In Central Texas, June is when the heat gets serious. Temperatures push into the 90s and beyond, and maintaining a healthy lawn or landscape depends almost entirely on a well-functioning irrigation system. If your sprinkler system was shut down or winterized over the cooler months, starting it back up improperly can cause cracked heads, burst lines, controller errors, and wasted water that runs for weeks before anyone notices.
De-winterizing a sprinkler system is not complicated, but it does require a methodical approach. Rushing the startup process is one of the most common causes of irrigation damage at the beginning of each season. This guide walks you through how to do it correctly, what to watch for, and when to call a professional.
Before you turn on a single valve, start at the controller, also called the timer or clock. Check that the programming is still intact after the winter months. Many digital controllers lose their settings during power outages, which are common in Central Texas during ice storms and severe weather. Verify that the watering schedule, zone run times, and start times are all correct and appropriate for summer conditions.
Also check that the rain sensor, if your system has one, is properly connected and functional. A malfunctioning rain sensor can cause your system to run during or immediately after rainfall, which wastes water and can drown plantings. If your controller is more than 10 years old, this is a good time to consider upgrading to a smart controller that adjusts watering based on local weather data.
The backflow preventer is a critical component of any irrigation system. It prevents irrigation water from flowing back into your home’s potable water supply. After a winter season, inspect the backflow preventer for visible cracks, corrosion, or damage. The test cocks and shutoff handles should move freely without resistance.
In Central Texas, backflow preventers are generally installed above ground and exposed to the elements. A freeze event, even a mild one, can crack the body of the preventer without it being immediately obvious. If you see any signs of damage or detect a drip from the unit when the system is pressurized, have it repaired or replaced before operating the system.
One of the most important rules of irrigation startup is to restore water pressure slowly. Opening the main shutoff valve too quickly creates a pressure surge called water hammer, which can crack PVC pipes, damage valve solenoids, and blow out sprinkler heads throughout the system. Open the main shutoff valve gradually, allowing the system to fill at a controlled rate over several minutes.
Do not stand over any component while pressurizing the system. Cracked pipes or fittings under pressure can fail suddenly. Walk the perimeter of your yard after pressurizing and before running any zones to look for obvious signs of leaks, such as wet spots in dry areas, bubbling soil, or pooling water.
Once the system is pressurized, activate each zone individually from the controller and walk it while it runs. Look for the following issues:
Head-to-head coverage is the standard for efficient irrigation: each sprinkler head should reach the next head in the zone. Gaps in coverage lead to dry, stressed turf and plantings. After testing each zone, adjust the arc and radius of rotors to ensure complete coverage without excessive overlap onto hardscape or structures.
Also check that all heads are sitting at the correct height relative to the surrounding turf or mulch. Heads that sit too high are vulnerable to mower damage. Heads that sit too low often have poor coverage and are prone to clogging.
After a Central Texas winter, some of the most commonly found irrigation issues include cracked lateral lines caused by ground movement or freeze events, failed valve diaphragms that cause zones to run continuously or not at all, clogged nozzle screens packed with debris from the off-season, and timer batteries that have died, wiping out the controller program. Most of these are straightforward repairs when caught early. Left undetected through a full summer, any one of them can result in significant water waste and landscape damage.
If you encounter a zone that will not activate despite a working solenoid, underground leaks that you cannot locate visually, or a backflow preventer that needs repair or certification, these are tasks best handled by a licensed irrigator. As part of a comprehensive home inspection, our team evaluates the visible components of irrigation systems and flags concerns that buyers and homeowners may not know to look for. If you are purchasing a property in our Central Texas service area and want to know the condition of the irrigation system before closing, that evaluation is part of what we do.