Spring Start-Ups

Your Go-To Choice For Sprinkler Startup

Before the start of winter, sprinkler systems are turned off and all the water removed from pipes in order to prevent freezing and breakage – a process known as winterization.


However, come the end of winter and the start of spring, your plants start needing water again. In order to avoid plant death and weed growth, it is important to get your sprinkler system up and running again. A sprinkler startup refers to the process by which a sprinkler system is restarted using water. Starting up your sprinkler system in a timely manner helps prevents damage to pipes and backflow devices.

Our Steps for Spring Start-Ups

  • Set The Controller
  • Adjust The Rain Sensor
  • Check Rain Sensor For Performance
  • Adjust Each Head
  • Evaluate Pressure Reading
  • Straighten Heads
  • Check For Root Squeeze Damage To All Sprinkler Lines
  • Clean Out Valve Box
  • Check Plant Growth Have Not Grown Over Sprinklers
  • Check For Leaks
  • Clean Out Nozzles (If Necessary)
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL US (516) 255-9595

When is the Best Time to Book a Sprinkler Startup Service?

There are a number of factors that determine the ideal sprinkler startup time, but the most important of those factors is the average nightly temperatures. A common rule is to look at the first week without freezing temperatures at night. Although this is a rule of thumb, you still need to watch out for a sneak up winter.


Depending upon your region, consistent night temperatures above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) could happen anywhere between March and May. We look at the long-range forecasts to determine the point at which temperatures are expected to be consistently above freezing point, before recommending customers to book a startup service.


Other than that, our County Irrigation professionals also ensure that the soil has been thawed to a depth of at least 12 inches. If you start the system too early in the spring, you run the risk of damaging pipes as well as other elements of your irrigation system, leading to expensive repairs and replacements. Hence, the key is to find the right balance between avoiding plant death and weed growth and not being taken by surprise by some late winter snaps.

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL US (516) 255-9595

Common Sprinkler Startup Mistakes

Starting Up a Sprinkler Is a Tricky Process, & There Are Several Mistakes That Could Occur Along the Way

For one, non-professional or rookie technicians tend to rush through the process, not allowing the irrigation system to go through a full cycle and observing each sprinkler head. Hence, often what happens is that, soon after startup is complete, customers discover that their sprinkler heads only go to one or two places before stopping completely. Since the technicians were in a hurry, they only performed a one- or two-minute test and did not let the sprinkler head complete its pattern. The sprinkler was going to stop midway but, since the technicians did not do a full assessment, they were unable to catch this.


While not rushing is obviously important, it is just as essential to have enough staff for the job. Most residential irrigation systems are too large for a single person to effectively start by themselves, and require at least two to three technicians. At County Irrigation, we perform a comprehensive assessment of your irrigation system and residential property (more on that later) and provide enough staff to ensure that the job is done thoroughly and correctly.


Sometimes, technicians would identify a problem but avoid fixing it – this is another common mistake that, at County Irrigations, we strive to avoid at all costs. If something needs repairing (a broken sprinkler, for example), it should be done right away. Many technicians would just cap the sprinkler and put off the repairs for later. As a result, once the irrigation system starts up, customers fail to notice the leakage because the sprinkler has been capped. But, at the same time, they observe brown spots on the grass since they are not receiving any water from the damaged sprinkler.


Other common but often costly blunders include not identifying or using isolation valves on looped mainlines, not ensuring that the gate valve/water shut off is fully closed, and not properly testing port valves and turning all the ball valves to a 45-degree angle.

Common Sprinkler Startup Mistakes

Starting Up a Sprinkler Is a Tricky Process, & There Are Several Mistakes That Could Occur Along the Way

For one, non-professional or rookie technicians tend to rush through the process, not allowing the irrigation system to go through a full cycle and observing each sprinkler head. Hence, often what happens is that, soon after startup is complete, customers discover that their sprinkler heads only go to one or two places before stopping completely. Since the technicians were in a hurry, they only performed a one- or two-minute test and did not let the sprinkler head complete its pattern. The sprinkler was going to stop midway but, since the technicians did not do a full assessment, they were unable to catch this.


While not rushing is obviously important, it is just as essential to have enough staff for the job. Most residential irrigation systems are too large for a single person to effectively start by themselves, and require at least two to three technicians. At County Irrigation, we perform a comprehensive assessment of your irrigation system and residential property (more on that later) and provide enough staff to ensure that the job is done thoroughly and correctly.

Sometimes, technicians would identify a problem but avoid fixing it – this is another common mistake that, at County Irrigations, we strive to avoid at all costs. If something needs repairing (a broken sprinkler, for example), it should be done right away. Many technicians would just cap the sprinkler and put off the repairs for later. As a result, once the irrigation system starts up, customers fail to notice the leakage because the sprinkler has been capped. But, at the same time, they observe brown spots on the grass since they are not receiving any water from the damaged sprinkler.


Other common but often costly blunders include not identifying or using isolation valves on looped mainlines, not ensuring that the gate valve/water shut off is fully closed, and not properly testing port valves and turning all the ball valves to a 45-degree angle.

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE

Why County Irrigation

At County Irrigation, we have been starting up sprinklers since 1979, and have compiled a long list of satisfied customers who testify to our premium services in the form of stellar reviews. Our skilled, trained, and experienced technicians follow the industry standard while safely and effectively turning your sprinkler system back on.

The Process Will Consist of the Following Steps:

  • Recharging the System by Turning On the Water at Each Valve
  • Turning the Controller On and Manually Starting Each Zone
  • Assessing Each Zone To Ensure That the Pipes Check for Damage or Debris in the Nozzles, Sprinkler Heads, Valves, & Pipes
  • Cleaning the Valve Boxes (This Is Important Because Critters Often Kick Up the Dirt or Gnaw at the Wires)
  • Cleaning out Grass From the Sprinklers Heads To Ensure They Pop Up Correctly
  • Ensuring the Controller Is Programmed & Operating Correctly
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL US (516) 255-9595

Why County Irrigation

At County Irrigation, we have been starting up sprinklers since 1979, and have compiled a long list of satisfied customers who testify to our premium services in the form of stellar reviews. Our skilled, trained, and experienced technicians follow the industry standard while safely and effectively turning your sprinkler system back on.

The Process Will Consist of the Following Steps:

  • Recharging the System by Turning On the Water at Each Valve
  • Turning the Controller On and Manually Starting Each Zone
  • Assessing Each Zone To Ensure That the Pipes Check for Damage or Debris in the Nozzles, Sprinkler Heads, Valves, & Pipes
  • Cleaning the Valve Boxes (This Is Important Because Critters Often Kick Up the Dirt or Gnaw at the Wires)
  • Cleaning out Grass From the Sprinklers Heads To Ensure They Pop Up Correctly
  • Ensuring the Controller Is Programmed & Operating Correctly
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL US (516) 255-9595

Give Us a Shot

County Irrigation’s combination of top-class technicians, industry-grade commercial equipment, and premium after-sales service makes it the best choice for your sprinkler startup needs – but don’t believe us just yet.

Allow Us To Provide You With Free-of-Cost Consultation, During Which We Will:

  • Thoroughly Assess Your Irrigation System & Property
  • Identify Any Problematic Areas & Make Recommendations
  • Provide an Expense Estimate
  • Work With You To Create a Plan of Action in Line With Your Personal & Financial Needs

We Will Save You Time, Water & Money