Sprinkler Startup Checklist for Salt Lake County

Every spring, homeowners across Salt Lake County turn their sprinklers back on after a long, cold winter. Most systems come back to life without trouble, but a rushed startup is one of the most common reasons we get called out for cracked fittings, flooded valve boxes, and dry patches in June. Use this checklist to bring your system online the right way.

1. Wait for the Right Time

Along the Wasatch Front, overnight freezes can hang on well into April, and benches in places like Draper, Sandy, and Herriman often stay colder than the valley floor. Wait until the ground has thawed and nighttime temperatures are reliably above freezing. Many lawns do not need watering until May, so starting a little late costs you nothing.

2. Inspect Before You Open Anything

• Walk the yard and look for sprinkler heads damaged by snowplows, mowers, or foot traffic.
• Check that the backflow preventer is intact, with no cracked housings or missing caps.
• Make sure the drain valves and test cocks you opened in the fall are closed again.
• Clear dirt and debris out of valve boxes so you can see the valves clearly.

3. Open the Water Slowly

Turn the main shut-off valve open a quarter turn at a time. Opening it all at once sends a surge of pressure, called water hammer, through pipes that have been empty for months. That surge is enough to split a fitting or blow a seal in the backflow. Give the lines a few minutes to fill before opening the valve the rest of the way.

4. Run Each Zone and Watch It

Use the controller to run every zone for a few minutes while you walk the yard. Look for:

• Heads that do not pop up, or that spray sideways, mist, or bubble.
• Spray hitting the driveway, sidewalk, or the side of the house.
• Soggy spots or water pooling where there is no head, a sign of a broken pipe underground.
• Zones that will not turn on or will not shut off, which usually points to a valve problem.

5. Update the Controller

Replace the backup battery, confirm the date and time, and set a spring schedule. Early-season lawns need far less water than they do in July, so start with shorter run times and increase them as temperatures climb. Watering early in the morning cuts evaporation, and the Utah Division of Water Resources publishes a weekly lawn watering guide that is worth checking throughout the season.

6. Fix Small Problems Early

A single broken head can waste hundreds of gallons over a summer, and a slow underground leak can damage your lawn and foundation before you ever notice it. Catching issues during startup is cheaper and easier than chasing them in the heat of summer.

Want It Done for You?

If you would rather skip the guesswork, our crew handles full spring startups, including zone checks, head adjustments, and controller programming. If something is broken, our sprinkler repair service can usually fix it on the same visit, because we keep common parts on the truck. You can also see what is included in our sprinkler startup service.