5 Steps Before Turning on Your System If the weather is warming up and you are tempted to flip on your sprinklers hold that thought. Starting your irrigation system too early or without checking it can lead to cracked pipes flooded lawns wasted water and even violations of city water safety rules. In Claremore and Owasso most homeowners safely start their irrigation systems in early to mid April. That timing gives enough buffer past our average final frost which lands around March twenty nine. Soil should be thawed at least twelve inches deep before any water is introduced. Before you touch the controller or twist a valve take these five essential steps. Your lawn and wallet will thank you. Step 1: Confirm the Weather Is Truly Ready Do not go by temperature alone. Use two checkpoints Check the ten day forecast for overnight lows above freezing Probe your soil to make sure it is no longer cold and hard below the surface Running water through frozen or partially frozen ground can burst underground lines or damage fittings. Even if nothing breaks you will waste water because early spring soil often holds enough moisture from rainfall. Step 2: Inspect Your Controller and Any Sensors Head to your irrigation controller and verify the basics Make sure the date and time are accurate Replace the backup battery if your controller uses one Confirm any rain or soil moisture sensors are working rather than bypassed Many systems run all season with wildly incorrect settings simply because no one corrected the schedule after a power outage or daylight shift. Step 3: Look Over Your Backflow Preventer If your irrigation system is tied to city water you are required to have a backflow prevention device. Its purpose is to protect the public water supply by stopping dirty lawn water from being siphoned back into your drinking line. Do a visual inspection Look for cracks Make sure test ports and caps are closed Check fittings for looseness or corrosion In many Oklahoma cities the backflow must be tested once a year by a certified technician. If you are unsure whether you are due for testing Greenman Lawncare can check your records and handle the process. Step 4: Slowly Repressurize the Main Line Never open the irrigation shutoff valve all at once. Turn it gradually so the system fills at a steady pace. Opening it too quickly can cause water hammer which is a sudden pressure spike that can crack pipes damage valves and blow out sprinkler heads. If your system allows you can flush each zone briefly without the heads in place to push out debris and trapped air. Watch carefully for wet spots around valve boxes or main lines. A small bubble of water now will become a full blown leak once pressure increases. Step 5: Run Each Zone and Fix Sprinkler Issues Before Setting a Schedule Turn on every zone one at a time and walk the property. Look for Crooked or sunken heads Misting from too much pressure Clogged or missing nozzles Puddling or runoff Make small adjustments now so your water schedule is accurate and efficient. Bonus Tip: Use Cycle and Soak Watering for Our Local Soil The Claremore and Owasso areas include many clay and silt loam soils like Verdigris and Parsons varieties. Those soils hold water well but absorb slowly. Instead of running each zone for fifteen minutes straight try shorter cycles with rest time in between. Example Run for five minutes pause for thirty minutes then repeat twice more. This prevents puddling and ensures deep water penetration. Should You DIY or Hire a Pro You can safely perform most of the checks above with patience. If everything looks clean and pressurizes normally you are ready to program your seasonal watering routine. Call a professional when Water pressure is weak in certain zones Valves will not open or respond Cracks appear in the backflow housing Annual testing is required Most spring startup visits range from forty to one hundred fifty dollars. Startup and winterization packages often fall between one hundred and two hundred dollars. Ready for a Worry Free Start Performing this checklist takes less than an hour if everything goes smoothly. If you want complete peace of mind Greenman Lawncare offers full irrigation startup service in Claremore and Owasso. We will inspect your system repressurize it safely test vital components and correct any problems on the spot. Call Greenman Lawncare today to schedule your irrigation startup and protect your lawn from the very first watering of the season. Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, feel free to: Explore more: Check out related posts below Share: this post with someone who might find it useful
