1. Identify Equipment

• Make an irrigation system map that shows the location of all water lines, shut-off valves, back flow preventer valves, controllers, sprinklers, bubblers, and emitters.

• Turn off all water and read your water meter. On the water meter face is an red triangle. If this triangle is moving clockwise you may have a water leak.

• Make sure the clock is set for the proper day of the week and time of day.
• Make a list of all the stations and where they water. Include type of plant being watered and type of heads. Place list in the controller for future reference.
• If the controller has a battery backup, replace it at the beginning of each watering season.

• Repair or replace broken or missing rotor heads, spray heads, "bubblers" and drip emitters.
• Make sure all heads pop-up all of the way and fully retract when the water is turned off.
• Check for sprinklers blocked by grass, plants or other obstacles. If the spray is blocked, remove the obstacle or move the sprinkler head.
• Make sure sprinklers are vertical and flush with the soil grade. Soil should be tightly compacted around the sprinkler.
• Check for proper pressure. Water will stream out of the sprinkler instead of forming a spray if the pressure is too low or mist excessively if it is too high. Install a pressure-reducing valve or reduce flow through the valve.
• Clean or replace clogged nozzles and clean the sprinkler's trash screen, if it has one.
• Make sure all heads direct water to landscape and not to impervious surfaces such as pavement.

• Water at night, preferably between midnight and 7 a.m.
• Even addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday. Odd addresses can water Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. No watering with any irrigation system on Mondays.
• Determine the maximum run time for each zone before runoff starts. This often occurs after about 5-10 minutes for clay soils or after 18 minutes for loamy sand soils. Decrease these times for slopes. If runoff is a problem, irrigate more often for shorter periods, waiting at least an hour between watering.

• Make sure a rain sensor is properly installed, set at one-fourth of an inch or less and not sheltered by walls, shrubs or other plants.

Rotor watering the sidewalk and roadway.

Spray heads watering road median.