If you want to keep your grass looking greener for longer, you can’t go wrong with a reliable residential irrigation system. Of course, going with a professional irrigation system does require some level of financial investment. And like any improvement to your home, you need to be sure that your irrigation system will last for quite some time. Fortunately, an irrigation system life expectancy is pretty impressive considering all that goes into it. But just like changing the oil on your car and taking it for routine maintenance checks, there are steps you’ll need to take to get the most life out of your irrigation system.
Irrigation System Life Expectancy
With regular usage and proper maintenance, you can generally expect to get, on average, about 20 years of life out of your total irrigation system before it’s time to replace. Just as you replace the tires and wiper blades on your vehicle from time to time, certain components like heads and nozzles will need to be replaced more frequently throughout the lifetime of the irrigation system. But on average, your system as a whole should get you to right around the 20-year mark.
That being said, there are two approaches you can take when it comes to upgrading your irrigation system. On the one hand, you can always take the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, the technology available 20 years ago pales in comparison to what’s on the market today. And the technology 20 years from now will most certainly dwarf the state-of-the-art equipment of today. From smart tech to more efficient heads to more sensitive controls, there will ALWAYS be optional upgrades to help maximize your system, keep your lawn healthy, and minimize water usage.
How to Get More Life Out of Your Irrigation System
While no irrigation system is going to last forever, there are steps you can take to ensure that you’re getting the most life out of your irrigation system. Below are a few tips to help extend the lifetime of your irrigation system.
Regular Maintenance
The absolute best way to keep your irrigation system running optimally for a long long time is to have a reputable irrigation company perform regular maintenance checks. This includes spring start-up services to ensure your system’s components are in proper working order after the winter months as well as mid-season maintenance to make sure that the summer elements aren’t inhibiting your system.
Annual Winterization
Every fall, you’ll want to contact your preferred irrigation company and have them come out to winterize your irrigation system. Best left to the professionals, this process involves blowing any excess water out of the system ahead of the sub-zero temperatures to ensure your pipes, heads, and other components don’t crack or rupture as temperatures drop.
Repair or replace components as necessary
As previously mentioned, while an irrigation system might get you 20+ years of service, there will be certain components of your system that will wear out and need to be replaced sooner than that. Nozzles wear out after a couple years and heads might get you anywhere between 2 to 10 years depending on quality. You’ll want to keep an eye on the system and how it operates and be prepared to address any problems that arise (or work with your irrigation company to set up a regular service agreement and let their experts handle it). In either case, it’s always best to address and fix small problems before they escalate into major issues.
Conclusion
An irrigation system is a worthwhile investment for any homeowner looking to keep their lawn green and healthy throughout the year. But it’s not going to be a “set it and forget it” feature by any means. Parts will need replacing on occasion and you may experience glitches or other unforeseen issues from time to time. Your best bet when it comes to getting the most life out of your irrigation system is going to be setting up a service agreement with a reputable lawn irrigation company like Green Turf. Our team of irrigation experts can work with you to come up with a maintenance and service plan that works to extend your irrigation system’s life expectancy. For more information, contact Green Turf.
