Spring Irrigation System Startup Checklist for Commercial Properties

Spring means it’s back to work for your commercial property’s irrigation system. Like bears and bugs, it’s had the winter off.

It’s time for irrigation system startup for commercial properties, a thorough process to safely bring your Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia commercial property irrigation system back online after winter and ensure everything operates efficiently.

Let’s learn more about sprinkler system startup in spring, including:

• Why is Commercial Irrigation System Startup So Important?  

• Your Spring Startup Saves You Money 

• Keep a Pro Eye on Things

• Are You Wasting Water?

• Smart Irrigation Saves Water, Detects Problems

• Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Irrigation System Spring Startup

Why is Commercial Irrigation System Startup So Important?

Your lawn and plants can’t survive without water. Keeping your irrigation system reliably chugging away is a key part of your commercial property landscape maintenance.

Getting your property’s irrigation system up and running as the spring watering season gets underway is important, for a few key reasons:

1. A Spring Inspection Detects Hidden Damage

Freezing temperatures during the winter can cause damage to pipes, backflow preventers, and sprinkler heads. A professional sprinkler system startup in spring identifies these issues before they become expensive problems.

2. It Ensures Water Efficiency

Regular maintenance, including checking for leaks and clogs, prevents unnecessary water waste. Faulty equipment can waste huge amounts of water.

3. Spring Startup Ensures All Your Lawn and Landscape Gets Watered

Irrigation technicians clear debris, replace broken heads, and adjust spray patterns to make sure your DC, Maryland or Virginia commercial property landscaping is evenly watered, preventing dry spots or overwatered areas.

4. Your Spring Startup Saves You Money

By identifying any leaks and broken components early, you can avoid costly emergency repairs later. An irrigation system that works properly also prevents dead plants that can be costly to replace. Your landscape plants need water to survive. If an irrigation zone isn’t working or sprinkler heads are missing some areas, plants will die and need to be replaced. That’s a big cost you want to avoid.

5. Spring Inspection Includes Important Seasonal Adjustments

Irrigation technicians will re-program your controller for the upcoming warmer weather to match the spring watering needs of your turf and plants.

Your Spring Irrigation Startup Checklist

What does spring startup include?

Expect irrigation pros to take these steps:

1. Initial Site Inspection

An irrigation technician will walk your commercial property to check for visible damage, including broken irrigation heads or other winter damage.

2. Gradual Water Activation

Technicians will slowly open the main shut-off valve. When you turn on the water for the first time, a surge of air pressure caused by the rush of water suddenly flowing into an empty pipe can burst fittings. Irrigation pros open the main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with water gradually. They’ll inspect the main line for any leaks as the water pressure builds.

3. Controller Setup and Programming

Irrigation system startup for commercial properties in DC, Maryland and Virginia includes adjusting your system’s controller, the brains of the operation.

The technician will power up and inspect your irrigation controller, setting it for the current date and time; set watering schedules based on spring watering needs and any local regulations; set zone run times and replace backup batteries if needed.

5. Check Each Irrigation Zone

They’ll run each irrigation zone individually and inspect for a variety of things, including:

Sprinkler Heads

Sprinkler heads are probably the most vulnerable part of your commercial irrigation system and a lot can happen to them over the winter:

• Frost can cause the ground to heave and nudge your sprinkler heads out of whack. That means they might spray your pavement or building instead of your lawn.
• The ground probably settled a bit over the winter months. Are the heads sitting high enough so they’re not spraying things they shouldn’t? Adjustments might be needed.
• Sprinkler heads could be leaking.
• A snowplow might have caused damage.
• Heads can get clogged with debris, which means too much water may hit some areas and not enough will reach others.

Irrigation technicians will make sure your system’s sprinkler heads are clear and working well before the watering season starts, and repair or replace any damaged heads.

Check Any Drip Irrigation

If you have drip irrigation as part of your irrigation system, technicians will check the emitters for any clogs or breaks and inspect tubing for leaks or disconnections.

6. Valve Inspection

Sprinkler valves regulate the distribution of water throughout the entire irrigation system. A leaky valve will waste water and increase your water bill.

During your Maryland commercial irrigation system startup, technicians will visually inspect each valve to make sure they open and close properly; check for leaks in the valve boxes and inspect the wiring.

