Spring is a season of renewal, bringing warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and green lawns. As we shake off the winter chill and welcome the freshness of spring, homeowners must also consider how to prepare their property for this seasonal transition. One crucial aspect that often needs attention is your sprinkler system. While it might have been dormant during the colder months, the spring thaw can present unique challenges that could affect its performance. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what can happen to your sprinkler system during the spring thaw and provide tips on how to protect it from potential damage.
As winter recedes and temperatures begin to rise, one of the first things homeowners might notice is the melting snow and ice around their property. This process, known as the spring thaw, can be particularly hazardous for irrigation systems if not properly managed. When frozen ground begins to warm up, any remaining ice within pipes or sprinkler heads melts and expands. This expansion can lead to cracks or breaks in the system components if they were not adequately winterized beforehand. It’s important for property owners to inspect their systems thoroughly as soon as possible after temperatures stabilize above freezing.
Another issue that may arise during spring is waterlogging due to excessive melting snow combined with early spring rains. Over-saturated soil can put undue pressure on underground pipes and connections within your sprinkler system. If these components are already weakened due to expanded ice or previous wear and tear, increased pressure might exacerbate existing problems leading to leaks or burst pipes. Regularly checking soil moisture levels around your irrigation setup helps ensure early detection of issues before they escalate into costly repairs.
Springtime also brings with it a flurry of new plant growth which means your lawn will soon require regular watering again. However, activating your sprinkler system too hastily without performing a proper inspection could result in inefficient watering or even damage your landscape further. Before reactivating the system for regular use in springtime maintenance routines such as mowing or fertilizing should be completed so you’re not unintentionally damaging newly installed pipes while carrying out other tasks around your garden area.
Additionally, wildlife activity tends to increase during this period as animals emerge from hibernation looking for food sources which sometimes includes nibbling at exposed piping material left uncovered by melted snow banks! To prevent critters from causing unexpected harm – especially rodents who love chewing through plastic hoses – make sure all pipework above ground level has some form of protective covering such as mesh wire wrapping tightly secured over vulnerable areas wherever necessary.
Finally yet importantly is ensuring control panels remain operational once powered back up after being idle throughout winter months otherwise malfunctioning electronics may lead either under-watering (causing drought stress) overwatering (leading root rot diseases). Therefore double-check settings programmed correctly according manufacturer’s instructions provided when initially purchased including setting accurate timers based current weather conditions prevailing regionally where reside avoiding unnecessary wastage precious resources like water energy usage charges incurred utility companies charging high rates peak periods consumption times occur most frequently amongst residential users.
Now, more than ever, it is essential for for you to have a plan to reactivate your sprinkler system. Greg Tanzer Sprinkers schedules reactivations all spring for their customer base. To have confidence that your system is ready for the season, contact Greg Tanzer Sprinklers to get put on the reactivation schedule. This pivotal step not only ensures optimal functionality but also solidifies that your system is free from cracks and system failures and your sprinkler system is ready for the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons to keep your landscape and flowerbeds lush and green.
