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UpkeepSpring Startup

What should I check on my sprinkler system every spring?

Check eight things: frost-free soil, the controller and its battery, the backflow device, debris around heads, cracked or worn parts, valves for leaks, a slow main-valve start, and pressure. Then run every zone by hand and watch for leaks, pooling and spray hitting the driveway. Have the backflow device tested yearly.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Test the soil

    Use a shovel to make sure the soil is frost-free 12 inches deep before you start.[1]

  2. Step 2: Check the controller

    Make sure the date and time are right, replace the back-up battery, and keep a copy of the schedule nearby.[1]

  3. Step 3: Look over the backflow device

    Check it for visible cracks or freeze damage and confirm the drain plug is tight.[2] Leave testing to a certified tester.[4]

  4. Step 4: Clear the heads

    Check for rocks, dirt, sand and other debris around the heads and trim back grass.[1][2]

  5. Step 5: Inspect for worn parts

    Look for cracked, chipped or worn heads, nozzles and valve parts and note what needs replacing.[1]

  6. Step 6: Close the drain valves

    Return any manual drain valves to the closed position before turning on the water.[1]

  7. Step 7: Open the main valve slowly

    Let the pipes fill gradually to avoid water hammer.[1]

  8. Step 8: Run every zone

    Run each station by hand and look for dead or tilted heads, leaks, pooling and overspray onto hard surfaces.[3]

  9. Step 9: Check the pressure

    Use a gauge to see whether the system sits between 45 and 75 psi.[2]

The yearly checklist

A spring check is a walk-through in a fixed order: confirm the ground has thawed, check the controller and the backflow device, clear the heads, look for worn parts, open the water slowly, then run every zone and watch. It is worth doing every year, because the EPA says "Homes with clock timer controlled irrigation systems use about 50 percent more water outdoors than homes without irrigation systems."[3] This answer is the checklist; how to turn your system back on in spring covers the startup itself in more detail.

A rotor sprinkler throwing water over a green residential lawn
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Before the water goes on

The soil. Rain Bird says: "Use a shovel to make sure that the soil is frost-free 12 inches deep."[1] If it is not, wait a week and test again.

The controller. Check that the date and time are correct.[2] Rain Bird adds: "Replace the back-up battery in the timer/controller every 6 months, and keep a copy of the watering schedule nearby."[1] Confirm the schedule still matches what the lawn needs this season, not last summer.

The backflow device. Look at it, but do not open it. Rain Bird's advice is to "Check for visible cracks or damage from the winter freeze. Make sure the drain plug is tight and that all valves are closed."[2] Testing is a separate, certified job. Chesterfield County says "The backflow prevention assembly must be inspected and tested annually, as a minimum".[4] Its guide adds: "Individuals who perform tests on backflow prevention assemblies must hold a valid Tradesman Certificate as a Backflow Prevention Device Worker issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation."[4] Other localities set their own rules, so read whether Virginia requires annual backflow testing.

The heads. Rain Bird says to "Check for rocks, dirt, sand and other types of debris that may block the even flow of water from sprinkler heads."[1] Trim the grass back so each stem can rise.

Worn parts. Rain Bird says to "Replace cracked, chipped or worn components, such as sprinkler heads, nozzles, valves or pipes."[1] A chipped nozzle is cheap to replace; a cut-off head left spraying a geyser is not. See how to replace a broken head.

The valves. Open the valve boxes and look. "A leaky valve will waste water, and increase your water bill."[1] Rain Bird also says: "Before turning on any water to the system, make sure all manual drain valves are returned to the closed position."[1]

Turning the water on

Fill the system slowly. Rain Bird says to "open the main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with water in a gradual and controlled manner",[1] which avoids the surge called water hammer.

Then check the pressure with a gauge on a hose faucet. "Most automatic sprinkler systems operate best between 45-75 PSI."[2] Rain Bird's separate tune-up list gives a lower range: "If the pressure is above the suggested operating range (typically 40 -65 PSI), a pressure regulator may be required to prevent damage to the sprinkler system or undesirable results."[1] If your reading is near or above the top of either range, have a regulator looked at.

Run every zone and watch

Run each station by hand in daylight and walk it. The EPA suggests you "Look for heads that do not pop up fully or are tilted".[3] If heads stay down entirely, read why sprinkler heads are not popping up after winter.

Also look for:

  • Pooling. "Between irrigation cycles, look for areas of the landscape with water pooling on the surface; that could be a sign of an underground leak."[3]
  • Overspray. "Any sprinklers that are spraying onto driveways, sidewalks, or walls should be turned towards the landscape."[3]
  • Coverage gaps. "Each sprinkler should be able to reach the sprinkler head next to it, known as head-to-head coverage."[3]

Flag anything you cannot fix on the spot and write down the zone number.

Stop and call a pro if

  • The backflow device is cracked or leaking, or it is test time. Rain Bird says it directly: "If you’re not comfortable testing this device yourself, consider calling in a professional."[2] Backflow testing needs the certificate described above.
  • Water pools or a pipe sprays when you open the valve. Shut the main off again and treat it as an underground leak.[3]
  • A zone valve will not shut off, or a whole zone stays dead. See why a sprinkler zone will not turn on.
  • Pressure reads above the suggested range. A regulator is a plumbing fitting, not a quick tweak.
  • You would rather not do any of it. If you would rather have a visit, what a spring startup costs in Virginia explains the price drivers.

Getting help in Virginia

Browse more irrigation answers or irrigation businesses. When you want a spring visit, describe the sprinkler job once and licensed local contractors can quote it.

Common questions

When in spring should I check my sprinkler system?
When the soil has thawed. Rain Bird says to use a shovel to make sure the soil is frost-free 12 inches deep, and to wait and test again if it is not. Starting the system on frozen ground risks damaged pipes.
How often does the backflow device need testing?
Chesterfield County's residential irrigation guide says the backflow prevention assembly must be inspected and tested annually, as a minimum. Check your own locality's rule, and see our answer on whether Virginia requires annual backflow testing.
Who can test a backflow device in Virginia?
Chesterfield County's guide says testers must hold a valid Tradesman Certificate as a Backflow Prevention Device Worker issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Ask for the certificate number before you book.
Is it worth checking the system myself every year?
The EPA says homes with clock timer controlled irrigation systems use about 50 percent more water outdoors than homes without irrigation systems, and that a system can waste even more if it is programmed incorrectly, a head is pointed the wrong way or there is a leak. A yearly walk through catches those.
What is the one check people skip?
Running every zone by hand and watching. Missing or broken heads are hard to find because most systems run overnight, so a daytime walk is often the only time you see a tilted head, a soggy patch or spray hitting the driveway.

Sources

  1. [1] Springtime Sprinkler Tune-Up Checklist, Rain Bird Corporation (manufacturer). Checked October 28, 2026.
  2. [2] Is Your Sprinkler System Ready for Spring? Here's How to Get Started, Rain Bird Corporation (manufacturer). Checked October 28, 2026.
  3. [3] Sprinkler Spruce-Up, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense. Checked October 28, 2026.
  4. [4] A Guide to Selecting, Installing and Maintaining Backflow Preventers in Residential Irrigation Systems, Chesterfield County Utilities Department. Checked October 28, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.