Short answer: turn the water on slowly, run every zone by hand, and look at each head before you trust the schedule. A spring start-up with our crew is $175–$225. Doing it yourself is fair if you are comfortable with a few valves and a controller, and the order matters more than speed.
Why the order matters
A sprinkler system that has sat all winter is full of dry parts and slack. If a valve is opened all at once, the sudden rush of water can crack a fitting, split an old line or snap a head off its riser. Slow pressure up is the one rule that saves the most money. The other rule is to look before you trust: a system that powers up fine can still be spraying the street, the siding or the driveway.
North Atlanta homes also have red clay. Clay sheds water fast when it is dry and hard, so a system that has not run for months will run off at first. That is a reason to check coverage by eye in the first week, not just trust a timer.
A checklist for turning it on
- Check the controller first. Replace the backup battery, confirm the date and time, and clear any old schedule.
- Find the backflow preventer and the main shutoff. Close any test valves and drain caps that were left open.
- Open the main valve slowly. Listen for hissing, and look at the backflow assembly for drips.
- Run each zone by hand, one at a time. Watch every head pop up and spray.
- Look for heads that are broken, tilted, buried by grass or spraying hard against a hardscape.
- Look for soggy ground or geysers. Those mean a cracked line or a stuck valve.
- Check the rain sensor, if you have one, by pressing the test button or lifting the disc.
- Set a seasonal schedule, not the old one from last summer.
What the first run usually shows
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| A head that does not pop up | Stuck riser, dirt or a clogged nozzle |
| Mist instead of a spray pattern | Pressure too high or a damaged nozzle |
| A zone that never turns on | Failed valve, wire fault or controller fault |
| Water pooling at one spot | Cracked line or leaking head |
| Water running when the zone is off | Leaking valve |
| Dry strip in a lawn | Misaimed or missing head |
What is fair DIY
Replacing a battery, resetting the clock, adjusting a head’s arc and wiping a clogged nozzle are all fair. So is opening the main valve slowly and watching. Do not dig along a line you cannot see, and do not reassemble a backflow device unless you know what you are doing. Our backflow repair and install work starts from $800, and that price does not include testing or certification.
What our spring start-up covers
We turn the water on in the right order, run every zone, and look at every head. We check the controller and the rain sensor. We tell you what we found and what it costs to fix before we touch it. Start-up is $175–$225, and a repair is quoted as a firm number first. A valve replacement runs $275–$1,200 depending on the valve, and locating a buried valve starts from $185.
If your controller is old, this is a good moment to look at a smart controller, which starts from $575, with a rain sensor from $425. Smart controllers and rain sensors water only when the yard needs it, which helps with Georgia’s outdoor watering hours: between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. on a permitted public water system.
When to call us
Call if water is pooling, a zone will not run, a valve will not close, or the backflow assembly drips after you open the main. We serve Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee, Buford, Dacula, Snellville, Lilburn, Braselton and Norcross. We are family-owned, licensed and insured. See sprinkler repair and the irrigation overview.
FAQ
When should I turn my sprinklers back on in Gwinnett? After the last hard freezes are behind you. Many homeowners wait until the nights stay mild, then run a full test.
Can I turn my own sprinkler system on? Yes, if you open the main valve slowly and test each zone. Call us if water pools or a zone will not run.
What does a spring start-up cost? Our spring start-up is $175–$225. Repairs are quoted before we start.
What should I do about a head that will not pop up? Clear dirt from around it and check for a clogged nozzle. If it still sticks, the riser or valve may need replacing.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026. Watering hours: Georgia EPD, epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/water-conservation.