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Start the season right with professional irrigation activation. We prepare your system for peak performance to keep your lawn hydrated all summer long.
Your sprinkler system works hard all season to keep your lawn green and healthy. When winter arrives, you need to properly winterize irrigation system components to prevent costly freeze damage. When spring returns, professional irrigation system activation ensures your system starts the new growing season without problems.
At Tatum Lawn Care, we provide complete irrigation services for Moses Lake, Ephrata, Othello, Mattawa, Crescent Bar, and Ritzville residents. Our team handles both fall winterization and spring irrigation startup with over 40 years of experience protecting and activating sprinkler systems throughout Grant County.
Many homeowners try to activate their own sprinkler systems after winter. This often leads to expensive repairs when hidden damage becomes apparent. Professional irrigation system spring startup prevents these costly mistakes.
Our technicians know how to activate sprinkler system components safely. We check every zone, valve, and sprinkler head before turning on full water pressure. This careful process catches winter damage early, before it destroys expensive system parts.
Spring irrigation startup involves more than just turning on the water. We test water pressure, adjust spray patterns, clean clogged nozzles, and program your controller for the new season. This thorough irrigation spring startup process ensures your system delivers water efficiently from day one.
Before your system can be activated in spring, it must be properly prepared for winter. Our sprinkler system winterization service protects your investment from freeze damage that can cost thousands to repair.
Sprinkler system winterization involves draining all water from pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. Water left in the system expands when it freezes, cracking pipes and destroying valves. Our winterization sprinkler system service uses compressed air to blow out every drop of water.
We also provide specialized services for different irrigation types. If you have drip irrigation, we know how to winterize drip irrigation system components that require different techniques than spray systems. Drip lines, emitters, and filters need specific winterization steps to prevent damage.
Before turning on any water, we inspect your entire irrigation system. Our technicians check for cracked pipes, damaged valves, and broken sprinkler heads that may have occurred during winter. We look for signs of freeze damage, settling issues, or vandalism that could cause problems.
We test your main shut-off valve and backflow preventer. These critical components must work properly before we activate the rest of your system. Any problems found during inspection are repaired before we proceed with startup.
We never shock your system with full water pressure immediately. Instead, we gradually restore water flow to each zone. This gentle irrigation system activation process prevents water hammer damage and identifies leaks before they become major floods.
Each zone gets tested individually. We check spray patterns, water pressure, and coverage areas. Sprinkler heads that settled during winter get adjusted back to proper positions and angles.
Your irrigation controller needs new programming for the growing season. We set up watering schedules based on your landscape needs, local weather patterns, and water restrictions. The controller gets programmed with different schedules for different plant zones.
We also check and replace the backup battery in your controller. Dead batteries cause controllers to lose programming during power outages, leaving your lawn without proper watering schedules.
After activation, we run through complete system cycles to verify proper operation. Every zone gets tested for proper pressure, coverage, and timing. We adjust spray patterns to eliminate dry spots and prevent overwatering.
Our final step includes teaching you how to operate your system and adjust settings as needed throughout the season. We explain seasonal watering adjustments and provide a maintenance schedule to keep your system running efficiently.
Timing matters when you winterize your irrigation system. Many homeowners ask "when should I winterize my sprinkler system" and the answer depends on your local climate. In Moses Lake and Grant County, we typically recommend sprinkler system winterization in late October or early November.
The key is completing winterization before the first hard freeze. Once temperatures drop below 28 degrees for more than a few hours, water in your system can freeze and cause damage. Our team monitors weather forecasts and schedules winterization services before dangerous cold arrives.
Waiting too long to winterize risks expensive repairs. Burst pipes, cracked valves, and damaged sprinkler heads can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to replace. The cost to winterize irrigation system is much less than repair costs from freeze damage.
Spring irrigation startup timing is equally important. Starting too early risks freeze damage if cold weather returns. Starting too late means your lawn misses critical early-season watering when roots begin active growth.
In our service area, we typically begin spring activation services in March and April, depending on weather conditions. We monitor soil temperatures and weather forecasts to schedule activation at the optimal time for your specific location.
Some homeowners attempt DIY irrigation system activation to save money. However, this often leads to expensive mistakes that cost more than professional service. Here's why professional service provides better value:
Knowledge and Experience: Our technicians understand different irrigation system types and their specific requirements. We know how to winterize an irrigation system properly and how to activate systems safely after winter storage.
