Spring is the time to check your sprinkler system for a peak summer performance – it’s one of the most important things you can do to keep your system operating efficiently. Because automatic sprinkler systems often come on in the early morning hours – unobserved by their owners – leaks and other problems can go unnoticed for long periods of time – wasting water and damaging plants. By taking the time to check, repair, and adjust the sprinklers at the beginning of the watering season – and making periodic checks throughout the summer - you can be sure your plant are being watered properly, without wasting water.

Spring Checklist:

• Close all manual drains – the sprinkler system was probably drained last fall – and make sure that none of the manual drain valves have been left open.
  
• Slowly open the main valve and allow the mainline piping from the main valve to the backflow prevention to fill with water.
  
• Have the backflow prevention assembly tested by a state certified tester – many local water providers can supply a list of testers. [Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker’s (AVB’s) do not require at test]. Contact your local water provider for requirements.
  
• Pressurize the mainline from the backflow prevention assembly to the control valves – have one of the control valves open while you do this so that air trapped in the piping can escape through the sprinkler heads as the pipes fill with water.
  
• Run the entire sprinkler system, one zone at a time. As you do this, check for the following:
  
  

• Signs of leakage, caused by damage to the heads or piping during the winter months. Repair as needed.
• For nozzles that have gotten clogged and need to be cleaned.
• Nozzles and sprinkler that may need adjustments to reduce overspray onto walks, driveways, etc.
• Interference of the spray patterns that has occurred because plant material has been moved, play equipment has been installed, or if plants have just grown too tall.
• Adjustments that need to be made to the sprinklers to accommodate the changing landscape will eliminate dry spots and puddling caused by blocked spray.
• Overgrown grass that can impede spray heads – make sure to keep yours trimmed.
• Also, check for leaning spray heads.