After a long Michigan winter, your sprinkler system has been dormant for five to six months. A proper spring start-up is essential to ensure everything works correctly and to catch any damage that may have occurred over the winter. At Elite Sprinkler Systems, we perform hundreds of spring start-ups across Metro Detroit every year, and we have seen firsthand what happens when systems are turned on incorrectly.
When to Start Up Your Sprinklers in Michigan
The general rule for Southeast Michigan is to wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 32°F for at least two weeks. In the Metro Detroit area, this typically means late April to mid-May. Starting your system too early risks freeze damage to exposed components, especially backflow preventers and above-ground piping.
Important: Even if daytime temperatures reach 60°F or higher in March or early April, nighttime temperatures in Michigan can still drop below freezing. Patience protects your investment.
Step-by-Step Spring Start-Up Process
- Inspect the backflow preventer and all above-ground components for visible cracks or damage
- Slowly open the main water supply valve — turn it one-quarter turn at a time over several minutes to avoid water hammer
- Check for leaks at the backflow preventer, main line connections, and valve boxes
- Turn on each zone individually from the controller and walk the entire zone
- Look for broken heads, heads that do not pop up, misaligned spray patterns, and soggy areas that indicate underground leaks
- Adjust head positions and spray patterns as needed for full coverage
- Reprogram your irrigation controller with an appropriate spring watering schedule
- Test rain sensor functionality to ensure it overrides the system during rainfall
Common Spring Start-Up Problems
The most common issues we find during spring start-ups include cracked backflow preventers, broken sprinkler heads from snow plows or foot traffic, stuck valves that will not open or close, and controller programming that was lost during a power outage. Catching these problems early in the season prevents water waste and lawn damage throughout the summer.
Why Hire a Professional for Spring Start-Up?
A professional spring start-up includes a comprehensive system inspection that goes far beyond simply turning on the water. Our technicians check every head, every zone, every valve, and every connection. We identify problems you might miss and make adjustments that improve coverage and efficiency. Most importantly, we can spot early signs of underground leaks that would otherwise go undetected until your water bill spikes in July.
Book Your Spring Start-Up in Metro Detroit
Elite Sprinkler Systems serves homeowners throughout Metro Detroit, including Ferndale, Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Novi, Rochester, and all surrounding areas. Spring is our busiest season, so we recommend booking your start-up early. Call (586) 498-6112 or request a quote online to get on our schedule.
