How to Turn a Lawn Sprinkler System Back on in the Spring

Lawn sprinkler spraying water on grass

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 - 45 mins
  • Total Time: 30 - 45 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

During the winter, your lawn and garden may not need to be irrigated with the sprinkler system, so it makes sense to turn it off. When the time comes in the spring, however, you'll need to turn it back on. With the sprinkler system working, your grass and flowers can get the water that they need to grow bright and lush.

Some homeowners count on a lawn service or irrigation contractor to winterize the system in the fall and turn it back on in the spring, but there is no reason to pay for this service, as it's very easy to do yourself in just a matter of minutes.

Warning

The most important thing to remember when turning on a sprinkler system is to turn on the water slowly. You can create a sizable water hammer—a shock wave caused by a sudden change in water flow—by turning the water on too quickly. This can burst fittings or pop off sprinkler heads. Always open the system shutoff valve slowly to let the system pressurize gradually; it takes just a few seconds.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Flat-head screwdriver
  • Sprinkler valve key (as needed)
  • Pen or pencil
  • Pliers (as needed)

Materials

  • Notepad or scrap paper

Instructions

Materials and tolls to turn lawn sprinkler system on in spring

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  1. Locate the Main Shutoff Valve

    If you don't know where your system's shutoff valve is located, look in your basement or crawl space for piping coming into the home near ground level. The piping should include a single shutoff valve, usually a ball valve with a lever-type handle. If there is a large water pipe coming in well below ground level, usually through a foundation wall, this is most likely your home's main water supply, not the valve for the sprinkler system.

    If there is no sprinkler system shutoff inside the home, look inside the sprinkler system valve boxes around the yard. The shutoff valve has a cross-shaped handle and may be well below ground level, inside a ground box or large pipe.

    Main shutoff valve located with lever and attached to piping for lawn sprinkler system

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Locate the Vacuum Breaker

    Look for the vacuum breaker fitting, which is usually above ground located near the house. This is a copper or plastic valve assembly connected to two pipes, each with a small shutoff valve.

    In addition to the shutoff valves, the vacuum breaker has two test valves, called test cocks, that look like slotted screw heads. They should be turned about 45 degrees to the direction of the nipples to which they are attached. This allows air into the valve to prevent damage from freezing during winter.

    Vacuum breaker fitting located for lawn sprinkler system

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Close the Vacuum Breaker's Test Cocks

    Close each of the two test cocks by turning with a flat-head screwdriver so that the slot on the test cock is perpendicular to the nipple.

    Flat head screwdriver closing vacuum breaker's test cocks

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Open the Shutoff Valves

    Next, open the two shutoff valves on the vacuum breaker. Each valve is located on a pipe leading to the valve and usually has a butterfly-type handle. Like the test cocks, the valve handles should be set perpendicular to the pipe for winterization. Open each valve all the way by turning the handle until it is parallel with the pipe.

    Tip

    Ball valves—whether they have screw-type controls, lever-type handles, or butterfly handles—are open when the handle or control slot is parallel with the pipe. They are fully closed when the handle is perpendicular to the pipe.

    Shutoff valves opened on vacuum breaker by turning butterfly-type handles

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Reinstall the Main Valve Bleeder Cap

    Some system shutoff valves have a little metal cap that threads onto a bleeder nipple on the side of the valve. This is used to drain residual water from the piping during the system shutdown. If your shutoff valve has a bleeder nipple, make sure the cap is in place and is tightened snugly.

    Main shutoff valve with bleeder cap reinstalled

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Open the Main Valve

    Slowly open the main shutoff valve to let water into the sprinkler system. For a ball valve, turn the lever handle one-quarter turn until the handle is parallel to the pipe; this is the fully open position. For an in-ground shutoff valve, use a sprinkler valve key to turn the valve counterclockwise until it stops.

    Main shutoff valve lever handle turned vertically to open

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  7. Run a Manual Test

    Set the system timer to run a manual test of all of the sprinkler zones, running each zone for about three to five minutes. As each zone turns on, watch the sprinkler heads to make sure they are working properly, and write down any problems on a notepad, so you can come back to address the issues later. The sprinklers will sputter and blow out air when they first come on; this is normal and will stop within a minute or so.

    Lawn sprinkler system timer set for testing sprinkler zones

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  8. Check the Valves and Vacuum Breaker

    Open each valve box in the ground and make sure there are no leaking valves or other problems. Confirm that all looks well with the vacuum breaker and the related valves and piping. Check the bleeder on the main shutoff valve (as applicable). If the cap is leaking, tighten it gently with pliers.

    Bleeder cap on vacuum breaker tightened with pliers

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  9. Get Ready to Irrigate

    Correct any problems you noted during the manual test, such as adjusting spray patterns or replacing damaged sprinkler heads. Set the system timer for the first watering. If possible, it’s a good idea to water when you can keep an eye on the watering for the first time of he season to make sure everything is working properly. Afterward, it usually is most water-efficient to water at night or very early in the morning.

    Lawn sprinkler system timer set for first watering

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris