Winter is almost here, and you know what that means. It’s time to winterize your sprinkler system and protect it from freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. As we know if you don’t winterize the sprinkler system, you could end up with issues like cracked pipes, broken valves, and costly repairs. Wondering, how to winterize sprinkler system?
Don’t worry, winterizing the sprinkler system is not as hard as it sounds. In today’s topic, we will cover four essential steps to winterize sprinkler system and guide you on how to turn off the water supply, drain the pipes, blow out the sprinklers, and insulate the valves.
So, without wasting more time, let’s get started.
Contents
Steps to Winterize Sprinkler System
Winterizing your sprinkler system is a simple but essential task that can save you a lot of trouble and money in the long run. For your reference, we have jotted down the four essential steps to winterize sprinkler system, which will guide you to make good use of it, and correctly during the winter season.
1. Shut off the Water
First, all you need to do is shut off the water supply to the system to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the main pipelines. To do so, you need to turn the valve clockwise until it is fully closed, the main shut-off valve is usually located in the basement, garage, or near the water meter.
Furthermore, shutting off the water supply to your sprinkler system prevents the water from freezing and expanding in the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. If the water freezes, it can lead to cracks, and leaks in the system, which can also lead to water damage, flooding, and wasted water.
2. Turn off the Timer
The second important step to winterize the sprinkler system is to turn off the timer or controller of the machine. It will help to prevent the system from running automatically during the winter season. For that, you need to unplug the timer from the power source or switch it to “off” or “rain” mode, in this way you can prevent the unnecessary loss of water.
Furthermore, some timers also feature a “winterize” or “seasonally adjust” function, which permits you to reduce the frequency of watering without completely removing the timer.
3. Drain the Water
One of the important steps to winterizing a sprinkler system is to drain out the water from the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. In this way, you can prevent the water from freezing in winter, which can lead to cracks and leakage issues in the pipes.
Well, there are three methods to drain the water from your sprinkler system: manual draining, automatic draining, and blow-out draining. For your reference, we have jotted down the different methods of draining out water from the sprinkler system. Let’s dive in.
Manual Draining
Well, manual draining is one of the easy methods to drain out the water from your sprinkler system. It only works for systems, that have manual drain valves, it is usually located at the lowest point or endpoints of the piping. Since it has manual draining valves, you need to open all the drain valves, then only water will flow out by gravity. So, you need to be aware of when to open the valves and operate the machine.
It is also possible that you have to open the test cocks on the backflow preventer and the sprinkler valves to release any trapped air. This is because the irrigation system or sprinkler system is manual. And without human intervention, it is not feasible to eliminate the air that has been trapped and allow the sprinkler system to function effectively and efficiently. After all work is done, you can simply close all the drain valves, and test clocks to save water.
Automatic Draining
The name itself indicates that this method has automatic drain valves. It opens automatically when the water pressure drops below a certain level. To drain out the water automatically, you need to shut off the water supply and run the sprinkler system for one or two minutes. By, doing this will help you to release the water pressure, and activate the automatic drain valves.
Furthermore, it is also possible that you might need to open the test cocks on the backflow preventer, and the sprinkler valves to release any trapped air. It is recommended to close the test clock once the water stops flowing.
Blow-Out Draining
Well, the blow-out draining method includes an air compressor, which helps to blow out the water from the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. Then connect an air compressor to the mainline, preferably after the backflow preventer. Plus, you also need to adjust the air pressure and make sure to keep it to a minimum, and while adjusting the pressure, it is advisable to wear eye and ear protection.
After that, you need to open the sprinkler valves one at a time, starting from the furthest zone and moving towards the closest zone. Make sure, to blow out each zone until no water comes out of the sprinkler heads, and then close the valve. It is also possible that, according to the situation, you might need to blow out the backflow preventer and the main shut-off valve.
4. Insulate Above-Ground Components
The last step to winterize the sprinkler system is to insulate any above-ground components that are exposed to the cold. This includes the backflow preventer, the main shut-off valve, the sprinkler valves, and the sprinkler heads.
Furthermore, you can insulate the above-ground components of your sprinkler system, for that, you will need the following materials: foam insulation tape, foam insulation tubes, and plastic bags to wrap around these components. In addition, you can also use duct tape or rubber bands to secure the insulation.
This will prevent the components from freezing and cracking.
Read More:
FAQs
When to prepare a sprinkler system for winter?
It is observed that the best time to winterize your sprinkler system is just before the hit of the first hard snowfall of the season. This could be any time between late September and early December, it solely depends upon the location of your region. It is advisable to check the weather forecast or use a soil temperature device to determine when to winterize your sprinkler system.
How do I maintain my sprinkler system for the winter?
After using the winterize sprinkler system, it is important to maintain it throughout the winter. For that, you need to test the system in the spring, before you start regular watering to your garden. In this way, it will be easy for you to detect the faults that may have occurred during the winter season.
Conclusion
You have just learned about how to winterize sprinkler system in just four essential steps. So, let’s quickly, recall it.
By shutting off the water supply, flushing the pipes, blowing the sprinklers, and insulating the valves, you’ve shielded your sprinkler system from freezing damage and averted potential aches and pains. Now you can enjoy the winter season without worrying about your sprinkler system.
Hello, I’m Rose Lehman, the content writer of cozynest. I have been a gardener for over 5 years, and I have a certificate in master gardening from the Oregon State University Extension Service. I enjoy writing about all aspects of gardening, from the basics to the advanced, and from the practical to the creative. I also love to explore different types of gardens, cultures, and styles, and share them with our readers. My goal is to inspire and inform our audience, and help them grow their own cozynest.
