Yard Drainage or an Irrigation Leak: How to Tell

A wet patch does not tell you where the water came from. An irrigation leak, rainfall runoff, roof discharge and a low surface can look similar after the event. Useful observations help an assessment begin with the source instead of an assumption that every soggy yard needs a drain.

Record when the water appears

Note whether the patch develops while a specific sprinkler station runs, remains wet with the controller off or appears only after rain. Photograph the area during the event. Include the nearby heads, downspouts and surface slopes in the picture rather than taking only a close-up of the puddle.

Understand the controller limit

Turning a timer off stops its commands but may not stop water through a stuck valve or a supply-side leak. If you know the separate irrigation shutoff and can safely operate it, isolate the system and explain the result when calling. Avoid opening electrical equipment or digging around unknown utilities.

Review roof and surface runoff

A downspout can concentrate water beside a bed that otherwise drains well. A changed patio or new edging can redirect surface flow. Identify where water enters the area and where it could suitably go before choosing a collection point or underground route.

Ask what the proposed solution addresses

An irrigation repair should identify the failed component and verify the system afterward. A drainage proposal should explain collection, conveyance, outlet and restoration. A French drain, catch basin and grade correction are different tools; one is not automatically a substitute for another.

Keep permission and boundaries in view

Do not assume water can be discharged toward a neighbor, street system or nearby lake. Confirm the requirements for the actual property and proposed outlet. Identify buried irrigation and utilities before excavation and clarify the surface restoration included.

Call (855) 624-0776 to discuss irrigation leak assessment or landscape drainage. Provide the address, timing of the problem and photographs if available. These observations support assessment; they do not establish a diagnosis by themselves.