do i need to winterize my sprinkler system

How to winterize your residential irrigation system?

Winterizing your sprinklers is just one part of ongoing care for your sprinkler system. Possibly an even more helpful service is the Spring Tune Up. That service activates the sprinkler system by closing drain valves, turning the water on, and then cleaning and …

How to prepare your sprinkler system for winter?

Sep 02, 2021 · So, if you have a lawn sprinkler, you need to winterize it before the temperatures plunge to the freezing mark. The Danger of Not Winterizing Your Sprinkler System If you forget to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes and sprinkler heads.

How do you dewinterize a sprinkler system?

Without proper preparation, the sprinkler system that kept your plants alive all year could be damaged by freezing temperatures. Sprinkler systems aren’t designed to withstand a deep freeze, so you should learn how to winterize a sprinkler system. Your spray irrigation spent the warmer months keeping your lawn green and your vegetables well-watered. These systems must be …

How to winterize a drip irrigation system?

Sep 22, 2020 · We’re here to help steer you down the right path. How You Know It’s Time to Winterize Your Sprinkler System While the exact timeline for winterizing your sprinkler system can vary based on conditions, irrigation systems should always be drained before the first freeze or whenever temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

What happens if you don't winterize your irrigation system?

Will my sprinklers freeze at 20 degrees?

How do I prepare my sprinkler system for winter?

How much does it cost to winterize irrigation system?

How do I winterize my sprinkler system without a blowout?

Should you turn off sprinkler in winter?

How do I protect my sprinklers when freezing?

What temperature should I winterize my sprinkler system?

What temperature will sprinkler pipes freeze?

How much does an irrigation blowout cost?

What happens if you don't winterize your sprinkler system?

Failing to properly prepare your irrigation system and sprinklers for the coldest part of the year will result in lots of damage and leaks that only become visible during the spring when you turn your irrigation back on.

How to control irrigation zone?

Select the irrigation zone control furthest from the air compressor value and open the manual shutoff handle to relieve the water pressure that is present in the mainline. Always make sure at least one zone is open while running your air compressor while connected to the system.

Why is it important to keep the irrigation zone open?

Keep an irrigation zone that is the furthest down your system open so that the water pressure on the mainline is relieved. It is important that while running the air compressor element to drain the line that the zone valve is kept open.

What to use to cover spigots?

Temperate climates that get limited freezes can simply cover the system with a blanket and tarp on a cold night. Remember to cover your outside spigots with a foam covering to prevent your pipes from breaking.

Does it take much water to expand a hose?

It does not take that much water in a line to expand beyond the capacity of the line to break the hose or pipe.

Can a line be installed below freezing?

Most lines in temperate climates will be installed below the freezing level of the ground, so even with temperatures dipping below freezing occasionally the ground itself will never freeze

Can you freeze your sprinklers in the winter?

The only exception to this rule is for people that live in climates that never go below freezing 32 degrees Fahrenheit / 0 degrees Celsius. Most of the United States dips below freezing at some point during the winter so please take the time to properly winterize your sprinklers and irrigation lines to avoid costly damage.

Do Sprinkler Systems Need to Be Winterized

Yes, especially in colder areas of the country. Winterizing your sprinkler system prevents you from having to deal with busted pipes later.

How to Winterize a Sprinkler System

Taking the necessary steps to winterize your sprinkler system will save you from running into issues with freezing water that can significantly damage your irrigation system.

When Should I Winterize My Sprinkler System

It is crucial to know when to winterize your sprinkler system to protect it from freezing weather. The best rule of thumb is to winterize your system before the typical first freeze of the season and to be safe even a few days before it usually freezes.

How Much Does It Cost to Winterize a Sprinkler System

The cost to winterize your sprinkler system will depend on where you live. The price typically ranges from $70 to $250 and is definitely worth the money. The price will be larger if you have a bigger property and more irrigation systems in place.

Conclusion

Sprinkler systems are a great addition to any home because of the convenience they offer to keep a lush yard all year. In order to have a working irrigation system, you must learn how to maintain it during the winter months. Many wonder if sprinkler systems should be winterized, and they absolutely should in certain areas.

Why do you winterize sprinklers?

But at the end of the watering season, it's important to winterize your sprinklers so that the water does not freeze inside the system and cause damage.

What temperature should a sprinkler system be before a hard freeze?

Your lines must be drained or blown out using an air compressor before the first hard freeze. A hard freeze is when the outdoor air dips below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Below the freezing point, some of the most critical components of a sprinkler system can be damaged.

What happens if you freeze water pipes?

Effects of Frozen Pipes. If you fail to blow out your pipes before the first freeze of the season, it's likely that the water inside will freeze. With no room for the freezing water to expand, the pipes can crack or burst in large sections. Frozen pipes are one of the most costly and difficult repairs to make, given that ...

What happens if water freezes in sprinkler pipe?

If water is allowed to freeze inside the main pipe, it can crack the plastic and damage the attached valves. Replacing a damaged manifold is the most labor-intensive part of any sprinkler repair and should be avoided by draining as much water as possible from inside the manifold.

Can water freeze in sprinkler heads?

Water can also freeze inside sprinkler heads themselves. As the frozen water expands, the pressure from the ice can pop off sprinkler heads. Another possible effect is that the water will expand inside the plastic body of the sprinkler, cracking the sprinkler down the side.

How deep is a sprinkler system?

Ok, so how deep is your sprinkler sytem buried? Most sprinkler system lateral lines are at a depth of 8-12 inches; valves are around 12 inches; and the double check anti-siphon device at between 12 inches and 24 inches.

Why blow out sprinklers with compressed air?

