subject: Lawn Sprinkler Repair Michigan-maintenance Avoids Costly Repairs [print this page] The costs of installing underground sprinkler systems have come down in recent years and this has allowed more homeowners to take advantage of the ease and convenience of those system to maintain a lush green and beautiful lawn without the hassle of having to haul around garden hoses and moveable sprinklers all summer long. That convenience however comes with some required maintenance tasks for people in northern states like Michigan to keep the system running for many years. Performing the proper sprinkler winterization and sprinkler blowout tasks will keep your lawn sprinkler system running in top form for many years to come. Seasonal Sprinkler Startup and Sprinkler Winterization done properly avoids lawn sprinkler repair especially in the northern states like Michigan.
Many people think that sprinkler Winterization often only means sprinkler blowout. Sprinkler blowout can avoid additional lawn sprinkler repair, especially in northern states like Michigan. Blowing out the sprinkler lines involves removing all, or as much as possible, of the water in the underground sprinkler system, especially where the underground lines sit above the regions frost line . Removing the water from the lines by doing sprinkler blowout removes the risk of freezing during the winter. As water freezes it expands and expanding water inside an underground line can crack and burst a water line, leading to a spring time surprise and a lawn sprinkler repair bill that you didnt plan for. Sprinkler blowout can be more risky for the normal do-it-yourselfer might want to try to manage. Removing the appropriate equipment and avoiding over-pressurization is as important as getting all the water out of the lines.
Other sprinkler winterization tasks that help a homeowner avoid lawn sprinkler repair bills include simpler tasks like letting all the pressure out of the system, draining the control system and associated piping and of course, for automated systems, shutting off the timer system. For easily removable components you want to consider pulling them from the system and storing them indoors or where they wont freeze.
As the weather warms up, spring time sprinkler turn on tasks done properly also help avoid lawn sprinkler repair required by professionals. A recommended once a year sprinkler tune-up will keep your system running in top form when it is needed the most, through the long summer heat. A few basic steps in lawn sprinkler tune up include: checking all the valves, one by one to be sure there are no leaks, verifying all the electronics are working and that all batteries are replaced and operational, as well as testing all the diagnostic cycles on your controller for those that have that function. Any components removed as part of the sprinkler winterization should be checked, cleaned, and re-installed. Other tips for spring time sprinkler turn on that can avoid lawn sprinkler repair include checking all the in-place sprinkler heads for damage and as well as alignment. Often times sprinkler heads can move either by being bumped or hit with objects or they just tend over time to adjust with ground movement and frost heave.
Overall some simple maintenance tasks done regularly can avoid more costly lawn sprinkler repair items and the loss of the convenience and enjoyment of a lush green lawn without dragging hoses around all summer long. Spending the little bit of time required to perform proper spring time sprinkler turn on and correct fall time sprinkler winterization and sprinkler blowout will greatly increase the efficiency, operation, and lifetime duration of your investment in an underground lawn sprinkler system and avoid costly repair lawn sprinkler repair.