Sprinkler Blowouts For Friday, October 24, 2025

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE: Joe will not be out today due to a migraine. Unfortunately, it sounds like he’s been dealing with them pretty often, so he won’t be returning to work with us. This is a real loss — Joe was one of the good ones and darn good at what he did. We’ll cover his route from today on Monday.

As much as we joke around here in Sprinkler Blowout Land, this one’s a bummer. Losing a solid tech feels like losing a good tool — you can replace it, but it never quite works the same. END OF UPDATE 🚨

No real hiccups yesterday in Sprinkler Blowout Land. Ben had a little trouble getting Leroy fired up this morning — apparently, he forgot that cold mornings and diesel engines go together like oil and water. Once it finally roared to life, he was back in business.

He did run into a couple of spots in Nampa where he couldn’t locate the main shut-off for the sprinkler system, and of course, no one answered the door, phone, or text. Can’t really blame them — most folks are at work during the same hours we’re out blowing sprinklers. Sometimes it feels like we’re playing an elaborate game of hide-and-seek with water valves.

If you happen to know where your main shut-off, drain, or valves are located, please jot that down in the Additional Notes section when you sign up. It saves us a lot of time wandering around your yard looking like confused treasure hunters with air hoses. 💨

Orange Julius now has a brand-new reel and is officially ready for action. All we need now is someone to pull it around so it can do its thing. The poor beast is sitting in my trailer lot looking lonely—like a Border Collie itching to herd, but with no sheep, no cattle, not even an Amazon driver or a postal worker to chase.

I won’t go into my usual yearly rant (at least not yet) about all the people who reach out during the day completely unaware of our terms, the blog location, current status, or even the calendar. Honestly, I could write an entire book on that subject alone. For now, let’s just say I’m left shaking my head in pure bewilderment.

Someone actually got hold of me yesterday and called me an idiot, said I had no clue what I was doing, tossed in a few expletives, and accused me of running a scam — all because they didn’t bother to cancel their service when they no longer needed it and got an invoice for non-cancellation.

Apparently, the logic is: I spend hours building routes I don’t get paid for, send techs to jobs that turn out to be a waste of time (which I do pay for), and somehow I’m the idiot. The whole thing could have been avoided if they’d just read — or even glanced at — the terms they agreed to.

And just to be clear — this isn’t a one-time fluke. It happens every single year during blowout season. At least a dozen times. I’ve gotten to where I can almost call it in advance — “Ah, there’s another square filled on my Blowout Bingo card!” 😄

Anyway, here are the routes for today:

Ben with “Leroy” in Nampa 83686

East Middlefork Way
East Holly Ridge Drive
East Sutton Avenue
East Umatilla Drive
Erin Avenue
E Pennsylvania Ave
East Massachusetts Avenue
South Stonehedge Drive
Southside Boulevard
Sunflower Court
East Colorado Avenue
East Elm Grove Drive

Eddie with “Purple Rain” in Kuna

West Hubbard Road
Kittredge Drive
East Night Rider Drive
North Eagle Meadow Avenue
East Esquel Street
East Tugela Falls Street
North Winding Trail Avenue
North Meldgold Avenue
East Odyssey Street
South Johns Bay Avenue
South Tomen Avenue
East Wild Lilac Court
East Dunrobin Street
South Jump Rope Place
South Red Oak Avenue
South School Avenue
South Ash Avenue
South Hayward Avenue
West Ryegrass Court
North Topanga Court
West Cascara Street
West Deserthawk Drive
North Thistle Drive

Joe with “Blowzilla” in Nampa 83687

North Yuma Way
East Wiltshire Lane
East Brigade Drive
East Stark Drive
Birch Lane
Edgebrook Drive
Bridgeport Drive
Newbrook Drive
East Greens Drive
North Breeds Hill Avenue
North Red Oak Drive
Beckley Court
Arlington Drive
East Water Stone Court
East Dripping Springs Drive