Why Winterize Your Sprinkler System?

  1. Prevent Freezing Damage: When water freezes inside your sprinkler pipes, it expands, causing pipes to crack or burst. This can lead to extensive damage and costly repairs.
    1. Preserve Your Investment: Your landscaping is a valuable asset. Proper winterization helps protect it by ensuring your sprinkler system doesn’t harm your lawn and garden.
    1. Save on Spring Repairs: By taking preventive measures now, you’ll avoid the headache and expense of repairing or replacing your sprinkler system in the spring.

When to Winterize Your Sprinkler System

The ideal time to winterize your sprinkler system is before the first hard freeze, usually in late fall. It’s important to act before temperatures consistently drop below freezing, as this can prevent damage to your system.

How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System

Follow these steps to properly winterize your sprinkler system:

  1. 1.Turn Off the Water Supply: Locate the main shut-off valve for your sprinkler system and turn it off. This will prevent water from flowing into the system.
  2. 2.Drain the System: Open all the drain valves and low-point drains to allow water to drain from the pipes. Be sure to open all manual drain valves and automatic drain valves as well.
  3. 3.Blow Out the Pipes: To remove any remaining water, use an air compressor to blow out the sprinkler lines. Begin with the zone farthest from the compressor and work your way back. Gradually increase the air pressure to avoid damaging the pipes. Keep blowing out the lines until no water comes out of the sprinkler heads.
  4. Clear the Backflow Preventer: If you have a backflow preventer, ensure it’s properly drained to avoid freezing damage.
  5. Insulate and Protect: Insulate any above-ground pipes, valves, and backflow preventers with foam insulation or insulated tape. Cover above-ground components with insulated covers to protect them from extreme cold.
  6. Store Equipment: Properly store sprinkler heads, hoses, and other removable components in a dry, frost-free location.
  7. Professional Inspection: Consider having a professional technician inspect your system to ensure all components are winter-ready and to identify any potential issues.

Conclusion

Winterizing your sprinkler system is an essential task to protect your investment and prevent costly repairs. By following these steps and acting before the first hard freeze, you’ll ensure your sprinkler system remains in top shape and ready to deliver lush, green lawns and vibrant gardens when spring returns. Learn more about sprinkler winterization at:

Don’t delay—schedule your sprinkler system winterization today to enjoy a worry-free winter and a thriving landscape next spring!