Spring Sprinkler Checklist 2026: Lubbock Startup Guide

TLDR

A spring sprinkler checklist walks you through every step of safely turning your irrigation system back on after winter: pressurizing slowly, testing each zone, inspecting for leaks and broken heads, checking backflow devices, and programming a schedule that follows Lubbock’s assigned watering days. Broken heads and cracked pipes alone can waste up to 25,000 gallons over a single irrigation season, so catching problems early matters. This guide defines the terms you will see during a spring startup, explains what each symptom actually means, and helps you decide what you can fix yourself versus what needs a licensed professional.

A single broken sprinkler head can quietly waste water from April through September without anyone noticing, especially when the system runs before sunrise. According to the EPA, broken heads and cracked pipes can lose up to 25,000 gallons and $280 over a six-month irrigation season. Homes with clock-timer irrigation systems use roughly 50% more water outdoors than homes without irrigation, and programming errors, misdirected spray, and undetected leaks push that number higher.

That is why a spring sprinkler checklist exists. It is the inspection you run before summer heat arrives, before water bills climb, and before a small crack becomes a flooded yard. For Lubbock homeowners, the checklist also needs to account for city watering restrictions, required backflow prevention, and the specific soil and pressure conditions of West Texas.

Most spring irrigation checklists online tell you what to do. This one also explains what each term means, what failure looks like in your yard, and when a problem crosses the line from DIY adjustment to professional repair.

What Is a Spring Sprinkler Checklist?

A spring sprinkler checklist is a step-by-step inspection performed before or during the first seasonal startup of an irrigation system. The goal is to safely pressurize the system, test every zone, find winter damage, verify controller settings, inspect sprinkler heads and valves, confirm sensors are working, and set a water-efficient schedule that complies with local rules.

The EPA frames spring sprinkler maintenance around four actions: Inspect, Connect, Direct, Select. Inspect for broken heads and leaks. Check that connections at pipes, valves, and sprinkler bodies are secure. Direct spray away from hardscapes and toward the landscape. Select water-efficient controllers and settings. The EPA’s Sprinkler Spruce-Up page breaks these down further.

For Lubbock, spring startup also means verifying your backflow prevention device, programming your controller for assigned watering days, and confirming your rain and freeze sensors are functional, because city code requires them.

Quick Spring Sprinkler Checklist

Before diving into definitions, here is the short version. Each step is explained in detail throughout the glossary sections below.

1. Walk the yard before turning anything on. Look for sunken spots, unusually green patches, exposed pipe, cracked valve boxes, broken heads, and anything that looks like winter damage.

2. Find the backflow preventer and isolation valves. TCEQ’s spring restart guidance starts with locating the backflow prevention device before doing anything with the controller. Their restart instructions walk through test cock positions and valve sequence.

3. Close test cocks and drain points before pressurizing. If your system was winterized through blowout or manual drain, make sure drain points and test cocks are closed before water enters the system.

4. Open the main valve slowly. Hunter warns that opening the main water valve too quickly can create surge pressure, uncontrolled flow, and water hammer that may crack or burst sprinkler mainlines. Take 30 to 60 seconds.

5. Check for leaks before running zones. Watch the backflow assembly, valve boxes, and any exposed fittings. If anything leaks at this stage, stop.

6. Manually run every zone. Do not rely on the automatic schedule for the first test. Manually activate each station from the controller so you can watch it.

7. Watch the first 60 seconds of each zone. The first minute reveals obvious problems: geysers, heads that do not pop up, heads that will not retract, misting, and bubbling near heads.

8. Check spray direction and coverage. The EPA says sprinkler water landing on driveways, sidewalks, or walls should be redirected toward the landscape. Fix arcs and nozzles before adding runtime.

9. Clean nozzles, filters, and weather sensors. Debris from winter, mowing, and landscaping clogs nozzles and blocks rain sensors.

10. Set a Lubbock-compliant watering schedule. The City of Lubbock’s spring/summer restrictions run April 1 through September 30, with assigned watering days based on your address and no irrigation on Sundays.

If your spring check reveals something beyond a clogged nozzle or a quick arc adjustment, M&M Sprinklers’ repair services cover leaks, heads, valves, controllers, wiring, low pressure, and coverage problems across Lubbock and surrounding West Texas communities.

Spring Sprinkler Glossary: Key Terms Every Homeowner Should Know

Each entry below includes a plain-English definition, what to check during spring startup, what a problem looks like, and whether it is a DIY fix or a call-the-pro situation.

