Irrigation
Is Your Irrigation Still on Summer Settings? Plan a Fall System Check
Cooler weather is a reason to review irrigation settings and coverage. Learn what to document before requesting adjustments, repairs or a controller upgrade.
An irrigation system can keep following the same program long after the weather and landscape have changed. A fall review gives homeowners a chance to check what the system is watering, whether its schedule still makes sense and which repairs need attention. EPA WaterSense warns that leaving summer controller settings in place can contribute to overwatering in cooler months. That does not mean every Georgia lawn should receive the same reduced schedule. The useful starting point is a review of your plants, recent conditions and the equipment already installed.
Record the settings before making changes
Take clear photographs of the controller, its model information and the current programs. Include start times, watering days and station run times if the display shows them. Note which stations serve lawn areas, planting beds or recently installed plants. Keep this information together with any instructions left by a previous installer. It helps explain the existing setup when you request service. A controller photograph alone rarely shows whether a station reaches a new bed, so pair the settings with a simple sketch of the areas you believe each station serves.
Look at where the water actually goes
EPA's Sprinkler Spruce-Up guidance recommends checking for damaged or tilted heads and for water directed onto hard surfaces. If you can observe the system safely, photograph the locations of visible problems. Describe a head that does not rise, spray striking a fence or water reaching the driveway. Do not assume that a dry patch automatically needs a longer run time; describe the pattern so coverage can be evaluated. Use a separate note for each location instead of reporting that the entire system needs more water.
Separate established areas from new planting needs
Tell the person reviewing the system about new sod, recently planted shrubs or a bed that was removed. A landscape change may make the old station layout or program less appropriate. Share any establishment instructions you were given and identify which areas are still being watered by hose. Ask how those needs will be accommodated in the proposed adjustment. The goal is to connect the controller discussion to the real landscape rather than making one percentage change and assuming it is suitable for every plant on the property.
Compare a repair with a controller upgrade
EPA describes weather-based controllers that use local conditions and soil moisture-based controls that respond to moisture measurements. These technologies can help match irrigation to landscape needs when they are properly installed, programmed and maintained. Ask which problem an upgrade would solve on your property and whether the existing equipment is compatible. Keep the equipment question separate from visible coverage or damage issues. A new controller should be part of a defined proposal, with setup and instruction included, rather than an unexplained replacement added to a repair request.
Confirm testing, settings and care instructions
Identify whether you want a review of the existing program, repair of known defects, adjustments after landscape work or an estimate for additional coverage. Ask what testing is included and whether the final settings will be documented for you. If winter protection is also needed, have the installer explain the approach for your particular system. GA Landscape & Drainage Solutions offers residential irrigation work, including additions, coverage improvements, testing and adjustment. Send your location, controller photos and a short list of the areas causing concern so the requested work can be scoped clearly.
Further reading
- EPA WaterSense: Seasonal Watering and Summer Controller Settings(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
- EPA WaterSense: Sprinkler Spruce-Up Inspection Guidance(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
- EPA WaterSense: Weather-Based and Soil Moisture-Based Controllers(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)