Winterizing an Irrigation System
The most critical step in winterizing the irrigation system is draining excess water from the pipes and other components to prevent freezing
Irrigation systems are pivotal in maintaining a lush, green lawn. They are complex, comprising an intricate network of pipes, valves, and other crucial components. Winterizing is a critical part of irrigation system maintenance that helps protect it from experiencing significant damage due to freezing temperatures throughout the cold months.
Homeowners must recognize the importance of winterizing the irrigation system. Neglecting this vital activity can cause the water to freeze in the pipes, resulting in costly damage or internal component failure.
Homeowners can follow these simple steps to prepare their irrigation systems for winter:
Inspect the system
Walk around the yard and assess the system thoroughly. Check the lines for leaks and breaks or if the system needs repairs before winterizing. Remove and trim any broken, dead, or overgrown branches around the irrigation controllers and sprinklers. Also, check the sprinkler heads, backflow preventers, and valves for any faults.
Turn off the water
The first step of winterizing the irrigation system is to shut off the water supply to the system by turning off the main water valve. Also, turn off the stop and waste valves. If the irrigation system has a backflow preventer, drain and shut off the two backflow valves.
Turn off the timer
For irrigation systems with an automatic timer, homeowners should ensure that the main valve is shut off or switch to rain mode for the winter. During spring, turn the rain mode off to resume normal time functioning.
Drain the water
The most critical step in winterizing the irrigation system is draining excess water from the pipes and other components to prevent freezing. There are different methods to drain excess water, including:
Manual drain method: Homeowners can drain the water manually in some irrigation systems by simply opening a valve. Such irrigation systems have shut-off valves at the piping’s end or low points. Open the valves slowly, one at a time, to drain the system and close them again when done. Also, drain the backflow device. The water in the pipes is under pressure, so it is advisable to wear proper eye protection.
Automatic drain method: Some irrigation systems have valves to automatically drain water from the pipes when the main valve is shut off and the water pressure falls below a specific PSI. To activate the automatic drain, turn off the water supply and run the sprinkler heads briefly to relieve the water pressure. It will clear the pipe of excess water. To release the water trapped within the valves, loosen the solenoid on each valve. It will allow air into the system and push the water to flow out.
Blow-out method: It is complicated and risks system damage if done incorrectly. The method uses compressed air to blow out the standing water. It is a quick and effective method of draining water from the irrigation system. Always use the appropriately sized air compressor so that the system can handle the airflow and pressure. Also, blow out one zone at a time and perform the process in short intervals.
Insulate the exposed components
In the last step, use insulation to protect all the above-ground components of the irrigation system, like exposed pipes, backflow preventers, and main shut-off valves.
Winterizing the irrigation system can help homeowners save time and money during spring. Seek assistance from a professional irrigation system winterization service to protect the investment fully.
Pump Repair Services provides residential and commercial pump repair services for water well pumps, water feature pumps, transfer pumps, industrial irrigation pumps, and more, as well as custom water filtration services in the Orlando area. (Sorry, no pool pumps or sewer pumps.) We offer 24-hour emergency service. Call us at (407) 625-5499.
