Elite Sprinkler Systems

09/08/2026

Brown patches in September aren't always drought. Sometimes the sprinklers are lying to you.

A tilted head. A clogged nozzle. Two zones overlapping in one corner while the strip by the driveway gets mist. The lawn keeps score all summer — and shows you the results in patches.

Here's why it matters right now: fall is when Michigan lawns actually recover. Overseeding, root growth, cooler nights. All of it needs even water. Fix the coverage now and the lawn does the rest by November.

We wrote a full troubleshooting guide. Link in the comments. ⬇️

08/21/2026

Two yards. Same block. One $180 water bill. One $90. Same size lawn.

The $90 yard isn't magic. Zones tuned to their sun exposure. MP rotators where the old sprays used to mist half their water into the air. A controller that knows it rained yesterday. The $180 yard? Original 2008 install. Original schedule. Never touched since.

Getting from one to the other usually isn't a rebuild — it's an afternoon of adjustments. Free estimates. We'll walk your yard and tell you where the water's actually going.

Rather have it handled all season? Our $200/year maintenance plan covers spring start-up, a mid-season check, and fall close-out — plus 10% off repairs.

Link in the comments. ⬇️

08/14/2026

July's water bill just hit the mailbox. If it stung, read this.

A smart controller watches the weather so you don't have to. Rain overnight? It skips the morning cycle. Stretch of 90° days? It adds run time. No more watering in a thunderstorm because the old box thinks 6 AM means 6 AM, every day, no matter what.

We install Hunter, Rain Bird, and Rachio — authorized dealer for all three. Controller swaps run $200 to $500 installed, depending on the unit and your zone count.

Want a recommendation for your setup? Link in the comments. ⬇️

07/31/2026

August is one phone call away. Two reminders for Metro Detroit homeowners.

1) Schedule mid-summer service now. August fills up fast every year. We're already booking 1 to 2 weeks out for non-emergency work.
2) Start thinking winterization. Blowout season opens in September. Returning customers who bundle start-up plus winterization get a discount.

Family-owned. 2-year warranty. Free estimates. Same family since 2014.

Get a free estimate → elitesprinklersystems.com/quote/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer2026&utm_content=august-preview

Request a free irrigation quote from Elite Sprinkler Systems. We serve Ferndale, Birmingham, Sterling Heights, and all of Metro Detroit. Fast response, expert service.

07/28/2026

Peak July heat just rolled through. Here's the 7-point check that gets your system through the back half of summer.

Head alignment. Pressure check. Coverage walk-through. Controller schedule review. Filter clean. Backflow check. Leak inspection. Full mid-summer checklist just went up — what to look for at each step, including the issues we see most after peak July: heat-driven seal wear and clay-soil cracking heading into August.

Do it yourself or book us. Either way, don't skip it.

Read the checklist → elitesprinklersystems.com/blog/mid-summer-sprinkler-tune-up-michigan/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer2026&utm_content=mid-summer-tuneup

Elite Sprinkler Systems provides expert sprinkler installation, repair, and water conservation in Ferndale, Metro Detroit, and surrounding Michigan communities.

07/24/2026

Three signs your system is silently wasting water this month.

1) Brown patches in zones that "look fine" when running. Usually a clogged nozzle or tilted head.
2) Pooling at the lowest point of a zone. Usually a leaking head seal.
3) Mister spray when it should be a solid stream. Pressure drop from a hidden leak.

A 30-minute mid-summer walk-through catches all three. We do these flat-rate. Find something serious? You've already got us on-site.

Book a tune-up → elitesprinklersystems.com/maintenance/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer2026&utm_content=mid-summer-checks

Annual irrigation maintenance plans in Metro Detroit — bundles spring start-up, mid-season tune-up, and fall winterization with priority scheduling. Call (586) 498-6112.

07/21/2026

Sprinklers running when the system's off? Shut the water off at the backflow NOW. Then read this.

A sprinkler that won't stop is one of four things. Stuck solenoid. Failed diaphragm. Controller short. Open manual bleeder. We walk the emergency shutoff first, then the diagnostic flow chart to figure out which one you've got.

Urgent one. Bookmark it.

Read the diagnostic → elitesprinklersystems.com/blog/sprinkler-running-when-off-michigan/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer2026&utm_content=running-when-off

Elite Sprinkler Systems provides expert sprinkler installation, repair, and water conservation in Ferndale, Metro Detroit, and surrounding Michigan communities.

07/17/2026

Why 24 to 48 hours matters.

Sprinkler emergencies don't wait. Valve stuck open. Water pouring into your yard at 60 PSI. "We can fit you in next Tuesday" doesn't cut it.

That's why we hold emergency slots open every week. Most calls scheduled inside 24 to 48 hours. Can't make it that fast? We tell you straight so you can decide.

Family-owned since 2014.

elitesprinklersystems.com/go/fb

07/14/2026

Backflow test or replacement? Here's what Michigan homeowners actually pay.

Michigan requires annual backflow testing on irrigation. That's the law. Not a sales pitch. Testing runs $75 to $150. Replacement when it fails runs $350 to $800 — depends on type. PVB. RPZ. AVB.

We cover compliance, permits, and when to test vs replace.

Read the guide → elitesprinklersystems.com/blog/backflow-preventer-replacement-cost-michigan/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer2026&utm_content=backflow-cost

07/10/2026

90° this week. Three things to do with your system before Wednesday.

1) Bump run-times up 20 to 25%. Not frequency. Depth is what protects roots in heat.
2) Check the morning cycle ran. One missed zone in this heat = brown spot in three days.
3) Walk the yard after the cycle finishes. Saturated spots = a hidden leak. You're paying for that water.

Heat amplifies every weak point in a system. We're booked a few days out — call early if something looks off.

📞 (586) 498-6112