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In the unique climate of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, a well-maintained irrigation system is the silent powerhouse of a healthy, vibrant landscape. It’s not enough to simply have sprinklers; you need a system that delivers the right amount of water, to the right place, at the right time.
Our experts at Promier Landscapes understand that proactive maintenance is the key to conserving water, saving money, and protecting your landscaping investment. Use this essential checklist to ensure your system performs at peak efficiency throughout the season.
Pre-Season Activation: Getting Started Right
Before the season's heat truly sets in, proper activation is critical to finding and fixing issues early. This process is more than just turning on the water; it’s a detailed inspection.
Slow Pressurization: Always open the main water valve slowly. Rapid pressurization can shock the pipes and heads, causing leaks or breaks, especially if any water was left in the lines over the winter.
Controller Programming: Update your smart controller with the current date, time, and optimized watering schedule. Adjust for daylight saving time and the local forecast.
Walk-Through Inspection: Run each zone manually. Watch closely for any pooling water, geysers, or areas that look overly saturated, which are common signs of broken lines or sprinkler heads.
Mid-Season System Check: Efficiency is Key
As temperatures rise, regular mid-season checks keep your system efficient and adapt your watering to your landscape's immediate needs.
Inspecting Emitters and Heads
Every component must function perfectly to avoid waste and ensure uniform coverage.
Check for Clogs: Look for sprinkler heads that are spraying irregularly or not at all. Clogged nozzles can starve a section of your lawn or garden.
Adjust and Align: Ensure every sprinkler head is spraying exactly where it should be—on the landscape, not on your driveway, sidewalk, or fence. Over-spraying wastes water and can damage hardscape materials.
Evaluate Drip Lines: For beds and gardens, check that drip emitters are securely placed near the root zone of plants and are delivering water consistently.
The Water Conservation Test
An efficient system is a sustainable system. We focus on optimizing every drop of water used.
Check Water Pressure: If the water mist looks too fine or "foggy," the pressure may be too high, leading to significant wind-drift and evaporation. We adjust the pressure regulator to ensure water falls as large, effective droplets.
The Soak Cycle: Set your controller to use a "cycle and soak" method, especially on sloped terrain. Instead of running for one long session, break the watering into two or three shorter cycles with an hour break in between. This prevents runoff and ensures deep soil penetration.
Post-Season Winterization: Protecting Your Investment
For residents in Kingsport and the surrounding areas, winterization is non-negotiable to prevent catastrophic damage from freezing temperatures.
The Blowout: The most crucial step is removing all water from the lines using an air compressor. Even a small amount of trapped water can freeze, expand, and shatter pipes and valves.
Turn Off Supply: Ensure the main water supply valve to the irrigation system is completely shut off.
Drain the Backflow: The backflow preventer must be drained and protected or insulated according to local codes.
A properly maintained system guarantees that your lawn and plantings thrive while you minimize water use and utility bills. At Promier Landscapes, we are your certified experts in irrigation system repair and maintenance. If you’re ready to simplify your landscape care or need professional help implementing this checklist, call us at (423) 872-2988. We ensure your system is perfectly tuned to the unique needs of your Kingsport landscape.