The Dark Side of Your Sprinkler System

11 Mar

Your lawn is beautiful…but is it well managed? Sprinkler systems are great for lush greenery and for the sunny smiles of children at play, but it’s important to be sure yours is properly installed.

While some issues are easily addressed, others can be a matter of faulty installment or poor design. For example, if your sprinkler is hitting the side of your house, redirecting it may require nothing more than just angling it away. On the other hand, poor design can result in over-saturation of the ground around the house and threaten the integrity of the foundation.

The Trouble with a Faulty System

When water is regularly hitting the side of your property, issues such as cracks around the windows and saturation of the siding can occur. These may hardly sound like a cause for concern, but when this happens, your home becomes ripe for mold growth. If the sprinklers are pointed towards the home or if the drainage between the yard and the home is inadequate, the crawl space underneath most coastal homes also becomes a hotbed of mold.

Preventing Dire Consequences

You may sigh at the idea of adding another chore to your home maintenance list, but inspecting your sprinkler system regularly can prevent structural damage to your home. You’ll also prevent the nasty health consequences of black mold growth, such as respiratory issues, inflammatory diseases, headaches, and brain fog. Ensure that your landscaping incorporates good drainage techniques to direct water away from the home. Use timers to avoid overwatering.

Signs of sprinkler related issues can go unnoticed until there is already visible damage in the home. Check the lower walls of your home or basement for signs of water saturation or mold. In a humid environment like the beautiful Gulf Coast, faulty sprinkler usage can cause excess moisture both inside and outside the home. Maintain your sprinkler system for prevention to avoid the expensive consequences of necessary treatment.