A Practical Sprinkler and Drip-Irrigation Inspection Checklist

An irrigation controller can turn on exactly as programmed while the yard receives poor coverage. Checking the timer is only the beginning; watching the system run tells you much more.

Quick Answer

Is a working timer enough to know the yard is getting good coverage?

An irrigation controller can turn on exactly as programmed while the yard receives poor coverage.

Inspect one zone at a time

Bring your phone, a notepad, and a sketch of which valve waters each area.

1
Start one zone at a time so each problem maps to the correct setting.
2
Look for heads that fail to rise, spray pavement, or are blocked by grass and shrubs.
3
Notice misting, uneven spray, and water leaving the landscaped area.
4
For drip, inspect accessible tubing and confirm water reaches the intended plants.
5
Photograph each issue and label it by zone (“Front lawn, zone 2, head by mailbox”).
6
Review clock, selected days, run times, and every active program on the controller.
7
Check whether extra start times are soak cycles or leftover settings.
8
After repairs, run the affected zones again and keep the updated zone map.

Set aside a visit specifically for irrigation inspection. Bring your phone, a notepad, and a sketch showing which valve waters each area. Start one zone at a time so you can connect each problem to the correct setting. For sprinklers, look for heads that fail to rise, spray pavement, or are blocked by grass and shrubs. Notice misting, uneven spray patterns, and water escaping the landscaped area. For drip systems, inspect accessible tubing and connections, and confirm that water reaches the intended plants. Different irrigation devices distribute water differently, so they need settings appropriate to their operation. Rancho Water: Irrigation Systems (https://www.ranchowater.com/DocumentCenter/View/235/Water-Using-Technology---Landscape-Water-Use-Efficiency) Photograph each issue and label it by zone. “Front lawn, zone 2, head by mailbox” is much more useful than “sprinklers need work.” Then review the controller. Confirm the clock, selected days, run times, and every active program. Check whether extra start times are intentional soak cycles or settings left over from an earlier schedule. Seasonal adjustments and cycling are useful only when the controller is programmed deliberately. Rancho Water: Irrigation Timers (https://www.ranchowater.com/DocumentCenter/View/6/Outdoor-Water-Use-Efficiency---Irrigation-Timers) After repairs, run the affected zones again. Keep the updated zone map with your maintenance notes so the next inspection is quicker.

Sources

Rancho Water: Irrigation Systems — https://www.ranchowater.com/DocumentCenter/View/235/Water-Using-Technology---Landscape-Water-Use-Efficiency Rancho Water: Irrigation Timers — https://www.ranchowater.com/DocumentCenter/View/6/Outdoor-Water-Use-Efficiency---Irrigation-Timers