Irrigation Activation in Plano, TX

Sprinkler Start-Up in Plano

The arrival of spring irresistibly sends everyone outside to enjoy the beautiful landscape. It is also the time to activate your irrigation system and ensure the lawn receives sufficient water to stay green. But before restarting your sprinklers, verify if the equipment is operating adequately.

After staying inactive during the winter season, it is quite common for even the best irrigation system to have cracks. If the unit was not protected with a sprinkler winterization service, chances are great that the freezing temperatures caused the excess water to expand and break vital components.

As such, a precise sprinkler start-up is important at this time of the year to detect malfunctioning parts and system leaks. Otherwise, expect to encounter inconsistent irrigation patterns, high-water bills, or even an inoperable unit after the reactivation.

Best Time to Turn On the Sprinklers

Timing is of the essence when it comes to the sprinkler activation. Especially because the weather has lately turned quite unpredictable. At times, it seems as if spring has started when suddenly snow begins to fall. This could wreak havoc on your landscape during the spring season.

So, what is the best time to activate an irrigation system in this area? Typically, we recommend property owners to restart their sprinklers when spring is full broom, which is normally between March and April. Before turning on the irrigation system, consider the long-range weather forecast as a guideline.

Confirm that night temperatures stay consistently above freezing degrees for days or even several weeks before planning the reactivation. If, by any chance, there are unexpected cold snaps, shut down the controller to disable the equipment.

Common DIY Activation Mistakes

Whether you have typical residential sprinklers or a commercial irrigation system, the spring start-up cannot be ignored. Nonetheless, most property owners may be reluctant to go outside and get their hands dirty. Hence, they are tempted to simply turn on the equipment without any sort of assistance.

A sprinkler start-up may seem a rather straightforward affair, but nothing could be further from the truth. It requires patience. Attempting to abruptly open the water supply during the activation could create an unexpected pressure surge that might cause trouble for various components. The air must gradually flow through the system to avoid bursting the backflow preventer, underground pipes, control valves, or sprinkler heads.

Furthermore, if the equipment is not thoroughly assessed during the start-up and there are unperceivable malfunctions affecting the system, then anticipate paying for a Carrollton sprinkler repair within the next couple of months. Reactivating an irrigation unit without taking the necessary precautions is a mistake.

How to Turn On an Irrigation System

As the winter temperatures cease and it begins to get warm, you will need help to restart the lawn sprinklers. Our licensed technicians can test the system to guarantee that all essential components are operating seamlessly to handle the rigors of the watering season. The service of our professional sprinkler activation usually includes:

• Opening the system’s main supply valve slowly to gradually fill the pipes with water.
• Verifying that the station valves are functioning correctly by manually activating all sprinkler zones.
• Washing clogged nozzles that are performing poorly or replacing them in case of winter damage.
• Adjusting the water pressure, irrigation coverage, and rotation of the sprinkler heads.
• Conducting an irrigation cycle test and inspecting the system to detect potential leaks.
• Reprogramming the control panel according to the current season and replacing its backup batteries.
• Recommending optional or necessary sprinkler system upgrades.