Is one of the many questions I receive from Rain Rich clients. The truth is there is no definitive answer. I have systems I service that are 30 years old and I have replaced systems that were less than 5 years old (not my installation!). There are many factors and variables related to the lifespan of a sprinkler system, and the following is a list of my experiences and observations in the irrigation industry:
1. Quality of the components, the better the manufacturer and the grade of equipment the longer it will last.
2. All manufacturers make different grades of equipment for different economic markets. Always choose the better grade.
3. The irrigation design. Choosing the proper design, the correct pipe and pipe size, proper head spacing, the right equipment for the application, match the correct pressure with the equipment are important factors to consider before a shovel is ever placed in the
ground.
Recently in Repairs Category
This summer has been a challenge on many levels, the weather being the most extreme. Scheduling sprinkler systems to run, the frequency, and duration has been the focus the last several weeks. When we schedule the calls for controller adjustments we are also finding many other issues being discovered for the first time. To compound the situation is that the past several seasons have seen above average rainfall in June - August which has masked many of the problems in the system and in the yard. 
Every year your sprinkler system should be evaluated for proper coverage due to the fact that as sprinkler systems age the following occurs:
1. Sprinkler heads go out of adjustment.
2. Sprinkler heads are crooked and do not spray properly.
3. There are broken or partially broken sprinkler heads and pipes.
4. Sprinkler pipe is chocked off due to root growth.
July is the peak month for water usage in the U.S.
Sprinkler system usage accounts for an estimated 70% of all water used. It is the goal of Rain Rich Sprinklers and the National Irrigation Association to conserve water at all times. Clean fresh water is a precious commodity and should not to be wasted, especially with a growing population and an increase demand for agriculture and landscape use.
Rain Rich has been leading the way for more than 28 years to use water conserving designs and efficient sprinkler equipment to help save water, reduce cost, and provide a healthy landscape.
Every so often a zone will stay on long past its time to have shut down. Many times this is due to the solenoid valve or zone valve being stuck in the "open" position. You try to stop the zone from being "on" by turning the controller to "off" and the zone stays "on". Next, you remove the plug from the controller thinking that it can't get any power and yet the zone stays "on". The problem is hydraulic not electrical. Typically it is because there is dirt and debris in the zone valve preventing it from closing even though the controller has ceased sending a signal for the valve to be "open" or "on" the valve can't physically close. The only way to close down the zone is to shut off the sprinkler main valve.
We have turned the corner on spring and heading into summer, trees and shrubs are in their annual growth spurt. It is one of my favorite times of year when all the plants leaf out, the lawn is green, and almost every plant is flowering. As the weather turns significantly warmer the sprinklers should be operating on a frequent schedule - not like July but at about 70% of what would be normal summer watering. One of the more numerous service requests we hear is when a zone or section of sprinklers is not operating as it should.