Assigned Watering Days

The specific days your property is allowed to use automatic landscape irrigation under local rules.

Lubbock rules: The City of Lubbock’s 2026 spring/summer notice assigns two watering days per week based on your address:

No automatic irrigation on Sundays. Hand watering is allowed any day.

Spring checklist action: Reprogram the controller after startup so it only runs on your assigned days. Write the schedule on a card and tape it near the controller.

Backflow Preventer

A device that stops irrigation water from flowing backward into the drinking-water supply.

TCEQ defines backflow as water flowing opposite its intended direction due to lost supply pressure or increased pressure on the customer side, which can draw contaminants through a cross connection. TCEQ lists irrigation systems as a common residential cross-connection concern and says homeowners should have a suitable backflow prevention assembly in place and working properly.

The City of Lubbock requires backflow prevention devices on home irrigation systems and commercial businesses to protect the water distribution system.

Spring checklist action: Locate the backflow preventer before startup. Check for cracks, corrosion, and leaks. Make sure test cocks and valves are in the correct position per TCEQ’s restart sequence. If it leaks, stop and contact a licensed professional.

Can’t find your backflow preventer? Do not guess at startup. If the device is missing, buried, damaged, or unfamiliar, contact a licensed irrigator or BPAT before pressurizing the system. For backflow testing, repairs, and certifications in Lubbock, M&M Sprinklers holds a Texas BPAT license and provides written certifications after testing or repair.

BPAT (Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester)

A professional licensed by the state to test backflow prevention assemblies.

TCEQ says a licensed BPA tester must check the backflow prevention assembly when it is installed, and water providers may adopt additional rules requiring annual testing.

Spring checklist action: If the backflow device leaked during startup, has been repaired, has not been tested as required, or the property is commercial or multifamily, schedule a test.

Controller

The timer or smart control box that turns irrigation zones on and off according to a programmed schedule.

Spring checklist action: Confirm the controller has power. Verify the date, time, and day of week are correct. Replace the backup battery if applicable, as Rain Bird recommends doing this every six months. Check that the watering schedule matches Lubbock’s assigned days and times.

TCEQ’s spring restart guide notes that the controller backup battery preserves program settings during power outages but does not operate the system during an outage. A dead backup battery means any power blip erases your schedule.

Common confusion: A controller can show the correct schedule and still fail to water if wiring, a solenoid, a valve, or the water supply has a separate problem. The controller is just one link in the chain.

Cycle and Soak

A watering method that splits one long runtime into several shorter cycles with breaks between them, giving water time to soak into the soil instead of running off the surface.

This matters in West Texas. Texas A&M AgriLife reports that 30 to 40% of applied irrigation water can be lost to runoff when systems run too long. Compacted soils, clay, and slopes make it worse, but runoff happens on flat lawns too if the application rate exceeds what the soil can absorb.

The City of Lubbock’s 2026 guidance specifically recommends cycle-and-soak: water 3 to 4 minutes, repeated 4 to 5 times, with breaks between cycles so water soaks in, roots grow deeper, and less water reaches the street.

Spring checklist action: If water runs onto the sidewalk, driveway, street, or alley before a zone finishes its cycle, shorten the runtime and add soak breaks. Most modern controllers have a cycle-and-soak setting built in.

Catch-Can Test

A simple audit where identical cups or cans are placed across a zone to measure how evenly and how much water the sprinklers apply.

Texas A&M AgriLife recommends catch-can tests to determine watering length, frequency, and coverage uniformity. Their example shows that if containers catch 0.33 inches in 20 minutes, running the system for 20 minutes three times per week delivers about 1 inch per week.

Spring checklist action: Run the catch-can test after you have fixed broken heads, replaced clogged nozzles, and corrected obvious pressure issues. Testing a broken system just gives you broken data.

Practical tip: Lubbock’s watering-day guidance says lawns need about 1.5 inches per zone per week and suggests 12 to 15 minute cycles as a starting point. But actual runtime depends on nozzle type, pressure, head spacing, soil, slope, and sun exposure. A catch-can test gives you the real number for your yard.

Drip Irrigation

A low-volume irrigation method that applies water slowly near plant roots, commonly used for flower beds, shrubs, and trees.

Spring checklist action: Check emitters for clogs, breaks, missing caps, and leaks. Confirm drip zones have different runtimes than spray zones, because drip applies water much more slowly.

Lubbock note: The city’s ordinance notes that subsurface and soaker hose systems are exceptions to the April through September time-of-day restrictions, which gives drip systems more scheduling flexibility than standard spray heads.

