An inspection is every station, run long enough to see the pattern, with notes. We look for leaks, tilted heads, overspray, buried heads, valve-box condition, controller programs, and the rain sensor. You get a list of what should be repaired now and what can wait.
The useful times are after a freeze, after landscape work, before summer programs go in, and before you buy the house if the seller’s report says the sprinklers were not tested. A system that “comes on” can still be watering the fence.
We do not invent a water-bill savings number. Stopping a stuck valve reduces waste. If the system is already tight, the inspection is a record of that. Backflow equipment is noted. A formal test, if your provider requires one, is a separate qualified task.
What this repair actually involves
A full system check finds small coverage problems before they become larger water losses. Across Greater Houston the same symptom can be a head, a valve, a wire, or a pipe. We do not price the part until the station has run beside one that still works.
Houston lawns are mostly St. Augustine, with Bermuda and zoysia on sunnier or renovated lots. Clay shrinks in August and swells after a Gulf rain, so a fitting that was straight the year it was glued is often in tension now. A longer runtime does not close a leak, aim a nozzle, or open a valve that is stuck. It only spends more water on the part of the yard that was already wet.
The license we list is TX LI 6529. You can confirm the current record with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Watering days are set by the utility on your bill, not by a metro-wide chart, so the controller is programmed after the repair is proven, not before.
Where we run into it
- System inspection in Houston. The Heights and the rest of Houston sit on shrink-swell clay, with sandier pockets toward the bay. Heat, heavy rain, clay movement, tree roots, and landscape work can all change how an older system performs.
- System inspection in Katy. Cinco Ranch and the rest of Katy sit on prairie clay that opens cracks by august. Settling soil, growing roots, mower damage, and changing bed lines commonly reveal coverage gaps or stressed fittings.
- System inspection in Cypress. Bridgeland and the rest of Cypress sit on clay, with wetter pockets near cypress creek. New construction settling, clay movement, and landscape additions can affect head height, line alignment, and coverage.
- System inspection in Sugar Land. First Colony and the rest of Sugar Land sit on heavy fort bend clay. Tree roots, shifting clay, blocked spray, and aging valves can create uneven watering even when the controller still runs.
- System inspection in Pearland. Shadow Creek Ranch and the rest of Pearland sit on flat coastal clay that holds water. Slow drainage and heavy rain can hide an irrigation leak, so diagnosis should separate storm moisture from water escaping while a station runs.
- System inspection in Spring. Old Town Spring and the rest of Spring sit on clay and sandier forest soils. Shade, mature trees, soil movement, and buried valve boxes complicate otherwise straightforward coverage problems.
- System inspection in Tomball. Downtown Tomball and the rest of Tomball sit on tighter clay in town, sandier cuts on larger lots. Long zones, roots, changing grades, and mixed sun and shade make pressure and coverage checks especially useful.
- System inspection in The Woodlands. Alden Bridge and the rest of The Woodlands sit on sandy loam over clay under the canopy. Roots and dense shade affect buried lines, head placement, and how quickly different parts of a zone dry.
- System inspection in Richmond. Aliana and the rest of Richmond sit on brazos bottom clay. Construction activity, settling, bed changes, and long lateral lines can lead to leaks, low pressure, or heads that no longer sit at grade.
- System inspection in Rosenberg. Bonbrook Plantation and the rest of Rosenberg sit on open-prairie clay. Clay movement, high summer demand, and head damage can expose weak fittings and leave defined dry sections.
- System inspection in Humble. Atascocita and the rest of Humble sit on lake houston terrace soils. Tree roots, shade, drainage, and storms make it important to confirm whether standing water is irrigation-related.
- System inspection in Kingwood. Bear Branch and the rest of Kingwood sit on sandy loam under the pines. Buried lines and valve boxes may be affected by roots or years of landscape growth, while shaded areas may need less water than open turf.
- System inspection in Bellaire. Braeburn Country Club Estates and the rest of Bellaire sit on tight inner-loop clay on small lots. Construction, roots, tight side yards, and relocated beds can leave old heads blocked, buried, or aimed at new hardscape.
What we tell you before any parts
A photo of a wet spot shows color and location. It does not show whether the water is still arriving after the irrigation supply is closed. That test separates a sprinkler leak from a drainage swale, a neighbor’s zone, or last night’s storm. A blank controller is not automatically a bad controller. A dead zone is not automatically a bad valve. The order of the tests is the job.
When the repair is done, the station runs again. We look at the walk, the next head, and the original complaint. If the complaint is still there, it stays on the list. Call 346-642-6161 and say which part of the yard fails and whether the water stops when the clock moves on.
Signs
- A house you just bought
- Coverage that changed with the season
- Water use up without an obvious break
- A system that has not run since the last freeze
How the visit goes
- Walk first. Backflow, controller, visible heads.
- Run every station. In daylight.
- Split the list. Waste happening now, versus items that can wait.
- Name the stations. So the list is usable next season.
System inspection by city
Related repairs
From the field notes
- Backflow prevention and irrigation systems
- Bermuda lawn irrigation troubleshooting
- Chinch bugs or dry sprinkler zone?
- December shutoff habits before a Gulf cold snap
- Do not cross-connect stored water to the irrigation main
- Dog spots are not a nozzle diagnosis
- Houston sprinkler freeze prep
- Houston systems are rarely 'winterized' the northern way
Questions
Is an inspection a repair?
It is a diagnosis. Small adjustments happen during the visit. Leaks and bad valves are scoped separately.
Do you certify backflow?
We identify the device and obvious damage. A provider-accepted test is its own appointment and report.
How long does it take?
It depends on station count and access. A typical home is one thorough pass, not a five-minute glance.