Sprinkler Startup

What is a Sprinkler Startup?  A sprinkler startup is the process of turning the water on for a sprinkler system in the spring.  Once the water is turned on, the sprinkler timer can be set and each zone operated and checked for any leaks, plugged lines, filters or heads, and any heads that need to be adjusted.

Why do I need a sprinkler startup?  Almost anybody can do a sprinkler startup, but paying a professional will be $25 well spent.  The sprinkler technician will quickly and easily see any issues in your system.  Most of the time, he will make any repairs or minor adjustments that will help keep your lawn green all summer long at no additional charge.  He will quickly and easily program your timer with the proper settings to keep your lawn green and healthy without wasting a lot of water. 

When is a sprinkler startup needed?  Sprinkler startups should be done in early spring soon after the water is released into the irrigation canals.   

What else should I know about sprinkler startups?  Using the proper watering techniques is a vital part of Lawn Management.  When watering your lawn, the general rule of thumb is to water long and infrequently. We recommend watering 3 times a week, in the early morning starting between 5:00 and 8:00 am. This time frame will allow the water to penetrate the soil before the heat of the day burns it off and will not promote fungus growth. If you have pop-up sprayers that have a continuous spray pattern up to a 15’ radius, water for 20 minutes per zone. If you have Rotors that shoot a stream of water up to 40’, water for 60 minutes per zone. When it gets hotter in the summer, increase your watering times by up to 50%.

Do I need to be home for you to Start Up my sprinklers?  No, you do not. Our technician will turn on the water, check out the system and leave an invoice for you.  Any concerns or deficiencies will be noted with an estimate for repairs.

 
Can I cancel my appointment?  Yes you can.  Please call, text or email us no later than 5pm the day before your appointment and we will cancel your appointment.  Due to the high number of sprinklers systems to start up and blow out, and the limited availability of appointments, TV Sprinkler has instituted a " Late Cancellation Fee" policy that may result in a $25 fee if you cancel your appointment the day of your appointment.

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Sprinkler Blowout

What is a Sprinkler Blowout?  A sprinkler blowout, or winterization, is the process of turning the water off for a sprinkler system in the fall.  Once the water is turned off, a high volume air compressor is used to blow the water out of the lines and heads. 

Why do I need a sprinkler blowout?  The simple answer is, to protect your investment.  A system that is not properly winterized will be much more likely to require extensive repair work in the spring before it is able to be operated.  If a sprinkler system is abandoned due to expensive repairs, the quality of the lawn is likely to decline.

When is a sprinkler blowout needed?  Sprinkler blowouts should be done in late fall, soon after the water is shut off to the irrigation canals.  Winterization can be done anytime until the daily high temperatures do not pass the freezing mark.
What else should I know about sprinkler blowouts?  Hiring a professional with the proper winterization equipment is critical.  The professional will use a high volume, low pressure compressor.  If they show up with a 20 gallon compressor in the back of their truck, send them away.  They will only damage your system.

Why choose us?  TV Sprinkler and Landscaping uses the proper equipment to get the job done professionally.  We use the right amount of air pressure and volume to clear the water from your lines so they don’t freeze and break.  We will contact you again next year so you don’t have to worry about finding our number or calling in someone new.

Cold weather is approaching, what do I do about my sprinkler system?  Cold weather can be a very real concern in November and December.  Here is what I recommend: If the overnight temperature is going to fall below 30 degrees, steps should be taken to protect sprinkler system parts that are above ground.  Everything below ground will be ok as long as the daytime temperatures are above freezing.  To protect your sprinkler parts that are above ground, shut off the water supply, and open valves or test ports on backflow devices, open any hose bibs, and if you can , open the valve boxes and open the bleeder screws on the valves to relieve the pressure in the valves.  Be sure to replace the lids on the valve boxes.  This will insulate and protect the valves from freezing and being damaged.

There is a heavy frost and my sprinkler lines haven’t been blown out, are they going to be ok?  Your below ground sprinkler lines and heads are well protected.  My experience has shown that they can be blown out until the temperatures do not rise above 32 degrees during the day.  The lines are still alright at that point, but usually the water in the heads will freeze, making it impossible for the water in the lines to be blown out.  If the weather warms back up and thaws the heads, the water can then be blown out.   The heads near sidewalks tend to freeze up first, then the heads in the middle of the lawn and then the heads near  the home.  Even though some of the heads may have frozen up, if you took the step of opening the valves to relieve the pressure, water should still be able to be blown out of part of the system, and I would recommend doing that.

I’m afraid that my scheduled date is going to be too late to blow out my sprinklers, why so late? I have watched and recorded the cold weather patterns since 2004, and with the exception of 2014, the earliest date that would be what I consider too cold to blow out sprinklers was November 23rd in 2005. I strive to have all my clients taken care of by that date each year.

What happened in 2014?  That was the year we had an Arctic Blast sweep through the valley with snow and freezing temperatures.  It was bitter cold for a week, and then the temperatures warmed back up into the 60’s.  There was damage to several above ground systems, but everything below ground was still fine and able to be blown out after the system passed.  Yes, I worked out in that weather blowing out as many systems as I could get to.
What do I need to do to prepare for my sprinkler blowout?  We just ask that you ensure we have easy access to your back yard, and that all valve boxes are accessible and not covered with rock, bark or grass.  Please do leave the lids on the boxes until the day of our arrival.  This will protect the valves from damage and from freezing if the night time temperature drops.

Can I cancel my appointment?  Yes you can.  Please call, text or email us no later than 5pm the day before your appointment and we will cancel your appointment.  Due to the high number of sprinklers systems to start up and blow out, and the limited availability of appointments, TV Sprinkler has instituted a " Late Cancellation Fee" policy that may result in a $25 fee if you cancel your appointment the day of your appointment.

Sprinkler Service

What is a Sprinkler Service?  A sprinkler service is the process of diagnosing and repairing a sprinkler system that is not working properly.  Proper coverage, plugged filters, broken heads and lines, malfunctioning clock and broken wires are all items that can be determined as functional or not and repaired during a sprinkler service.

Why do I need a sprinkler service?  If your lawn is developing brown spots, or you have noticed that the sprinklers are not coming on when they should be, you need a sprinkler service.  The sprinkler technician will go through your entire system and determine what issues exist.  It’s also a good idea to clean or replace the filters in your system every year. 

Why choose us?  TV Sprinkler and Landscaping can take care of any service your system needs, from broken pipes, fittings and valves, to re-designing the system to achieve better coverage. Over time, trees and shrubs may obstruct the spray patterns that cover grass or shrubbery. If you decide to remove some turf or plantings, there may be sprinkler heads in places that no longer need them. We can add, move, or remove sprinkler heads as your landscape changes.