We find and fix sprinkler problems in Amarillo-area yards: broken heads, leaks, dead zones, valves that will not close, frozen backflow devices and controllers that lose their programs. When you call this number, you reach the team that does the work.
Through the year
| Season | What usually goes wrong here | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | Freeze-cracked backflow devices and fittings show up at the first start-up. | Spring start-up: pressurize slowly, check each zone, fix leaks. |
| May–September | Wind, heat and broken heads leave brown patches; high water bills. | Head and coverage repair, run-time tuning. |
| Any time | A zone will not turn on or will not shut off. | Valve and wiring repair. |
| Late October | First hard freeze. | Winterization and backflow protection. |
Services
Heads, nozzles, coverage and pressure.
Wet spots, freeze damage and broken lines.
Zones that won't start or won't stop.
Timers, smart controllers and rain/freeze sensors.
Spring start-up and fall winterization.
Installs, extensions and drip for beds.
Sprinkler run-time calculator
How long should a zone run? Pick the head type and how much water the lawn needs.
Precipitation rates are typical manufacturer figures; the real rate of your zone depends on spacing and pressure. A catch-cup test (set out straight-sided cups, run the zone 15 minutes, measure) gives your exact number. Summer bermudagrass in the Panhandle commonly needs about 1 to 1.5 inches a week from rain plus irrigation; check the TexasET Network for current local evapotranspiration.
Irrigation in the Panhandle: the local facts
Amarillo sits around 3,600 feet up on the Llano Estacado. It gets only about 20 inches of precipitation in a normal year, much of it in late-spring and summer storms, and it is one of the windiest cities in the country. Wind pushes spray off target and dries turf fast, so many local systems run longer than they need to. Low-angle rotors, pressure-regulated heads and early-morning schedules make a real difference here.
Most of the area has heavy clay loam soils (the Pullman series is the classic one) with a hard caliche layer underneath in many yards. Clay takes water slowly, which is why we recommend splitting run times into short cycles. Caliche also makes trenching slow, which affects repair and installation prices.
The first hard freeze usually arrives in late October or early November, and frost can still happen into mid-April. Backflow preventers and above-ground piping are the parts that crack most often. Drain or winterize before the first freeze and wait for steady warm weather before turning back on.
Texas rules that apply to sprinkler work
- In Texas, installing, repairing or changing a landscape irrigation system for pay requires a license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1903 and 30 TAC Chapter 344.
- Every system connected to drinking water must have an approved backflow prevention device. Many Texas water utilities also require backflow assemblies to be tested; ask the City of Amarillo or your utility what applies to your address.
- New automatic systems must include a rain or moisture shut-off device.
- Texas requires cities over 20,000 people to run a permit and inspection program for new irrigation installs. Check with the City of Amarillo (or Canyon) before a new system goes in.
- Call Texas 811 at least two business days before digging so buried utilities are marked. See Texas 811.
Sources: TCEQ landscape irrigation licensing; NOAA climate normals for Amarillo.
Before you call
It helps to know which zone has the problem, whether the controller shows it running, and roughly when it started. If water is gushing, close the main irrigation shut-off valve (often next to the backflow device or in a box near the meter) and call us. Typical prices are on the cost page and how we handle visits is on how we work.