Turning on Your Sprinkler System

4 easy steps to turn your sprinkler system back on for Spring

Spring is here, the snow is gone, and it’s time to get your yard green again! Turning your sprinkler system back on can feel intimidating, especially as a new homeowner. You don’t want to break anything or risk damaging your landscape.

At LMS Inc., we manage irrigation systems for commercial sites and HOAs all across Utah, so spring startup is something we do a lot of this time of year. We have 4 steps that will help you safely bring your system back online and set your yard up for a healthy season.

Before you begin, remember that every sprinkler system is set up a little differently. Pay attention to how yours is built and follow the right steps.

Here are the 4 basic steps to get your system running the right way.

(We recommend waiting until Mother's Day to turn your sprinklers back on)

Step 1 - Open up your backflow preventer

This is only applicable if you have a culinary system, but it is very important. Your backflow preventor looks like this.

During the winterization of your system, you would have had to open up the bleeder screws and partially close the shutoff valves (or even have the whole thing taken off) to avoid water freezing inside and cracking it.

You will need to open the shutoff valves (make them go parallel with the flow of the pipe they are connected to, like the image below) and close the bleeder screws (Turn them to horizontal to the openings). This ensures that when you turn the water back on to the system, it will not shoot out of your backflow preventer. (Also make sure the backflow preventer isn't cracked from the winter)

Step 2 - Turn on the water

This step will split into a few options to cover the different ways your system may be set up, so pay attention to which applies to you.

Culinary Water System

(Outdoor shutoff)

If you have a culinary system, and you have an outdoor shutoff, you will need a 'Stop & Waste Key' to turn your water back on. You will stick the key down in the ground to where your water shutoff valve is and SLOWLY open the valve (lefty loosey, righty tighty).

I cannot stress enough that you need to turn it SLOWLY! If you open it up too quickly, the water will rush into your system, and the pressure will break the pipes. This is called a water hammer, and you do not want to deal with it. Ensure you turn it very SLOWLY, and in small increments, and you will have nothing to worry about!

Stop & Waste Key

(Indoor shutoff)

If your shutoff valve is not outside, it is more than likely in your basement. Find the valve to your sprinkler system (not your main water system) and SLOWLY open it up. Any time you open up a water valve, play it safe and do it slower than you expect to avoid water hammering.

Secondary Water System

There are several ways that your city or community may have your secondary water system set up, it may have extra or different valves and shutoffs, so double check with someone to find out how yours is and what the best course of action would be.

But as a generality, there should be a filter, and a shutoff valve. (possibly another valve, check with your city) Ensure that the filter is closed, and again, SLOWLY open up the shutoff valve. You may get tired with how often we tell you to open the valve SLOWLY, but we would prefer you don't experience a water hammer firsthand. So do it SLOWLY!

"Open your shutoff valves SLOWLY!! No, SLOWER than that!!" – LMS Inc.

Step 3 - Test your sprinklers for damage

After SLOWLY opening up your shutoff valves, the water will be able to flow through your system. This is the perfect time to test your sprinklers and drip lines for damage that may have happened over the winter.

Either with your sprinkler clock, or with individual bleeder valves, turn on one section of your sprinklers at a time. (if you use a bleeder valve, make sure you tighten it back up after you are done) It may take a little bit for the air to get pushed out of the system and water to flow through, so give it a minute at first. For each section you turn on, walk around your yard, keeping an eye out for leaking pipes, broken sprinkler heads, or disconnected drip lines.

Perform any needed repairs that you find (hopefully you will have none).

Step 4 - Set your sprinkler clock

Having water flowing through your sprinkler system won't mean anything if you don't have it set to water for the right amount of time. Rain Bird has really good in-depth videos that shows how to do this (if your clock is a Rain Bird) linked here that we recommend watching.

Here is also a general watering guide below given by the Water Conservancy District. It is a good general starting point that should apply in most situations. You may want to adjust your settings depending on weather patterns, how your plants react to your settings, and your areas climate.

Recap

To re-cap the steps we went over today...

1. Open your backflow preventer

2. Turn on the water (SLOWLY!!)

3. Test your system

4. Set your sprinkler clock

   
   

Follow these steps each year and your yard will be set for a great spring and summer of fun! Don't forget to winterize your system again later in the year when the time comes.

Now that you've turned on your sprinkler system...

There is more to keeping your landscape pristine than just turning on the water every year. If you want more tips and advice to maintain and upkeep your yard, you can check out our maintenance resources where we give advice on watering your plants, managing a new landscape, winterizing, and more!

We hope you found these tips helpful and hope you enjoy your yard for years to come!