sprinkler system leak? (garage, yard, best)

[heartdurhamnc]

We noticed one spot on our lawn is always wet mushy. So we monitored our sprinkler meter I have attached the photos. The red arm moved. First photo was taken 1/1 and last photo taken 2/9. The guy said this is not a major leak to cause that wet spot. so he just winterize our sprinkler system


We usually have someone winterize our sprinkler system. He would blow out all the water in the system.
This time we used this man and he shut off the water from the street and also at the "pump". He removed the pump and said we can keep it in the garage and in spring he will put it back. He did not blow the water out. He said no need to blow out the water because it never get that cold here. Our pump has a cover.

He said the wet area is just low area and the water might just be flowing to it. He said shutting it off not we can see if the area is still wet.....


So about the leak. What is the best way to find this leak and also best way to winterize the system?

[m378]

Is it ALWAYS wet and mushy, or just wet and mushy this year? If it's still wet and mushy after they shut the water off, then it's obviously not a leak.

[Corgi Dad]

It doesn't appear any water flowed from 1/1 through 2/2. Then from 2/2 2/9, 10 gallons. That's barely over a gallon a day, probably not enough to cause a mushy area. Does that meter read only the sprinkler system? If you can, turn off the water to the system and see if the area dries up and that there is no increase in the meter readings. A bit of systematic logic and detective work will determine if there is a leak. Last year was a record wet year in our area. I have an area of wet soil in our yard and don't attribute it to a leak.

[heartdurhamnc]

m378-its always wet after the rain it is worse.

@Corgi Dad- yes that meter is just sprinkler system.1/1 through 2/2 the little red arm moved from 4 to 9. jan to Feb it is 10 gallons.

So now that the sprinkler system is off we will keep any eye.

[Corgi Dad]

It would help if you would do a good job of cleaning the glass on the gauge. Sorta hard to tell what the dial is reading. I could only see the digital numbers at the bottom but I don't know what the red arrow is reading.

[heartdurhamnc]

It rained this week and the spot looks wet. So what we think is the issue poor infiltration of water into the soil. Rest of the place looks okay.

So now how do we fix poor infiltration of water into the soil? Dig the area and mix soil with sand or something like that....


















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[cheapdad00]

My yard has been mushy all fall and winter, 1st time it's been this bad in the 7 years in this house. 10 gallons wont cause mushiness, but a wet season will.

[m378]

Originally Posted by heartdurhamnc

It rained this week and the spot looks wet. So what we think is the issue poor infiltration of water into the soil. Rest of the place looks okay.

So now how do we fix poor infiltration of water into the soil? Dig the area and mix soil with sand or something like that....

You can regrade, or put in a drain at the low spot. Clay soil does not drain well - I would personally just ignore it, but that's me. I think it's probably bothering you more this year than normal, because of all the rain.