If you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota, you know how to celebrate spring.
Hide your winter boots. Dust off the grill. Run out into the front yard barefoot and reunite with that wonderful green stuff called your lawn.
And spring means it’s time to activate your irrigation system again, woohoo!
When to start up your sprinkler system in spring? That happens between mid-April and the end of May, depending on the weather.
But before you turn on your sprinkler system after winter, you need to really take a look at it.
Winter is long here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and all irrigation systems need attention.
Approximately 80 percent of them need at least a minor repair after winter.
How to de-winterize your irrigation system?
Put away those mittens and let’s take a look.
1. Inspect Your Sprinkler Heads
Physically inspect every single sprinkler head. There’s a lot that can go wrong:
- Frost can cause the ground to heave and nudge your sprinkler heads out of whack. That means they might spray your driveway instead of your lawn.
- The ground probably settled a bit over the winter months. Are the heads sitting high enough so they’re not spraying things they shouldn’t? Adjustments might be needed.
- Heads could be leaking.
- A snowplow might have caused damage.
- Residue in the line can flow to the heads once the water is turned on, clogging the head without you even realizing it.
- A fitting might have come loose.
You get the idea. Check every single head thoroughly before you start up your sprinkler system after winter.
2. Adjust Your Irrigation Controller
Before you turn on your irrigation system for spring, you’ll need to reprogram all the settings — what time of day it should run and for how long.
A lot of people unplug their irrigation controller for the winter and it loses all its settings. Now it’s time to de-winterize your irrigation system, and adjusting your controller is key.
Even if you didn’t unplug it, chances are your settings will be all wrong. Spring is cold and wet. Your settings shouldn’t be the same as in August, when it’s 90 degrees with no rain.
Adjust the controller with the seasons.
3. Check Your Rain Sensor
If you have a rain sensor, make sure the batteries are still working and that it’s clear and not obstructed by debris.
4. Test Every Irrigation Zone
Before you start up your sprinkler system in spring, make sure each of your zones turn on and off and run properly.
Things happen, when you don’t even realize it:
- Lightning may have zapped your system.
- There may be a leak.
- An animal might have chewed through the pipe.
- Maybe a zone won’t shut off.
Any of these issues, or others, could be causing your system to waste water and cost you money.
5. Tired Yet? Hire a Pro for Spring Sprinkler System StartUp
Spring is a big deal here in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It’s time to grab your flip flops, shed your parka, and celebrate — why waste it fiddling around with spring sprinkler system startup?
Leave it to the irrigation specialists at RainMaster. Then, when the time comes, you don’t have to do a thing.
We’ll inspect all your irrigation system components, adjust your controller, test everything to make sure it’s all running smoothly, and make any necessary adjustments.
Any leaks, tweaks, or problems after the long winter? No worries.
Ready for Spring Sprinkler System Activation? Trust RainMaster
Startup your sprinkler system in spring the easy way, with RainMaster.
Not all Eau Claire or Minneapolis lawn sprinkler maintenance companies make things easy.
Your choice makes the difference.
Choose RainMaster, and we make it easy, from start to finish. You don’t even have to worry about scheduling your maintenance appointment. Our automatic scheduling takes care of that.
Proper irrigation is key to your lawn’s health, and that means a sprinkler system that won’t let you down, from spring activation to fall winterization and the busy summer months in between.
Need spring sprinkler system activation to get your system running properly and efficiently? It’s part of our comprehensive irrigation maintenance programs. Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it — no matter what the season.