Proper Equipment: Professional winterization sprinkler system service requires specialized air compressors and pressure gauges. We have commercial-grade equipment that completely removes water from your system.
Problem Detection: Our trained eyes spot potential problems before they become expensive failures. We catch small leaks, worn valves, and damaged components during routine service calls.
Warranty Protection: Many irrigation system warranties require professional maintenance. DIY service can void manufacturer warranties, leaving you responsible for full replacement costs.
Most residential properties use spray irrigation systems with pop-up sprinkler heads. These systems require specific winterization and activation procedures. We know how to winterize an irrigation system with multiple zones and different sprinkler head types.
Spray systems need complete water removal during winterization. Any water left in pipes or sprinkler heads will freeze and cause damage. Our lawn sprinkler system winterization service uses compressed air to blow out every component.
Drip systems require different winterization techniques than spray systems. Emitters, filters, and pressure compensating devices need special attention. We know how to winterize a drip irrigation system without damaging sensitive components.
Drip irrigation system activation also requires careful attention to pressure settings and emitter performance. We test each zone to ensure proper water delivery to plants and trees.
Large commercial properties often have complex irrigation systems with multiple controllers, pump systems, and specialized components. We provide complete commercial irrigation system activation and winterization services for business properties throughout our service area.
Tatum Lawn Care provides irrigation system winterization and activation services throughout Grant County. Our service areas include:
- Moses Lake: Our home base, where we've served residential and commercial properties for over 40 years
- Ephrata: Complete irrigation services for farms, businesses, and residential properties
- Othello: Agricultural and residential irrigation system maintenance and repair
- Mattawa: Irrigation services for agricultural operations and residential properties
- Crescent Bar: Seasonal property irrigation activation and winterization
- Ritzville: Complete irrigation system services for residential and commercial properties
Sprinkler system winterization cost depends on several factors. System size, complexity, and accessibility all affect pricing. Simple residential systems cost less than complex commercial installations with multiple zones and controllers.
The cost to winterize an irrigation system is always less than repair costs from freeze damage. A typical winterization service costs a fraction of replacing burst pipes or damaged valves. Spring activation costs are similar and provide the same protection against startup damage.
We provide free quotes for all irrigation services. Our pricing is transparent with no hidden fees or surprise charges. You'll know exactly what your irrigation system activation or winterization will cost before we begin work.
Despite proper winterization, sometimes irrigation systems develop problems. We provide emergency repair services for burst pipes, broken valves, and damaged sprinkler heads. Our team responds quickly to minimize water waste and property damage.
Winter freeze damage often isn't discovered until spring activation. That's why our activation service includes complete system inspection. We find problems early and provide repair estimates before they cause extensive damage.
Beyond winterization and activation, your irrigation system needs regular maintenance throughout the growing season. We offer comprehensive maintenance programs that include:
Regular maintenance keeps your system running efficiently and extends component life. Well-maintained systems use less water and provide better lawn coverage than neglected systems.
Properly maintained irrigation systems use water more efficiently. Our activation service includes adjusting spray patterns to eliminate waste and ensure even coverage. We also program controllers with water-saving schedules that meet your landscape needs without overwatering.
During activation, we check for leaks that waste water and money. Small leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per month. Finding and fixing these problems during activation saves water and reduces utility bills.
With over 40 years of experience in Moses Lake and Grant County, we understand local conditions and irrigation system requirements. Our team has the knowledge and equipment to properly winterize and activate any irrigation system type.
We're licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection. Our technicians receive ongoing training in irrigation system technology and best practices. We stay current with new products and techniques to provide the best service possible.
Customer satisfaction is our priority. We guarantee our work and stand behind every service call. If you're not completely satisfied with our irrigation system activation or winterization service, we'll make it right.
Don't risk expensive freeze damage or startup problems with your irrigation system. Contact Tatum Lawn Care today to schedule professional winterization sprinkler system service or spring irrigation startup.
Call 509-765-4000 to speak with our irrigation specialists. We'll provide a free quote and answer any questions about irrigation system winterization near me or activation services.
Our experienced team is ready to protect your investment and ensure your irrigation system provides reliable service throughout the growing season. Let us handle the technical details while you enjoy a beautiful, well-watered landscape.
Proudly serving Moses Lake and surrounding areas with expert lawn care and landscaping solutions. Explore our service areas to see how we can help you!
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