Residential Winterization

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will a lawn sprinkler system use more water than hand watering? 

  No it will in fact use much less water.  A properly designed and installed sprinkler system will have a limited amount of overwatering on driveways, sidewalks etc and you will never have to worry about leaving your sprinkler or hose running if you were hand watering. 

• The water pressure seemed better last year.  Is there something I can do to improve it? 

  Low water pressure could indicate a serious problem.  But there are several things you can check.  First make sure all of the valves on the water supply line to your irrigation system are open all the way.  Ball valves are put in a ½ closed position or on a 45 degree position for Winter.  This can cause low pressure.  Also do a thorough search on the property for any leaks that may be present. 

• One zone won’t shut off, I have even unplugged the timer.  What is wrong?

  This is not an uncommon problem especially with older sprinkler systems.  It sounds like one of the solenoid valves has malfunctioned or has some debris stuck inside of it.  This should be repaired by a qualified technician.  Shut the water off at the source and book a service call. 

• My system was working fine, now nothing!!! What went wrong?

  There could be many different things that can cause the system not to function properly.  A broken wire, a bad fuse, a faulty rain sensor or a major leak could all cause your sprinkler system not to come on.  Book a service call now and have one of our professional experienced irrigation technicians figure things out for you.

• Can I run my irrigation system off of a well?

  Yes you can, however it all depends on what your GPM (gallons per minute) rate is on your well recovery.  More specifically how well your well performs.  If your well can’t recover water quick enough then you would need to look at another water source for your irrigation system.  Situations like this happen few and far between.

• How do I prepare my system for Spring start-up?

  Getting your irrigation system ready for spring is essential to ensure it runs efficiently after being inactive during the colder months.

  • Turn On the Water – Gradually open the main water valve to allow pipes to fill
  • Controller Power – Make sure the controller is powered on and online (wifi)
  • Unlock Gates  – Make sure gates are unlocked for your scheduled appointment for Technician access

• Do I need to winterize my irrigation system?

  Yes, you do. Every fall, most of the water must be expelled from the irrigation system. Otherwise, it will freeze, expand, and damage your underground irrigation system in the winter.