Freeze Sensor

A device that stops the irrigation system from running when temperatures drop too low.

Lubbock city code requires automatic irrigation systems to include freeze sensors that render the system inoperative at 35°F or higher. The city also prohibits irrigation during freezing weather.

Spring checklist action: Confirm the freeze sensor is present, clean, unobstructed by branches or debris, and communicating with the controller. Spring in Lubbock still brings occasional freezes, and a failed sensor will not stop the system from running.

Head-to-Head Coverage

Sprinkler spacing where each head throws water far enough to reach the adjacent head, creating overlapping coverage and avoiding dry spots.

The EPA says each sprinkler should reach the sprinkler head next to it, known as head-to-head coverage, for uniform watering.

Spring checklist action: If you see dry patches, check whether the cause is short throw, blocked heads, sunken heads, clogged nozzles, wrong nozzle type, or poor original design. Sometimes the problem is not a single broken head but a layout that never provided proper overlap.

When a spring sprinkler checklist reveals persistent dry spots from poor system layout rather than broken parts, the solution may be a system renovation or redesign rather than repeated repairs.

Hydrozoning

Grouping plants with similar water needs on the same irrigation zone.

Spring checklist action: During your zone-by-zone test, note zones that water turf, trees, shrubs, and flower beds all at once. Mixed plant types on one zone usually mean something gets overwatered while something else stays dry.

The EPA’s WaterSense program emphasizes that water efficiency starts with matching irrigation to plant types and water requirements. Spring is a good time to identify hydrozone mismatches before summer stress magnifies the problem.

Isolation Valve

A shutoff valve used to isolate the irrigation system, or a specific component like the backflow assembly, from the water supply.

TCEQ’s spring restart instructions note that an isolation valve should be located between the backflow prevention assembly and the water meter, and this has been required on new irrigation systems since January 1, 2009.

Spring checklist action: Know where it is before you need it. If a pipe bursts or a backflow preventer leaks during startup, you need to shut the water off fast.

Real-world note: Practitioners on Reddit report that new homeowners often do not know which valves to turn, where the irrigation water supply originates, or which openings were used for winterization blowout. That confusion leads to flooded valve boxes and panicked calls. One common thread involves a homeowner trying to save money on spring restart who could not identify the correct valve sequence. If you are not sure which valve does what, stop before forcing anything.

Lateral Line

A pipe that carries water from a zone valve to the sprinkler heads in that zone.

Spring checklist action: Bubbling water near a head, sudden low pressure in one zone, or soggy soil along a line of heads can point to a lateral line break.

What it looks like: A broken head shoots water into the air. A broken lateral line creates bubbling, soft ground, or a miniature sinkhole between heads.

Low-Head Drainage

Water that drains out of the lowest sprinkler heads in a zone after the zone shuts off, because the pipes are emptying by gravity.

This is one of the most common sources of confusion during a spring sprinkler check. Irrigation Tutorials makes a useful distinction: water that drains from the lowest head for a while after a zone stops and then quits is low-head drainage. Continuous water flow from a head when the system is off, every day, usually points to a leaking control valve.

Spring checklist action: After a zone shuts off, watch the lowest head. If the dripping stops within several minutes, it is probably normal drainage. If it never stops, inspect the valve.

Mainline

The pressurized pipe that feeds water from the source and backflow area to the zone valves. Unlike lateral lines, the mainline is under pressure whenever the irrigation water supply is on, whether or not the controller is running a zone.

Spring checklist action: If the water meter moves when all zones are off and no water is being used inside the house, a mainline leak is a likely culprit. The EPA recommends reading the water meter, waiting two hours, and reading it again. If the reading changes, there is probably a leak.

Misting

Fine, fog-like spray from sprinkler heads instead of defined water droplets.

Misting usually indicates excessive pressure or a nozzle that does not match the available pressure. The EPA advises avoiding misting and suggests pressure-regulating spray bodies to keep nozzles operating efficiently. Rain Bird notes that misting can indicate pressure that is too high and should be reduced.

Lubbock compliance angle: City of Lubbock code lists misting from excessive water pressure as a prohibited irrigation operating condition. It is not just wasting water. It is a code issue.

Spring checklist action: If heads produce fog instead of droplets, flag that zone for pressure regulation or nozzle changes.

Nozzle

The small, removable part of a spray head that controls the pattern, arc, radius, and precipitation rate.

