Irrigation · Checklists

Irrigation checklists

Before hiring, confirm four things: licensing verified with your state or local authority, proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance, whether the backflow assembly and any required permit are included, and whether the contractor holds a WaterSense labeled certification — EPA maintains a searchable directory of professionals who do. Seasonally, run EPA's inspect, connect, direct, select routine each spring and winterize before the first hard freeze.

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Hiring checklist. Get the license number and check it yourself rather than accepting a card. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly by the insurer. Ask for a zone map from a recent job — it shows immediately whether they document their work. Ask whether the price includes the backflow assembly, the controller, sensors and any utility or permit fees.

Contract checklist. Zone count and per-zone price, head models, nozzle types, pipe spec and depth, swing joints, wire and splice type, controller model, sensor, backflow assembly type, trenching assumptions, restoration of the lawn afterward, and the warranty on both parts and labor. Trenching assumptions are the biggest change-order risk — get rock, roots and hardscape boring priced in advance.

Seasonal checklist. Spring: pressurize slowly, run every zone, check for freeze damage, do the can test, set the schedule for spring conditions. Summer: adjust monthly, watch for misting and dry spots. Fall: winterize before the first hard freeze. LawnStarter puts winterization at $59 to $144 and spring reactivation at $45 to $140.

Handover checklist. Zone map, controller programming written down, valve box locations, the parts list, warranty documents, and the date of the backflow test if your utility requires one. That file is worth real money at every future service call.

How to choose

Verify the license yourself: Search your state or local licensing authority's public lookup. Match the name on the license to the name on the invoice.
Get insurance direct from the insurer: A certificate emailed by the insurance agency, not a photo of a document, is the only version worth having.
Check the WaterSense professional directory: EPA lists pros certified in irrigation audit, installation and maintenance, or design, searchable by ZIP code.
Price the trenching assumptions: Rock, roots and boring under hardscape are where change orders come from. Settle them before work starts.
Demand a written handover: Zone map, schedule, parts list and valve locations. Without them, every future repair starts with paid rediscovery.

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All irrigation checklists

Irrigation Homeowner Checklist

Irrigation Seasonal Checklist

Irrigation Contractor Vetting Checklist

Irrigation Safety Checklist

FAQ

Irrigation checklists — common questions

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What should I ask an irrigation contractor before hiring?

License number, proof of insurance, zone count and per-zone price, whether the backflow assembly and permit are included, what happens if they hit rock, and whether they'll provide a zone map and written schedule.

How do I check if an irrigation pro is qualified?

Verify licensing with your state or local authority, and check EPA's WaterSense directory of professionals certified in irrigation audit, installation and maintenance, or design.

What's the minimum annual routine?

A spring startup and full zone check, monthly schedule adjustment in season, and winterization before the first hard freeze — around $59–$144 for winterization and $45–$140 for spring reactivation.

Sources

Where these figures come from

EPA WaterSense — Find a Certified Professional · retrieved 2026-07-26
EPA WaterSense — Sprinkler Spruce-Up · retrieved 2026-07-26
LawnStarter — Cost to Winterize a Sprinkler System (2026) · retrieved 2026-07-26