The grass is greener on the other side – but what if your lawn could be lush and green all over? With proper upkeep and maintaining your lawn irrigation system, it can be.

Keep your sprinkler and lawn irrigation systems in tip-top shape with these five maintenance tips:

1. Practice routine upkeep

Ideally, check in on your lawn irrigation system once a month. At the very least, aim for twice a year, particularly at the beginning of spring and fall. Routine maintenance promotes proper water flow and yard safety.

2. Examine the sprinkler heads

Clean out clogged nozzles, tighten loose screws and look for sunken, tilted or missing heads. Common signs of faulty sprinkler heads include cracked or broken casing, inconsistent spraying, or inability to pop up. Clean and reset the heads, or replace them if necessary. Adjust the sprinkler heads to make sure they spray the lawn, as opposed to giving the sidewalk or sides of your house an unnecessary shower.

3. Look for dry spots

If there are areas of your lawn that aren’t getting enough attention, adjust the sprinkler heads to spray the dry spots with additional water. Alternatively, you may need to increase the coverage of your sprinkler system or adjust the valves to increase water pressure.

4. Check for signs of leakage

Extreme weather, tree roots, or damage from sharp gardening tools may cause leaks in the valves and pipes of a lawn irrigation system. Repair or replace damaged valves and pipes at the first sign of leaking.

5. Install a rain sensor

These water-conserving tools prevent your system from running when the ground is already wet and doesn’t require additional watering. Most new systems will automatically include rain sensors, but if you don’t have one, it’s a good idea to install one, as it will waste less water.

There are other potential causes of a breakdown, such as a blown fuse, a coil that needs to be replaced, or voltage issues. The five listed above are the most common and easiest to diagnose and fix.

Very Important: Call 811 before performing any repair work on your own. An operator will connect you with a local professional to identify and mark the approximate locations of your underground utility lines. That way, you can avoid hitting the lines and causing serious damage. Even simple fixes like replacing spray heads require digging, so always make the call before getting started.

If you find signs of damage during your maintenance efforts, call a professional to inspect your lawn irrigation system.

Being prepared before home maintenance issues arise is always a good strategy. Plans from Sewer Line Warranties of America can help you pay for covered water, sewer and other service line repairs.