How to Find Leaks in Your Sprinkler System

A well-maintained sprinkler system is essential to keeping your lawn lush and healthy, especially under the Australian sun. But like any system, even the best sprinkler setups can sometimes develop leaks. If left undetected, these leaks can increase your water bill and affect your garden’s overall health. With a few simple techniques, you’ll know exactly how to find leaks in your sprinkler system, saving you time, water, and potentially costly repairs.

A well-maintained sprinkler system is essential to keeping your lawn lush and healthy, especially under the Australian sun. But like any system, even the best sprinkler setups can sometimes develop leaks. If left undetected, these leaks can increase your water bill and affect your garden’s overall health. With a few simple techniques, you’ll know exactly how to find leaks in your sprinkler system, saving you time, water, and potentially costly repairs.

Signs That Your System May Have a Leak

Before diving in, start by looking for a few tell-tale signs. Spotting these early can save you from bigger problems and higher repair costs later on.

• Unusually High Water Bills: A sudden increase in your water bill without any other explanation could mean there’s a hidden leak in the system. Since many reticulation systems operate at night, leaks can go unnoticed until your bill arrives.
• Persistent Wet Areas: Notice any areas in your garden that stay damp even when the system isn’t running? Muddy patches or spots with lush, overgrown grass are often indicators of an underground leak.
• Water Pooling: If you see puddles around sprinkler heads, pipes, or valves, that’s a clear sign something isn’t right. Left unattended, pooling water can damage your plants and create unsightly muddy areas.
• Low Water Pressure: If some sprinkler heads seem to be struggling with low water pressure, it’s usually a sign that water is escaping somewhere along the line before it reaches its destination.

1. Inspect Your Water Meter

Before diving into your irrigation system, start by checking your water meter. This can help identify whether the issue lies in your home’s water supply or the reticulation system itself.

• • Check for Movement: Ensure all taps inside your home are turned off. Observe the water meter to see if it’s moving. If the numbers on the meter change or the needle moves, there may be a  leak somewhere in your system or home.
  • Take a Reading: Record the water meter reading, then wait for 10 minutes (or even an hour). If the numbers increase while all water sources are off, a leak is confirmed somewhere.
  • Isolate the Irrigation System: Turn off the irrigation system’s isolation tap, which should be located just after your water meter. If the water meter stops moving, the leak is in your reticulation system. If it continues to move, the leak is in your home’s water supply and unrelated to irrigation.

2. Inspect for Specific System Leaks

Look for Signs of a Station Leak: If one irrigation station has noticeably lower water flow or pressure compared to the others, there may be a leak in that specific station. Inspect the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads connected to that zone. Look for very wet or spongy areas. Do you have extra green patches of grass?

3. Professional Pressure Testing

If you’re unable to locate the leak visually, a pressure test can help identify it:

• Hire a plumber or irrigation professional to conduct a pressure test on your system. They’ll use specialised equipment to measure pressure throughout your system.
• House Mains vs. Irrigation: By isolating the irrigation system at the isolation tap, they can test the pressure in your house mains separately. If there’s a pressure drop with the irrigation system isolated, the leak is in your home’s plumbing. If the drop occurs with the irrigation system on, the leak is within your reticulation.

4. Look for Common Leak Sources

Certain parts of your irrigation system are more prone to leaks. Focus your search on these areas:

• Pipes and Tubing: Pipes can wear out, crack, or shift due to fluctuating temperatures, tree roots, or ground movement.
• Sprinkler Heads: Damaged or clogged sprinkler heads can cause pressure imbalances. Replacing them is often a quick and inexpensive fix.
• Valves and Connectors: Check for rust, dampness, or wear at valve and connector points, as these are common sources of leaks.

5. Listen for Leaks

In quiet conditions, you may be able to hear leaks:

• Turn off all appliances and water-using devices in the house.
• Listen near sprinkler heads, valves, and main pipes for hissing or trickling sounds that indicate escaping water.

When to Call a Professional

While many leaks can be fixed with a bit of DIY know-how, some situations call for professional help. If you’ve followed these steps and still can’t find the leak—or suspect an issue deep within the system—contact an irrigation expert.

At Retic Renovation, we offer professional reticulation services to quickly locate and repair hidden leaks using specialised equipment. We also provide full-system check-ups to prevent recurring issues and keep your irrigation system running smoothly.