When Should You Turn On Your Sprinkler System in Colorado Springs? (And What to Check First)
If you live in Colorado Springs, you already know the weather doesn’t follow the calendar. One week it’s 70 degrees, the next there’s a surprise snowstorm in April. That unpredictability makes timing your sprinkler system startup one of the most important — and commonly mishandled — parts of spring lawn care.
Turn it on too early, and a late freeze can crack your pipes and damage your backflow preventer, leading to costly repairs. Wait too long, and your lawn starts the season stressed and playing catch-up.
Here’s what you need to know before you fire up that irrigation system.
The Short Answer: Wait Until After Mother’s Day
In Colorado Springs, the general rule of thumb is to wait until after Mother’s Day weekend — typically the second week of May — before turning on your sprinkler system. At that point, the risk of a hard freeze drops significantly, though it’s never zero in Colorado.
That said, there are years when it’s safe to start a week earlier and years when you should push it to late May. The safest approach is to watch the forecast and aim for a stretch of nights consistently above 32°F.
Why Timing Matters More Here Than Most Places
Colorado Springs sits at around 6,000 feet in elevation. That elevation means colder nights, more intense UV exposure, and a very different freeze risk calendar compared to lower parts of the country.
Our last average freeze date is around May 2–7, but late freezes into mid-May happen frequently. A single night at 28°F with water sitting in uninsulated lines or a backflow preventer that wasn’t properly winterized can mean hundreds of dollars in repairs before the season even starts.
What to Check Before Turning Your System On
Before you turn that main valve, run through this checklist:
1. Inspect your backflow preventer This is the most freeze-vulnerable component of your system. Look for cracks, drips, or any visible damage from the winter. If anything looks off, have it inspected before pressurizing the system.
2. Walk your zones before you run them Check for any sprinkler heads that are cracked, tilted, or missing entirely. Winter foot traffic, snow removal, and ground heaving can all shift heads out of position.
3. Turn the main water supply on slowly Don’t open the valve all at once. A sudden surge of pressure — called a “water hammer” — can damage pipes and fittings that sat dormant all winter. Turn it on gradually to let the system pressurize at a controlled pace.
4. Test each zone individually Run each zone for a few minutes and walk the area. Look for heads that aren’t popping up, spots that aren’t getting coverage, or anywhere water is pooling unexpectedly.
5. Check your controller settings Update the date, time, and watering schedule on your controller. Colorado Springs has watering restrictions in effect from May 1 through October 15 — odd-numbered addresses water on odd calendar days, even-numbered on even days. Make sure your schedule complies.
Colorado Springs Watering Restrictions: What You Need to Know
Colorado Springs Utilities enforces seasonal watering restrictions from May 1 through October 15. Here are the basics:
- Residential outdoor watering is limited to 3 days per week based on your address
- Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation
- You may not water during rain or within 48 hours of a forecasted rain event of 0.25 inches or more
Setting up your controller properly at startup keeps you compliant and prevents waste. A smart controller that adjusts automatically based on weather data is worth the investment — we install and program these as part of our irrigation services.
Signs Your System Needs Professional Attention This Spring
Not every startup is a DIY job. Consider calling a professional if:
- Your system wasn’t properly winterized last fall
- You notice wet spots in your yard that weren’t there before
- Water pressure seems uneven across zones
- You have an older system that hasn’t been serviced in several years
- Your backflow preventer shows any signs of damage or leaking
Catching a small problem at startup is almost always cheaper than dealing with a broken lateral line or failed backflow device mid-summer.
We Handle Sprinkler Startups Across Colorado Springs
At Outdoor Projects, we perform irrigation startups throughout Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Fountain, and Peyton. Our startup service includes a full system inspection, zone-by-zone testing, head adjustments, controller programming, and a report on anything that needs attention.
We’re a local, family-owned company — you’ll deal directly with the owner, not a call center. And we keep our schedule flexible so we can get to you before your lawn starts suffering.
Ready to get your system running right this spring?
📞 Call or text: 719-374-2438 🌐 Schedule online at outdoorprojectsco.com