Spring checklist action: Look for clogged, missing, mismatched, or wrong-arc nozzles. A missing nozzle turns a head into a geyser. Rain Bird recommends checking for debris and replacing cracked, chipped, or worn heads and nozzles.

Overspray

Water spraying onto sidewalks, driveways, streets, walls, fences, or neighboring property instead of the intended landscape.

The EPA notes that water landing on hardscapes goes to the stormwater drain instead of feeding the landscape. Lubbock code prohibits intentional sprinkler discharge or overspray onto non-landscaped areas such as public streets, alleys, or impervious surfaces.

Spring checklist action: Walk each zone while it runs. Fix arcs and radius settings before increasing runtime. Adding more minutes to cover a dry spot caused by overspray just wastes more water on the driveway.

Pressure Regulator / Pressure-Regulating Spray Body

A device or sprinkler body that reduces or stabilizes water pressure so heads and nozzles work within their designed range.

Useful benchmark: The EPA says home service pressure generally works best between 45 and 60 PSI. Rain Bird says sprinkler systems typically operate in the 40 to 65 PSI range. You can test your own pressure with a gauge on a hose bib.

Spring checklist action: If multiple heads mist, nozzles blow off frequently, or heads wear out fast, the system likely needs pressure regulation.

Rain Sensor

A sensor that prevents the irrigation system from running during or after sufficient rainfall.

Lubbock code requires rain sensors on automatic systems and specifies they should render the system inoperative at 1/4 inch of moisture or more. TCEQ recommends checking the rain sensor during spring restart to ensure it is clean and not covered by tree branches.

Spring checklist action: Clean the sensor, trim any branches that have grown over it since last season, and confirm it actually interrupts the controller when triggered. A stuck or failed rain sensor is one of the easiest spring problems to miss.

Practitioners on LinkedIn report that rain sensor issues, along with heads not working and heads not retracting, are among the top problems found during spring startups.

Runoff

Water leaving the intended landscape and flowing onto sidewalks, driveways, streets, or alleys.

Texas A&M AgriLife calls landscape irrigation runoff a major source of water loss in Texas and notes it can carry fertilizer, pesticides, and silt into waterways. Lubbock requires irrigation to occur without runoff and recommends cycle-and-soak to prevent it.

Spring checklist action: If runoff begins before a zone finishes, the fix is shorter runtimes with soak breaks, not just lowering the total minutes. Runoff is a scheduling and design problem, not just a “too much water” problem.

Smart Controller / WaterSense-Labeled Controller

A controller that uses local weather data, soil moisture, or other inputs to adjust irrigation automatically rather than running a fixed clock schedule.

The EPA says replacing a standard clock timer with a WaterSense-labeled controller can save the average family nearly 9,000 gallons annually. That adds up fast in a region where outdoor water use can account for 30 to 70% of total household consumption.

Spring checklist action: If you already have a smart controller, check that it is connected to Wi-Fi, pulling weather data, and programmed for Lubbock’s watering days. If you still run a basic clock timer, spring is a good time to evaluate an upgrade.

Solenoid

The electrical component on a zone valve that receives a signal from the controller and opens or closes the valve.

Spring checklist action: If one zone does not turn on from the controller but opens when you manually turn the valve, the issue may be the solenoid, wiring, or controller output. If a valve will not close, debris under the diaphragm or diaphragm failure may be involved.

Practitioners on Reddit frequently note that homeowners replace heads or adjust the controller before realizing the problem is actually a valve, solenoid, or wiring issue. A spring sprinkler checklist that tests the zone from the controller, not just at the head, catches these problems faster.

Valve Box

The underground box that houses irrigation zone valves, wiring connections, and sometimes isolation valves.

Spring checklist action: Open every valve box. Look for standing water, mud, loose wires, cracked fittings, rodent damage, and hissing when all zones are off. The EPA recommends checking connections inside valve boxes to ensure valves are secure and can shut completely, because a valve that cannot fully close causes seepage even when the system is off.

Common homeowner frustration: Forum and community discussions on Houzz and Reddit show that flooded valve boxes are a high-anxiety symptom because homeowners cannot tell whether the problem is supply pressure, a valve leak, a pipe leak, or normal drainage. The diagnostic table below helps sort that out.

Water Hammer

A pressure surge caused by water flow changing suddenly, such as when pipes fill too fast or a valve closes abruptly.

Hunter warns that opening valves too quickly during startup can expose mainlines to high surge pressures and water hammer that may crack or burst pipes. Rain Bird gives the same advice: open the main water valve slowly.

