Sprinkler symptoms can overlap. The goal of troubleshooting is not to guess at a part—it is to narrow the problem safely and collect useful observations before deciding what to repair.
01
Watch the entire zone operate
Run the dry zone in the morning and walk it. Look for heads that do not pop up, arcs that stop short of the brown edge, and water blowing off the lawn. Wind in Abilene moves spray patterns more than a longer runtime will.
02
Compare nozzle patterns and head spacing
A rotor next to a spray head, or a nozzle pointed into a fence, leaves a dry strip no schedule can fix. Match the nozzle to the area and set the arc so water stays on the turf.
03
Account for caliche, clay, and runoff
Water that puddles and then runs to the street is not soaking the dry spot. Hard caliche and clay need cycle-and-soak, with a pause between short runtimes, after the heads are actually covering the brown area.
04
Repair coverage before adding run time
Follow the City of Abilene’s current outdoor watering days and hours. Extra minutes on a broken head waste the days you are allowed to water. Fix the coverage, then set the controller to the restriction schedule.
When to request a sprinkler diagnostic
Request help when water will not shut off, a leak is causing erosion, electrical troubleshooting is required, or repeated adjustments do not restore even coverage.
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