How to Describe a Sprinkler Problem
Describe what the system is doing and where it happens. You do not need to identify the failed part before asking Clover to review a sprinkler repair request.
Locate the problem on the property
Start with the service address and the affected area, such as the front lawn beside the driveway or the rear bed near the patio. If you know the controller’s zone number or label, include it. If not, describe the location in everyday words.
Mention whether one sprinkler, several sprinklers in the same area or the whole system seems affected. Include when you first noticed it and whether anything changed nearby, such as digging or other landscape work.
- Affected area and zone label, if known.
- One head, several heads or the whole system.
- When the problem appears and how often.
- Recent work or changes near the affected area.
Describe the symptom without guessing the repair
Useful observations include a head that does not rise, spray directed onto pavement, uneven coverage or a damaged visible head. Pooling between watering cycles can be a sign of a leak, but an observation alone does not establish the cause.
Tell us whether water continues after the normal cycle or whether a patch stays unusually wet. Do not run a suspected leaking system just to demonstrate it for a photo.
- What you expected to happen and what happened instead.
- Whether the issue happens during watering, afterwards or both.
- Any displayed controller message, copied exactly if it is visible.
- Controller make and model, only if you can read it without opening equipment.
Use a wide view and an optional detail
A wide photo can locate the affected head or wet area in relation to the lawn, garden and house. A second photo can show visible damage or the controller display. Photos are optional, and a written description can start the enquiry.
Stay on safe ground. Do not open electrical housings, touch wiring, loosen pressurised fittings or attempt a repair to collect information for the enquiry.
Separate repairs from seasonal service
If you are also requesting startup or a fall blowout, mention the existing fault separately. A seasonal service request should not leave an unresolved leak or damaged head unmentioned.
Send the address, observations, preferred timing and access details. Clover reviews the request before confirming the work and pricing. A remote description does not guarantee a diagnosis, a particular repair or a same-day visit.
Sources and local context
Guidance reviewed 13 November 2026. The source supports common signs of sprinkler problems. This is an enquiry checklist, not instructions for working on electrical equipment or pressurised irrigation parts.