slope is More Important Than You Think

The slope of your land is much more important than most people realize. Water flows downward, therefore, if your property slopes toward the street, we will position your sprinkler heads and schedule watering events to ensure that you are not wasting water by spraying the storm drain. Homes located on higher ground near Rock Springs Road require different irrigation setups than the flat areas closer to the conservation lands.

Irrigating in the Wekiva River Protection Area: What the Regulations Actually Require

Properties in and around Wekiva Springs sit within one of Florida’s most carefully protected environmental corridors. The Wekiva River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River by the U.S. Congress in 2000 and is protected under the Florida Wekiva River Protection Act, which was enacted in 1988 and directs Seminole, Orange, and Lake counties to incorporate specific conservation requirements into their comprehensive plans and land development regulations. For homeowners who own property within the Wekiva River Protection Area (WRPA), these regulations have direct implications for how landscaping — and, by extension, irrigation — can be designed and modified.

The WRPA establishes three primary protection zones administered by the SJRWMD: a Water Quality Protection Zone, a Water Quantity Protection Zone, and a Riparian Habitat Protection Zone. Development activities within these zones — which can include land clearing, construction, and significant alteration of surface water flows — require SJRWMD review rather than the standard FDEP permitting process. For irrigation purposes, the most relevant implication is that runoff from over-irrigated residential properties within the protection area can contribute to nutrient loading of the Wekiva River and its spring-fed tributaries, which are already under pressure from groundwater withdrawal and nitrogen contamination from surrounding development.

According to advocates for the river, groundwater withdrawals throughout the Wekiva Basin have been projected to exceed the aquifer’s sustainable recharge rate within the current planning horizon, and landscape irrigation represents one of the largest single categories of residential water use in the area. This has led to calls for stronger restrictions on irrigation within the Wekiva Springs watershed, and it has elevated awareness among homeowners in communities like Wekiva Springs of the environmental stakes associated with running poorly calibrated irrigation systems that waste water or apply it in ways that lead to fertilizer runoff.

From a practical standpoint, the most important steps Wekiva Springs homeowners can take are consistent with best irrigation practice anywhere: ensuring that your system is calibrated to apply no more than three-quarters of an inch of water per zone per irrigation day per SJRWMD rules, that your rain sensor is functional and appropriately positioned, that no zones are irrigating impervious surfaces like driveways or sidewalks, and that the system is not operating during prohibited hours.

Properties adjacent to any surface water body, wetland, or natural buffer within the WRPA should be particularly careful that irrigation spray does not reach the conservation area boundary, and that landscaping buffers between irrigated turf and the natural area are maintained.

Seminole County’s Wekiva River Area Fact Sheet notes that development within the WRPA Overlay requires a Wekiva River Area Consistency Form to be filed with development proposals. If you are planning a landscape renovation, sod replacement, or significant modification to your irrigation system on a property within the WRPA, it is worth confirming whether your project requires any form of county or district review before work begins.

Maintenance of Your Irrigation System

Most homeowners do not pay attention to their irrigation system until something breaks. We recommend inspecting your irrigation system at least twice per year – once prior to the beginning of the dry season, and once prior to the beginning of the rainy season when you will likely need to adjust your timer.

Your timer should be adjusted with the changing seasons. In January, you may need to run your system to provide sufficient water for your lawn. However, running your system daily for short intervals in August will only promote shallow root development. It is better to run your system infrequently (every two to three days) to encourage deeper root development that will allow your lawn to survive dry spells. Watering in the early morning hours provides the best results. Running your system between 4 am and 8 am provides the coolest temperatures and less wind resistance. Water does not evaporate as rapidly, and your lawn has ample opportunity to dry before the evening hours when fungal problems begin. If you don’t want to be always re-setting your timer, you may want to look into replacing it with a smart controller. You can learn more at this link how long to water your lawn

Service Area in Wekiva Springs

We serve all areas of Wekiva Springs from the state park area to the area where it intersects with Longwood. This includes the subdivisions along Markham Woods Road, the area around Wekiva High School and the residences along Wekiva Springs Road. While Seminole County residents represent the majority of our customers, we also service the southern part of Volusia County and nothern Orange County when the location of the customer warrants it.

Why Systems Fail in Wekiva Springs

Our water contains minerals. Many minerals. Over time, calcium accumulates in sprinkler heads and valves. As a result, you may experience reduced pressure or your sprinkler heads may not fully extend. Cleaning may help, but ultimately, you will need to replace the faulty parts. Another reason why irrigation systems fail is due to wildlife activity. Armadillos will dig up irrigation lines in search of grubs. We have repaired dozens of damaged irrigation lines due to armadillo activity. Often, this occurs in the soft earth surrounding flowerbeds.

Lightning strikes occur more frequently in Wekiva Springs than most other areas. Wekiva Springs receives its fair share of lightning strikes, and Florida experiences more lightning strikes than any other state in the United States. A lightning strike close to your irrigation control panel can destroy your irrigation system. While surge protectors can offer some protection, they are not foolproof.

Backflow Prevention and Testing

As required by Seminole County, backflow prevention devices must be installed on all irrigation systems. Backflow prevention devices prevent irrigation water from being drawn back into the public water supply if there is a sudden drop in pressure. Additionally, Seminole County requires annual testing of backflow prevention devices by a certified tester.

Preparing Your System for Dry Season

Prior to November, walk your property while your irrigation system is operating. Check to see if any of the rotor heads are not turning, if there are any areas that appear to be receiving insufficient water (dry spots), or if there are areas that appear to be receiving excessive amounts of water. All of these issues can be corrected before they become serious problems that worsen as time passes. Additionally, check your timer battery power. There is no worse feeling than having your irrigation system fail during a prolonged two-week dry spell due to the failure of the backup battery and subsequent loss of programming.

Contact Information

Please feel free to call us during regular business hours or submit a message via our contact form. We attempt to contact customers to schedule repair appointments within 24 hours. Typically, we are able to schedule irrigation installations within the same week.
Your lawn is likely your largest investment after the purchase price of your home. Protecting that investment by ensuring your irrigation system functions properly and saving yourself time by eliminating the need to drag hoses around multiple times per week.

I also do irrigation sprinkler repair service in Lake Mary, Sanford, Debary, Deltona, Longwood, Heathrow, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Sorrento, Casselberry, Fern Park, Winter Park, Forest City, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Wekiva Springs, Alaqua, and Sweetwater Club