Spring Irrigation Startup Checklist for Metro South Atlanta Lawns

As winter eases off in Metro South Atlanta—Senoia, Peachtree City, Newnan, Sharpsburg, Fayetteville, Tyrone and surrounding areas—your irrigation system has likely been sitting idle under shifting soil, fluctuating temperatures, and pressure changes. Turning it back on the wrong way can turn a simple spring startup into a flooded yard or a costly irrigation repair.

This spring irrigation startup checklist is designed for homeowners who want a healthy lawn, efficient sprinkler system, and lower water bills—all without turning every minor issue into an emergency call. You’ll learn what to check yourself, what warning signs to watch for, and when it’s time to call The Irrigation Guru for professional help.

1. Start at the Backflow Preventer (Your System’s “Gatekeeper”)

The backflow preventer protects your drinking water from contamination. It also happens to be one of the most common failure points after a cold snap in South Atlanta.

• Visually inspect the brass body for cracks or splits.
• Check around unions and fittings for old calcium buildup or fresh leaks.
• Gently move the shutoff handles and test cocks to make sure they’re not seized.

If you see a visible crack or water streaming from the backflow when the system pressurizes, shut the water off immediately. A broken backflow isn’t just a sprinkler issue—it’s a water safety issue, and it needs a professional irrigation repair.

2. Turn the Irrigation Water On Slowly

Slam-opening the irrigation main is a classic way to blow out weak fittings and older sprinkler heads. Instead:

1. Turn the main irrigation valve one quarter turn.
2. Pause and listen for rushing water, hissing or strange noises.
3. Continue opening slowly until the valve is fully open.

If you hear water running even though no zones are on, or you see puddles forming near the backflow or valve box, you may have a mainline leak. That’s a good time to stop, shut it down, and schedule an inspection.

3. Test Each Zone One by One

Instead of hitting “Run All Zones” and hoping for the best, test each irrigation zone individually from your controller.

For every zone, look for:

• Sprinkler heads that don’t pop up or stay stuck down.
• Geysers of water (classic broken head or riser).
• Zones with very weak pressure compared to others.
• Areas that stay dry even when the zone is running.

If a whole zone refuses to run, you could be dealing with a bad valve, bad solenoid, wiring issue, or controller problem. The earlier you find that during spring startup, the easier it is to fix before the heat kicks in.

4. Check Head Alignment, Height, and Spray Patterns

South Atlanta’s clay-heavy soils and seasonal rains shift your sprinkler heads over time. That’s why an irrigation system that was perfect three years ago may now be watering your sidewalk more than your grass.

• Make sure each head is plumb (straight up and down), not leaning.
• Adjust the arc so you’re watering turf and beds—not fences and driveways.
• Ensure heads are level with the soil, not buried or sticking up too high.

Overspray is more than a cosmetic issue. It’s wasted water, a slippery surface hazard, and a signal that your irrigation system needs tuning.

5. Replace Worn or Mismatched Nozzles

Over time, sprinkler nozzles clog with dirt, sand, and minerals. Different nozzles with different precipitation rates in the same zone can also cause dry patches and swampy areas.

During spring startup:

• Clean or replace nozzles that sputter or spray unevenly.
• Use matched nozzles so all heads in a zone apply water at a similar rate.
• Consider high-efficiency nozzles if you’re battling runoff or water waste.

A few dollars in fresh nozzles can dramatically improve your system’s efficiency and coverage, especially on sloped lawns in Peachtree City, Senoia, and Newnan.

6. Dial In a Smart Spring Watering Schedule

Your spring irrigation schedule in Metro South Atlanta should be very different from your midsummer schedule. Too much water early in the season can invite fungus and shallow roots.

A good starting point for most turf lawns:

• 2–3 watering days per week.
• 10–15 minutes per spray zone, 25–40 minutes per rotor zone.
• Early morning watering (between 4am–9am) for better absorption.

If you have a smart irrigation controller, spring is the perfect time to update your seasonal adjustments, watering windows, and rain/freeze skip settings to match Metro Atlanta weather patterns.

7. Walk the Property and Look for “Silent Leaks”

Not all irrigation problems scream for attention. Some quietly inflate your water bill and slowly damage the landscape.

During your final walkthrough, look for:

• Soft, squishy patches of soil when no zones are running.
• Constant dripping around valve boxes.
• Moss or algae near concrete where water shouldn’t be.
• Low-pressure zones that never quite perform like the others.

These are classic signs of small underground leaks or valve issues that are easy to miss but expensive over time.

8. DIY vs. Professional: When to Call The Irrigation Guru

A confident homeowner can handle basic irrigation startup tasks like cleaning nozzles, adjusting heads, and updating the controller. But certain issues are better handled by a certified irrigation pro with the right tools and experience.

It’s smart to call The Irrigation Guru if you notice:

• Cracked or frozen backflow preventers.
• Zones that won’t turn off or won’t turn on at all.
• Large pressure differences between zones.
• Frequent pipe breaks, recurring wet spots, or standing water.
• Confusing controller wiring or “mystery zones.”

We design, repair, and optimize irrigation systems for homeowners and small businesses across Senoia, Peachtree City, Newnan, Sharpsburg, Fayetteville, Tyrone, Palmetto, Fairburn, Union City, Jonesboro, and the surrounding Metro South Atlanta area.

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