Living in New England, we know that with each season comes different responsibilities for taking care of your yard. If you use an irrigation system on your lawn, you probably turned it off and winterized it for the season sometime around late November. But now that the snow and cold weather is (hopefully) behind us, you’re probably wondering, what’s the next step? When is an appropriate time to turn the irrigation system back on and start the process towards a green lawn? Here are a few tips to properly turn your system back on.
Check for Frozen Lawn
The best way to tell if its an appropriate time to turn your sprinkler back on, is if the ground is completely thawed. Although a few nice 50 degree days might be enough to melt the piles of snow on the surface, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ground isn’t still partially frozen. Theoretically, you should be able to dig into the soil about one foot to determine if it’s ready. If you give this a try and realize that you get stopped by frozen ground about halfway down, wait another week or two to try. The worst thing you can do is rush it; Starting your system to early could cause broken water lines if the ground is cold enough.
Inspect Sprinkler Valves
Before turning on the sprinkler, you should check each sprinkler valve to ensure that there are no leaks or damage. You should also take a look at the sprinkler head. If you do find damage, you can buy a new head to replace it. However, more extensive damage might require a repair project where you’d want to hire a professional to ensure the job gets done right.
Turn on Water Slowly
When you’re ready to turn your system on this spring, it’s important to remember that the water needs to be turned on slowly. If it’s done too quickly it can cause a water hammer, which is a high-pressure surge of water, potentially causing a sprinkler head to pop off or fittings to burst. The valves need time to adapt to the pressure, which is why turning on water slowly is crucial.
Contact Berardi Irrigation
If you need assistance turning on your irrigation system this spring, call the experts to ensure it is done properly. Berardi Irrigation serves clients in Canton, Braintree, Hingham, and beyond. Fill out an online contact form or give us a call today at 781-828-2029!
