Spring Start-Up
Spring Start-up
Starting up your drip system for the spring is not unlike the initial walk thru you made during your systems installation, although Murphy’s Laws does seem to kick into high gear around this time. As stated before, keep your repair kit close at hand to deal with any problems that might pop up.
Start by installing fresh batteries in your hose timer and reprogram for a spring watering schedule. Install all water source connection components as before, inspect and replace any cracked or worn hose washers. Inspect the filter screen, clean or replace if needed. Reattach any drip lines that were removed, then remove all end caps and flush the lines. Once the drip lines have been flushed, replace the end caps and run your drip system.
Inspect all drip emitters, soaker hose dripline, sprayers and bubblers. Clean or replace any parts that have stopped watering. Check the drip tubing for any cracks, splits or for any areas that may have been chewed on by animals or varmints, repair or replace any tubing as needed.
For drip systems using irrigation valves, reinstall rubber diaphragms, reprogram your controller and activate each valve to insure each are working properly.