7. Leak Detection and Repairs

Are there any leaks in your system’s lines, fittings, or connections?

Technicians will fix minor issues right away on site, if possible, and flag any repairs needed in a follow-up visit.

8. Check for Any Water Waste

Your DC commercial irrigation system startup includes checking for any water waste.

Technicians will make sure there’s no overspray onto pavement or buildings.

Irrigation pros should advise you about any irrigation system upgrades that can save you water and money, from more efficient nozzles to smart controllers. (More on this in a bit.)

9. Final System Test

Technicians will run your system to make sure each zone is running the way it should.

10. You Get a Helpful Service Report

You’ll get a service report that includes any issues technicians discovered and repaired; any recommended repairs or upgrades and your current controller settings.

Keep a Pro Eye on Things

Your DC, Maryland or Virginia commercial irrigation system startup kicks off the irrigation season, but our irrigation management team will check back a couple more times throughout the growing season to check the water pressure, adjust spray heads, test zones and make any needed repairs.

Level Green horticulturalists make sure your irrigation system meets the water needs of the specific plants on your property. The irrigation zone that waters your thirsty begonias will be set to run longer than the zone that waters your perennial bed with drought-tolerant native plants.

Your spring start-up includes precise adjustments to make sure every plant gets the water it needs to thrive.

Are You Wasting Water? Efficiency is on Your Spring Irrigation Startup Checklist

If your commercial property has a very basic or older irrigation system, updates are available that can make your system much more efficient.

Irrigation pros can upgrade your irrigation system with advanced nozzles, heads and smart controllers.

Smart Irrigation Saves Water, Detects Problems

Smart irrigation controls use local weather forecasts and your unique landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules perfect for your property.

Don’t worry about your watering schedule — smart controls take care of it. They automatically adjust for weather changes, using as little water as possible while keeping your landscape healthy and happy. You can even make adjustments remotely from your smartphone.

Another benefit to this smart landscaping technology: it senses if there’s a problem with your irrigation system and alerts you. If there’s an electrical issue, a leak, or if anything isn’t quite right, you and your landscaping company get immediate notifications and can initiate repairs, before your grass has a chance to dry up and die, or you waste valuable water.

Watch for even more advanced technology as AI enters the irrigation scene, making smart controllers even more efficient and effective.

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Irrigation System Spring Startup

Q: When should irrigation spring startup happen in DC, Maryland and Virginia?

A: Startup visits here start in March, weather permitting, and should be completed by mid-April.

Q: What are common repairs needed during or after sprinkler system startup in spring?

A: The most common issues include replacing damaged or cracked sprinkler heads, repairing broken pipes, cleaning clogged nozzles, and fixing leaking valves. If a zone fails to turn on, the solenoid (the part that activates the valve) may need replacing.

Q: Once irrigation system spring startup is complete, how often should regular commercial irrigation system inspection visits take place?

A: Plan to have your commercial property irrigation system inspected at least twice a year, in addition to your spring startup and fall shutdown winterization visits.

The first inspection should happen in May or early June when the weather here just starts to get hot and irrigation becomes critical for plant material.

The second visit should be in late July or August in the heat of the summer, to

make sure your system is running well. Irrigation technicians can also adjust your controllers as needed at these visits to deliver more or less water as needed.

Leave Your Spring Irrigation System Startup To Level Green

There’s a long, hot summer ahead. Make sure your commercial property’s irrigation system is ready.

Level Green irrigation management technicians will turn on your water supply and check each zone of your system to make sure it’s working perfectly. They’ll check water pressure, inspect sprinkler heads, controls and sensors. If anything needs adjusting, fixing or replacing, we’re on top of it.

One of the biggest irrigation trends in commercial landscapes is efficiency. Keep in mind there are upgrades you can add to your system that will save you money in the long run.

Level Green Landscaping offers expert commercial irrigation management and maintenance for commercial properties that we currently service for landscape maintenance.

Looking for expert, reliable commercial irrigation services?

If you’re not already a Level Green Landscaping client, we’d love to add you to our growing list of happy customers.

Our focus is on commercial properties like offices, mixed-use sites, HOAs, municipalities and institutions in Maryland, Washington DC and parts of Virginia.

Contact us at 202-544-0968. You can also request a free consultation online to meet with us one-on-one.

We’d love to hear from you.