What exactly is an annual maintenance plan?

It's a single agreement that bundles your spring start-up, mid-season tune-up, and fall winterization into one scheduled package. Instead of booking each service separately each year, we lock in all three visits in advance with priority scheduling and a fixed annual rate — so you never miss a service window, and you know your irrigation cost for the full year.

How is this different from booking spring start-up and winterization separately?

Three ways. First, a mid-season (July) tune-up is included — that's the visit that catches brown patches, stuck valves, and schedule drift before they damage the lawn. Second, plan holders get locked appointment dates months in advance, so you don't scramble for slots during the October winterization rush. Third, bundled pricing typically saves 10–15% vs. booking each visit individually.

What does each visit cover?

Spring: full system activation, zone-by-zone head inspection, backflow verification, controller reprogramming. Mid-season: head adjustment, nozzle cleaning, pressure testing, leak check. Fall: complete compressed-air blow-out, backflow shutdown, controller set to rain/off mode.

Can maintenance prevent expensive repairs?

Yes — most major sprinkler repairs start as small problems that regular inspection catches early. A slow weeping valve turns into a $400 manifold repair if missed for a season. A tilted head shifts into the next one and breaks both during winterization. Plan visits catch these before they escalate.

What if something breaks mid-season?

Plan holders get priority dispatch for mid-season repairs and a discounted rate on parts and labor. Most issues get a same-week appointment during peak season; non-plan customers may wait 2+ weeks during July heat waves.

How much does the annual plan cost?

Pricing depends on your zone count (4-zone residential vs. 10-zone estate). Typical residential plans land $280–$450 per year for all three visits combined. Call (586) 498-6112 or request a quote for your property-specific rate.

Do you offer plans for commercial properties?

Yes. Commercial and HOA properties get tailored maintenance contracts with visit frequency matched to property complexity and tenant expectations. See our commercial irrigation page or call to discuss.

Annual Sprinkler Maintenance Plans in Metro Detroit

Name: Elite Sprinkler Systems
Address: 1418 E 10 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI, 48220, US
Telephone: (586) 498-6112
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.9

An Elite Sprinkler Systems annual maintenance plan bundles spring start-up, a mid-season tune-up, and fall winterization into a single agreement — with priority scheduling, locked pricing, and written condition reports for every visit. Plan holders across Metro Detroit, Oakland County, and Macomb County get consistent year-round system care instead of scrambling for appointments each season.

What Each Visit Includes

Spring Start-Up (April–May)

Full system activation: slowly open the main water supply to prevent water hammer, inspect the backflow preventer and all above-ground components for freeze damage, walk every zone while running, adjust spray patterns and spray-to-turf alignment, replace any broken or tilted heads found during the walk, and reprogram the controller with a season-appropriate schedule. Start-up usually takes 60–90 minutes depending on zone count.

Mid-Season Tune-Up (July)

The visit most standalone-service customers skip — and the reason plan holders avoid brown patches. By mid-July, Metro Detroit summer heat and foot traffic have usually shifted spray head alignment, clogged a nozzle or two, and exposed controller programs that are still running on spring settings. We run each zone, flag coverage gaps, clean clogged nozzles, adjust schedules for the heat, and confirm your rain sensor is working. Catches problems while they're still small fixes — not emergency calls during a heat wave.

Fall Winterization (Late September–October)

Professional compressed-air blow-out of every zone before the first hard freeze. We connect a commercial air compressor to your system's blow-out port, activate each zone individually, purge residual water from every pipe and sprinkler head, shut down the backflow preventer, and set the controller to rain mode or off for winter. Every step is designed to prevent the $500–$2,000 freeze damage that unwinterized systems commonly see.

Plan vs. À La Carte Service

You can always book a single spring start-up or winterization — plenty of our customers do. But the annual plan adds the mid-season tune-up (the visit that catches problems before they damage the lawn) and typically saves 10–15% versus booking each service individually. Plan holders also get locked appointment dates before the October winterization rush fills up, which in peak weeks means the difference between a scheduled visit and a waitlist.

Cost Over a Typical 3-Year Horizon

Residential maintenance plans run $280–$450 per year depending on zone count. Over three years, a typical 6-zone property pays roughly $900–$1,350 for all nine visits — compared to $1,100–$1,600 if each visit is booked ad hoc. That's before accounting for the emergency repairs plan holders typically avoid because the mid-season tune-up catches issues early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pause a plan if I'm away for a season?

Yes. Seasonal pauses are common for customers with second homes or extended travel. Let us know before your next scheduled visit and we'll adjust the schedule without a cancellation fee.

What happens to my plan if I sell the house?

Plans are property-based by default — the new homeowner inherits any remaining visits for the current plan year. If you're moving to another home in our service area, we can transfer the plan to the new property instead at no charge.

Do you enroll systems installed by other companies?

Yes. We maintain every make and model of residential irrigation system regardless of who installed it. New plan holders get a first-visit walkthrough where our technician documents the existing system, flags any pre-existing issues, and establishes a baseline so future visits can track changes over time.

Enroll in a Maintenance Plan

Call (586) 498-6112 or request a quote online for your property-specific rate. We serve Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Rochester Hills, Novi, and all 33 Metro Detroit communities across Oakland and Macomb Counties.