They know there is a significant investment and they want to protect it. By blowing out the sprinkler system with compressed air, they gain a sense of confidence that they have protected the investment. They want to ensure that the sprinklers will work properly for years to come.

Can galvanized pipe freeze?

For some parts, especially those made of metal, the affects of alternately freezing and thawing are cumulative. You may get by for years and then something breaks. I’ve seen this particularly with galvanized pipe. It seems to hold strong for years—and then it splits.

Can you winterize sprinklers?

Winterizing your sprinklers is just one part of ongoing care for your sprinkler system. Possibly an even more helpful service is the Spring Tune Up. That service activates the sprinkler system by closing drain valves, turning the water on, and then cleaning and adjusting the sprinklers as needed. If the sprinklers are not cleaned and adjusted regularly, sprinkler system performance will deteriorate.This is also an opportune time to do any needed repairs just before the watering season begins.

What happens if you forget to winterize your sprinklers?

If you forget to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes and sprinkler heads. When water freezes, it expands causing the parts of your system to burst and destroying your sprinkler system. Air blowout practice.

How cold can a lawn sprinkler be in winter?

If you live in the northern half of the U.S. or in Canada, you know winter temperatures can dip well below 32°F. So, if you have a lawn sprinkler, you need to winterize it before the temperatures plunge to the freezing mark.

How does K Rain help you winterize your irrigation system?

At K-Rain, we help you winterize your irrigation system by connecting you to a sprinkler system contractor or by providing irrigation parts at our online store.

What is the GPM for winterizing?

If you decide to winterize on your own, make sure you know. The gallons per minute (GPM) that flow through each irrigation zone. The GPM helps you know what size air compressor you need for the job. If you have a backflow preventer, you need to blow out the preventer too.

What happens if you don't blow out your sprinkler system?

If you don’t use enough air volume after flushing some of the water out of the system, the air will rise to the top of the water. This air movement causes water to drain into the bottom. And if water flows down, it’ll freeze and put your system in danger of damage.

Do lawn sprinklers need air blow out?

Most lawn sprinkler developers recommend the air blow out system to winterize an irrigation system. Forcing air through the valves, pipes and sprinkler heads completely rids the system of water.

Can you blow out a water heater at one time?

And if water flows down, it’ll freeze and put your system in danger of damage. You should only blow out your system one zone at a time. You run the risk of overheating the pipes and fittings as well as melting them if you blow out more than one zone at a time.

Where is the main shut off point for sprinkler systems?

All sprinkler systems have a main shut-off point. It might be located in your basement, a crawlspace, or underground in a valve box. Valve boxes can be buried up to 5 feet underground.

How to keep a main valve from freezing?

Insulate Your System. You shut off the main valve whenever you drained the pipes, but this valve needs to be protected against freezing as well. The best way to do this is to wrap the main valve with insulation, typically foam insulation tape and a plastic bag. Insulation is an essential step to winterization.

What do you do when water is drained from the mainline?

Once all of the water is drained out of the mainline, you can open the boiler drain valve or the drain cap on the stop and waste valve. This is when you need to drain all of the remaining water that is between the irrigation water shut off valve and backflow device.

How to replace a shut off valve if you don't have a key?

If you don’t have the key, you need to find the contractor that installed the system or contact the company that manufactured the system to get a replacement. Shut off valves should turn quickly, so don’t force it. Just turn the valve to the indicated off position. This step is the easiest! 2. Drain the Pipes.

Why do you need to insulate a shut off valve?

Insulation is an essential step to winterization. It protects the valve from the freezing, damaging winter temperatures. Not everyone has a main shut off valve, but you can get one installed as a preventative investment. Remember that any above-ground piping needs to be insulated during the winter.

Can PVC piping break in winter?

Some water always remains, and that water can freeze, expand, and crack PVC piping. Yes, that rigid white piping can break under the expansion of freezing and unfreezing water.

Do you need to know your sprinkler system for winterization?

While winterization is typically an easy DIY job, it does require working knowledge of your specific sprinkler system, including each irrigation zone. So, if you don’t understand your system well, having a trained professional ensures nothing goes wrong.

What Does it Mean to Winterize an Irrigation System in North Texas?

In the Northeastern part of the country as well as other areas that get frequent below-freezing temperatures, winterizing an irrigation system means blowing out the lines as to not leave behind any drops of water (which can cause freezing and breakage). Then, the system is completely shut down.

In Addition to Resetting the Controller, What Else is Involved in a Fall Irrigation Inspection

In addition to adjusting the watering schedule, when your irrigation professional comes out to winterize an irrigation system, they should also be performing a general fall inspection and just checking up on your system.

Working with Grassperson on Irrigation Maintenance Services and More

Although it looks different to winterize an irrigation system in North Texas than in other parts of the country, it’s important that your irrigation professional is staying on top of your system’s needs, no matter what the season.

Methods for Winterizing Irrigation Systems

There are three basic methods for draining leftover water from your sprinkler or irrigation system: manual drain, automatic drain and blow-out. The method you use depends on the type of irrigation you have in place.

Manual Drain Method

Some irrigation systems are equipped with manual drainage. These systems allow you to empty excess water from the system by simply opening a valve.

Automatic Drain Method

An auto drain system has valves that automatically drain water from the pipes. This happens only when the water pressure falls below a certain number of pounds per square inch.

Blow-Out Method Overview

The final way of draining an irrigation system is known as the blow-out method. To drain the pipes, you force compressed air through the irrigation system. This discharges excess water through the sprinkler heads. It only works successfully if you’ve got the proper irrigation system to handle that amount of pressure.

Blow-Out Method Procedure

Put on your safety glasses, then assemble your compressor and coupler. For clarity, these instructions are provided in two sets.