Spring arrives this week after a long, cold, and snowy winter.

“I like each season in its turn & apt to think the present one the best”
Charles Dickens

This past week we enjoyed great weather for this time of year and on St. Patrick’s Day we even set some warm weather records and green everything up in a hurry. We might experience some cold days here and there and maybe even an occasional snow but I feel we turned a corner and spring is here to stay. I can almost see the lawn turning greener each day and the hydrangeas leaf out. The forsysthia are beginning to show their beautiful yellow flowers and this is the sign that it is now time to activate your sprinkler system. You may not need to operate it regularly. Instead of using it as an ‘automatic lawn sprinkler system’ use it occasionally on the very warm days as a “manual sprinkler system.”

Having your lawn sprinkler system professionally activated and prepared for spring and summer is probably one of the best small investments you can make to keep your lawn and landscape healthy throughout the summer.

My recommendation is to have Rain Rich team start up the sprinkler system now, check through the entire system, program the controller, trouble shoot any problems that may appear. If you need sprinkler repairs, replacements and modifications then now is the time to find the issues and resolve them. Now, in all probability you won’t need to run your sprinklers regularly until mid May so I would put the controller dial to ‘off’ until your landscape requires regular watering.

What’s a spring turn on?

The Rain Rich service technician has a check list that he follows as he services each client. The checklist includes the following:

1.  Slowly turn on the main valve and gently let water fill in the sprinkler main and manifold.
2.  Check the manifold and zone valves for leaks.
3.  Check the backflow device for leaks.
4.  Gently open each solenoid valve, one at a time, and fill each zone.
5.  Inspect zone area for leaks.
6.  Inspect each sprinkler head for leaks, rotation, and spray.
7.  Check the controller and test each zone manually from the controller. If necessary change the batteries. Program water schedule. Adjust for odd / even day watering. If your controller is more than 10 years old than I recommend changing. The water savings and costs will cover the cost of the controller in one dry year.
8.  Check rain sensor. The rain sensor should shut your system off when there is a ¼” of rain or more. It is an imperfect device and should be changed every 5- 10 years. It pays for itself with water savings.
9. Check field wiring between controller and zone valves. The freeze thaw action of the ground, mice, rats, rodents can damage the wire.
10.  Check all wire splices. Wire splices should be protect using water proof electrical connectors.
11.  Visually inspect backflow device. Test device if required by local agency such as water department. NYS Health Department law recommends that device be rebuilt every five years. If it is over 10 years than consider replacing.
12.  Check sprinkler system for coverage of landscape. We look for changes in the landscape. As landscapes mature sprinkler heads may need to be moved, added, or shut off. The nozzles in the sprinkler head may need to be increased or reduced. 
    

The irrigation industry has matured immensely over the past decade and our federal, state, and local governments and environmental groups are making a huge push to reduce water usage by reducing landscape irrigation usage. At this time, the EPA (environmental protection agency), is about to put their stamp of approval on water saving sprinkler equipment similar to the home energy star appliances. The spring turn on and sprinkler system repairs takes care of these three issues:

1. Provides the ability to have a thick green lush lawn all summer.
2.  Conserves water, fertilizer, and energy thereby saving you money that would be wasted unnecessarily.
3. Helps prevent problems during the hottest, driest part of the season

The bottom line here is that having the spring turn on performed correctly will help conserve water while also delivering at the proper rate is the best way to start off the season.

Contact our office today 631.423.2211 or email Joanne to schedule a mutually convenient appointment or click here.