11 2020 Spring Home & Garden Sprinkler Maintenance Many Americans who appreciate a luscious, full lawn throughout the spring and summer turn to sprinkler or irrigation systems. To perform at peak performance, they will require attention before being open for the year. If you don’t have one but are considering adding it to your yard, professional installation is the most practical option. An expert will prepare trenches while ensuring utility lines aren’t compromised and correctly install needed components like piping, controllers and valves. When the ice and frost are gone, here are some ways to prepare your sprinkler or irrigation system for its busy season. Welcome Spring Before you can begin using your sprinkler system this spring, it’s important to ensure the winter weather is gone and temperatures will remain steady. According to the group Direct Energy, attempting to allow water to run while the ground is still frozen could result in busted pipes during the startup process, or hours later. You can test the condition of the ground below by digging at least a foot into the soil in an area away from the underground tubing. If you strike frozen dirt, plan to delay the de-win- terizing project. Analyze the Control Panel The brains behind your irrigation system are typically installed outdoors. Make sure you follow the directions explained by the installer and confi rm settings are accu- rate for time, date and zones. You should also check the integrity of backup batteries if your sprinklers rely on them. If you are concerned about their perfor- mance or age, visit a battery specialist in your area and have them tested to determine how much life they have left. Opening the Main Valve With the pre-maintenance performed, slowly open the main valve until you can hear water begin to fl ow. Allow this to steadily fi ll into the main line before slightly open- ing the valve every few minutes. Doing this too quickly can lead to expensive errors like busted pipes or valves. Clean Sprinkler Heads Depending on the number of sprinkler heads you have, this may prove to be the most time-consuming portion of the entire process. Analyze each component for signs of dam- age and replace the parts before attempting to engage the system. Use an old toothbrush to effectively clean each nozzle to ensure they dis- tribute water evenly to their designated zones. Make sure valves are closed after cleaning, except the nozzle farthest from the main water source, it should remain open to allow air to escape during startup. BLUE IS SIMPLY REMARKABLE Natural gas can cost half as much as electricity 'R\RXWKLQNDERXW\RXUKRPHċVHQHUJ\XVH"0D\EHQRW%XWLI\RXKDYHQDWXUDOJDV\RXIHHOJRRGDERXWKRZFOHDQDQGHIƓFLHQWLWLV