Spring startup is the service visit that sets the tone for the entire irrigation season. Clients who receive a thorough, professional startup experience with a clear post-visit summary are primed to stay with your company year after year. A quality-focused startup protocol ensures every technician delivers the same high standard on every property.
If you're exploring how to build a stronger sprinkler system operation, our guide on The Most Common Sprinkler System Problems and How to Fix Them covers the foundational concepts you'll want in place first.
Water Supply Activation and Initial Pressure Check
Startup begins at the water supply: opening the main shut-off slowly to allow air to escape without water hammer, checking for leaks at the backflow preventer and main line connections, and verifying the operating pressure is within the expected range for the system. A pressure check at startup catches supply-side problems before they cause head damage during the first zone run. Logging the measured pressure in the client record creates a baseline that helps identify supply-side changes if pressure problems emerge in future seasons.
Zone-by-Zone Activation and Head Inspection
Running each zone while walking the property and observing every head ensures coverage gaps, damaged heads, and nozzle clogs are identified during the startup rather than discovered by the client during the first automatic watering cycle. Technicians should check that every head rises fully, rotates correctly if applicable, and covers its intended area without significant gaps. Any head that is not functioning correctly should be noted in the work order with a photo attached, and the client should be presented with a repair recommendation before the technician leaves the property.
Controller Programming Verification and Client Communication
Verifying that the controller is programmed correctly for the current season includes checking zone run times, watering days, and start times against the recommendations for the current weather conditions and soil type. Controllers with incorrect programming from the previous season that were never updated should be reprogrammed during startup as part of the service. The client walkthrough at the end of the startup visit should confirm that the controller is set, explain what was found during the zone inspection, and present any repair recommendations with pricing before the technician leaves. Software that generates a digital startup summary handles the paperwork automatically.
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