Spring is when an irrigation system either proves it made it through winter or reveals the problems that have been sitting there since the last freeze. Before your yard hits its busiest growing season, it’s worth spending 20 minutes checking your system rather than finding out about a broken head or an overdue watering schedule the hard way, through a dead patch or a high water bill.
Here’s what to check before spring watering ramps up across Las Vegas and Henderson.
Update Your Watering Schedule
LVVWD sets seasonal watering-day restrictions that change as temperatures rise, and if your controller is still set to a winter schedule, your yard is either underwatered as the heat picks up or running outside your assigned watering days. Confirm your assigned days and adjust your controller’s run times and start times before the seasonal shift catches your lawn off guard.
If you water by hand instead of running a system, this still applies to you check that your watering frequency matches the new season rather than sticking with what worked in January.
Inspect Sprinkler Heads and Valves
Winter is hard on irrigation systems even in a mild desert climate. Debris, dirt, and settling soil can clog or misalign heads over a few months of reduced use, and on the Valley’s caliche soil, a small blockage often shows up as a dry patch before it shows up as an obvious leak. Before spring:
- Check every sprinkler head and valve for cracks, debris, or blockages
- Trim back any plant growth that’s started to obstruct a sprinkler’s spray path
- Look for signs of a cracked line or fitting most commonly a wet spot in the yard that shouldn’t be there, or a noticeable drop in water pressure at certain heads
Run a Full System Test
Once heads and valves are clear, run each zone manually and watch it work. You’re looking for:
- Even coverage across the zone, with no dry gaps or oversaturated spots
- Consistent water pressure at every head in the zone
- Heads popping up and retracting properly, without sticking
Catching a coverage gap now, before summer heat sets in, is a lot easier than fixing a dead section of lawn or a stressed plant bed in July.
Consider a Drip Conversion While You’re Checking
Spring, while the system is already open and being tested, is also the best time to convert older sprinkler zones, especially plant beds and shrub areas, to drip irrigation. Drip delivers water directly to the root zone instead of spraying it across the surface, which matters on caliche soil that doesn’t absorb water quickly. Converting qualifying areas can also make your property eligible for the SNWA Water Smart Landscape Rebate, which pays $5–$7 per square foot toward the project.
Why This Matters More in a Desert Climate
Every gallon that leaks out of a cracked line or sprays onto a driveway instead of a plant bed is a gallon wasted in a market where water conservation isn’t optional, it’s part of LVVWD’s mandatory guidelines. A small irrigation problem in spring compounds fast once summer temperatures hit, turning a $20 fix into a full section of dead landscaping.
FAQs
When should I turn my sprinklers back on in Las Vegas?
There’s no single date, it depends on LVVWD’s seasonal watering schedule, which shifts as temperatures rise each spring. Check your assigned watering days directly and adjust your controller’s start times and run times to match, rather than going by the calendar alone.
How do I know if my irrigation system has a leak?
The most common signs are a wet or soggy spot in the yard that doesn’t match your watering schedule, a noticeable pressure drop at certain sprinkler heads, or an unexplained jump in your water bill. A full system test, running each zone manually and watching for gaps or pooling, will usually reveal it.
Is it worth converting old sprinklers to drip irrigation?
For plant beds and shrub areas, yes. Drip irrigation uses significantly less water than spray heads, works better with caliche soil, and can qualify for the SNWA Water Smart Landscape Rebate, which offsets the cost of the conversion.
How often should I have my irrigation system professionally checked?
A seasonal check, at minimum once in spring before the heaviest watering months begin, catches most issues before they turn into water waste or plant damage. Older systems or ones that haven’t been inspected in over a year benefit from a full evaluation rather than a quick walk-through.
Get a Professional Evaluation
If you’d rather have a professional catch what a walk-through might miss, Cacti Landscape offers a flat-rate $80 irrigation evaluation a full system check covering pressure, coverage, and hidden leaks before your yard heads into its busiest watering season. We’re Nevada Licensed Contractor #84942, serving Las Vegas, Henderson, and the surrounding Valley since 2002.
