1) Water hammer from empty pipes accelerating water can cause pipe and sprinkler damage. 2) Before filling lines, check for needed repairs, inventory parts, and head/pipe placement changes, and ensure controllers and pumps are functioning properly without animal damage or frost damage. 3) Fill lines slowly over multiple days to avoid pressure surges, checking for leaks, and allow air to escape from high points using quick couplers or open heads.

1. 4/8/2011
Irrigation System Spring Start Up
The greatest threat to system start up is water
hammer.
Acceleration of water through empty pipes
can cause:
• pipe breakage
• fitting breakage
• sprinkler damage
Before filling the lines: (Note** Much of this work
should begin as soon as you winterize. I.e. May need to
order parts or set up repair dates with contractors)
1.Restock inventories over the winter
2. Think and take action on any last minute
changes of head locations or the moving of
pipes and sprinklers!
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3. Controllers check for (late winter before
start up)
• 110v power
• Damages wires (from frost
heaving etc.)
• Ground connections resistance 10 ohms or
less
• Nesting animals or rodent damage
• Vandalism
4. If mechanical clocks- (timing mechanisms
should be checked out in the winter)
5. Check all pumps for
• Wear
• Vandal Damage
• Ice damage to control valves and pump
casings
• Nesting animals
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6. General components
• Broken or raised heads from frost
• Broken valve boxes
• Broken or exposed pipes i.e.
bridge or river crossings
7. Turn on the Water slowly
• Reduces water hammer
• Pressure surges through rapid filling of a
pipe can exceed 15 times the regular
operating pressure.
• When water moves through a pipe and
reaches a sprinkler it abruptly stops or slows
because water escapes at about 20% that of
air.
• TAKE YOUR TIME figure at least two days for
filling the lines
•Turn on and check system early in the
season before demand is to high for irrigation
requirements but not to early to risk freezing!
•Place quick couplers around property (a few
high points) for air to escape. Can also turn
on a few heads
•Once main lines are full start turning on tees,
greens, isolation valves.
•Patrol for leaks throughout system
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4. 4/8/2011
8. Once up and running begin to check every
sprinkler to make sure it’s:
- Spraying correctly
- Turning
•Keep a watchful eye out for leaks
•The process for start up begins after blow out.
•Successful start-up does not happen overnight it
takes TIME
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