Reddit irrigation discussions show that homeowners worry about water hammer during startup. A common practitioner tip is to manually open a far zone first and slowly open the main valve so air can escape and the system fills gradually.

Spring checklist action: If you hear severe banging or repeated hammer after the first startup, stop. A small amount of air noise during the initial fill is normal. Ongoing hammer every time a zone runs is not.

Zone

A section of the irrigation system controlled by one valve and one controller station.

Spring checklist action: Run every zone manually. Record what you see for each one. That record becomes your repair list or your confirmation that the system is ready.

Zone log:

Lubbock Spring and Summer Watering Rules

This section pulls from the City of Lubbock’s 2026 spring/summer irrigation notice and the city’s irrigation ordinance. Verify current rules each season, as the city may update specifics.

Restriction period: April 1 through September 30.

Allowed watering times: 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on your assigned days.

No Sunday automatic irrigation.

Hand watering with a hose and shut-off nozzle is allowed any day.

Target: About 1.5 inches of water per zone per week, which the city says a 12 to 15 minute cycle can achieve as a starting point.

Cycle-and-soak recommendation: 3 to 4 minutes, repeated 4 to 5 times, with breaks between cycles.

Prohibited conditions under Lubbock code:

• Irrigation during prohibited times

• Irrigation during freezing weather or precipitation

• Missing required backflow prevention

• Controllable leaks (broken/missing heads, leaking valves, broken pipes)

• Misting from excessive water pressure

• Significant runoff

• Overspray onto non-landscaped areas

These are not just suggestions. Running a system with controllable leaks or excessive misting is a compliance issue in Lubbock.

What Your Spring Sprinkler Symptoms Mean

After running each zone, use this diagnostic table to interpret what you found.

DIY Fixes vs. When to Call a Pro

Some spring checklist items are straightforward homeowner tasks. Others require tools, licensing, or diagnostic experience that makes professional help the smarter path.

You can handle these

• Replace an obviously broken nozzle or spray head

• Clear dirt and debris from around heads

• Adjust a spray arc or radius screw

• Update the controller date, time, and schedule

• Replace the controller backup battery

• Trim branches away from the rain sensor

• Note zone symptoms in your zone log

Call a licensed professional if

• The backflow preventer leaks, is missing, or is due for testing

• A valve box fills with water

• The water meter moves when everything is off

• A zone produces geysers, bubbling soil, or sinkholes

• Multiple heads fail to pop up on one or more zones

• A valve will not shut off

• Controller wiring or solenoid connections look faulty

• Sprinklers mist across multiple zones (pressure problem)

• Runoff continues even after shortening runtimes

• You find persistent dry spots that adjustments do not fix

TCEQ’s guidance is direct: if the backflow assembly or irrigation system leaks after turning it on, call a local licensed irrigator for repairs.

One 2026 Reddit thread shows a homeowner attempting DIY spring startup because their irrigation company was booked five weeks out. Once Lubbock warms up, repair schedules fill quickly. Booking a spring sprinkler maintenance visit before the first hot stretch avoids the wait.

Spring Schedule Tips for Lubbock Lawns, Trees, and Beds

Lubbock’s watering days tell you when you can water. A catch-can test tells you how long. Neither one tells you how much each part of your landscape actually needs, and that matters because turf, trees, beds, and soil do not always want the same thing.

For warm-season turf (bermudagrass, buffalograss): Texas A&M AgriLife notes that irrigation should be significantly reduced or turned off from late fall through early spring because warm-season grasses are dormant, and over-irrigation in spring can increase disease. Ease into a spring schedule rather than jumping to full summer runtimes.

For trees and shrubs: Trees need deep, infrequent watering, not the short, frequent cycles that work for turf. When trees share a zone with spray heads, the turf gets overwatered while tree roots stay shallow. This is where hydrozoning matters.

For flower beds and drip zones: Check emitter output, not just runtime. A drip zone running for the same 15 minutes as a spray zone may deliver a fraction of the water needed.

Landscape irrigation accounts for nearly one-third of all residential water use nationally, totaling close to 9 billion gallons per day. In hotter, drier regions like West Texas, outdoor water use can be even higher. The EPA estimates that as much as 50% of landscape irrigation water is wasted through evaporation, wind, runoff, and inefficient systems. A spring sprinkler checklist is the first step toward keeping your share of that number low.

Printable Spring Sprinkler Checklist Summary

Use this as a quick-reference list to carry through the yard.

• [ ] Controller has power, correct date/time, fresh backup battery

• [ ] Backflow preventer located, visible, no cracks or leaks

• [ ] Isolation valve identified and accessible

• [ ] Test cocks and drain points closed

• [ ] Main valve opened slowly (no water hammer)

• [ ] Valve boxes opened and inspected (dry, no hissing)

• [ ] Rain sensor clean and unobstructed

• [ ] Freeze sensor clean and functional

• [ ] Every zone run manually, watched for 60+ seconds each

• [ ] Broken or missing heads flagged

• [ ] Nozzles checked for clogs, damage, or wrong arc

• [ ] Overspray corrected (arcs adjusted before adding runtime)

• [ ] Drip emitters inspected for clogs and leaks

• [ ] Pressure symptoms noted (misting or weak heads)

• [ ] Catch-can test completed after repairs

• [ ] Lubbock assigned watering days programmed

• [ ] Cycle-and-soak enabled where runoff occurs

• [ ] Repairs scheduled for items beyond DIY scope

Book a Spring Sprinkler Checkup

If your spring sprinkler checklist turns up problems, or if you would rather have a professional handle the entire startup, M&M Sprinklers serves Lubbock and surrounding West Texas communities. The company has operated in Lubbock since 1987, holds Texas irrigation and BPAT licenses, and employs certified arborists who can coordinate irrigation decisions with tree-care and soil-health needs.

Schedule a maintenance visit for a full system inspection, seasonal programming, and sensor check. For specific issues found during your spring inspection, request a repair. And for backflow compliance, book a BPAT test and receive written certification.

Learn more about M&M Sprinklers’ background and credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start my sprinkler system in spring in Lubbock?

After the risk of hard freezes has passed enough to safely pressurize the system. Lubbock’s spring/summer watering restrictions begin April 1, and the city prohibits irrigation during freezing weather. A practical approach is to run your first startup check in late March or early April, using your manual test to verify the system before setting an automatic schedule.

How long should I run my sprinklers in spring?

Start with the City of Lubbock’s suggestion of 12 to 15 minutes per zone as a baseline, targeting about 1.5 inches per week. But calibrate with a catch-can test, because runtime depends on nozzle type, pressure, spacing, soil type, slope, and sun exposure. Texas A&M AgriLife’s catch-can method converts measured output to precise weekly runtime. If runoff starts before the cycle finishes, use cycle-and-soak instead of adding more minutes.

Why are my sprinkler heads misting instead of spraying?

Misting usually indicates excessive pressure or a mismatch between nozzle type and available pressure. The EPA recommends pressure-regulating spray bodies to keep nozzles operating at their designed pressure. Lubbock code lists misting from excessive pressure as a prohibited operating condition, so this is worth addressing promptly.

Why does water come out of the lowest sprinkler head after the zone stops?

If it drains for a few minutes and then stops, it is likely low-head drainage, which is the pipe emptying by gravity through the lowest point. This is common and not usually an emergency. If it never stops dripping, the zone valve is probably leaking and needs repair.

Do I need backflow testing in Lubbock?

Yes. Lubbock requires backflow prevention devices on home irrigation systems and commercial businesses. TCEQ says a licensed BPA tester should confirm the assembly is properly installed and functioning, and your water provider may require annual testing. If the device leaked during spring startup or has not been tested as required, schedule a test before running the system on a regular schedule.

What is the easiest spring sprinkler problem to miss?

A stuck or failed rain sensor, a slow valve seep, and high-pressure misting are all easy to overlook because the system appears to run normally. The EPA notes that broken heads can be hard to spot because systems often run overnight or early in the morning when no one is watching. Running each zone manually during daylight is the only way to catch these problems during your spring check.

Can I do my own spring sprinkler startup, or should I hire a pro?

Basic tasks like checking the controller, cleaning nozzles, adjusting arcs, and noting symptoms are good DIY items. Backflow testing requires a licensed BPAT. Valve, wiring, pressure, and pipe repairs often need professional tools and experience. If your checklist finds more than a couple of broken heads, or if you are not sure which valves to open, a professional spring checkup saves time and prevents accidental damage.

How much water does a broken sprinkler system waste?

The EPA estimates that broken heads and cracked pipes can waste up to 25,000 gallons over six months. Even a single misting zone or a valve that seeps when the system is off adds up over an entire Lubbock summer. Regular maintenance by a certified irrigation professional could reduce irrigation water use by 15%, or nearly 9,000 gallons annually per household.