Your irrigation system has served you well all spring and summer, but fall is here, and it’s time to get it ready for a long winter’s nap. Here’s how irrigation winterization works, from the last sprinkler session to deep sleep.
The Importance of Winterization
Irrigation system winterization is a critical step for home and business owners looking to get the longest lifespan out of their systems. We aren’t often spared from freezing winter weather in Nashville, so it’s especially important for residents to get their systems ready for the cold.
Winterization is important for an irrigation system for a few reasons. Irrigation systems are full of water, and when water freezes, it expands. In the winter, ground temperatures are often considerably warmer than the air temperatures, but if the air gets cold enough, the ground can get below freezing. Even one night of freezing temperatures is enough to freeze the water in a non-winterized irrigation system. This freeze can cause pipes to crack or burst and can also damage fittings and the various hardware components in the sprinklers. Proper winterization of your irrigation system can prevent this damage to the pipes and fittings, saving you a lot of money and headaches when the spring thaw comes. Repairing damaged irrigation systems can be costly, and parts of your lawn will need to be dug up to determine the extent of the damage and troubleshoot the entire system. This process will not only set your watering back, but it can leave bald spots on your lawn that can take weeks or months to grow back.
Even in the mildest of winters, all it takes is one cold night to completely destroy an irrigation system. These parts aren’t delicate, but ice is a huge detriment to plumbing. Just as your home’s pipes can burst in a particularly intense cold snap, it can also happen to your irrigation system. So, how do you prepare your irrigation system for winter and prevent the damage that it can sometimes bring?
Winterization Walkthrough
Now that you’re more acquainted with the risks that winter poses to your irrigation system, let’s explore how to properly winterize it. As with any landscaping task, some homeowners may feel more comfortable leaving the job in the hands of professionals. Working with The Parke Company to prepare your irrigation system for winter is a breeze. If you’re looking to go it alone or simply want to know what steps are involved in proper irrigation system winterization, read on to explore the entire process.
1. Stop the Water
If you’re looking for info on how to winterize an irrigation system, you probably already know the first step. Cutting off the water to the system will prevent the pipes from filling with water, ensuring that it doesn’t have the chance to freeze and expand in the pipes beneath your lawn. But simply turning off the system isn’t enough. Even if you turn off a pump’s electronic components, you need to make sure there’s no water getting to the system. Find your system’s main valve and shut it off firmly. This generally involves a physical valve that you need to turn to the closed position, usually indicated on the valve handle. Next, also close your system’s backflow valve. This valve is on most modern irrigation systems and will be housed near the main valve, so if you see two valves, make sure they’re both closed.
2. Disable the Timer
Even fairly antiquated systems feature a timer, so it’s important to make sure it’s shut off. Timers tell the system when to pump water into the pipes, which we obviously don’t want to happen. These electronic components can usually be disabled and put into winter or rain mode. Older systems do this to ensure that the timer is disabled without removing your current time settings. Modern systems with smart integration will remember your timer settings automatically, so simply disable the timer in your app, and you’re all set. Consult your manual if you’re struggling to find information on how to do this for your specific system, or call the experts at The Parke Company and let us handle it!
3. Drain the System
After you’ve shut the water off to the system, there’s still going to be water left behind in the pipes. You can’t simply run the system until it’s empty, however, since many use water pressure to actually operate. This means that it will just pump more water into the pipes to push out the older water, putting you right back to square one. This is the most involved step of winterization for some systems, especially older ones. Even though this is challenging, you cannot neglect this step. There are a few draining methods, and some are much simpler than others. More advanced systems have automatic draining, which uses a pump or other method for draining the remaining water from the pipes and fixtures. If your system has this, then simply follow the steps in your manual. If you don’t have that option, it’s likely one of two other options. The first is a manual drain. Manual drainage irrigation systems use gravity to drain the system. Usually, there is an exit valve at the low point of your property that’s hooked up to the irrigation system. Open the valve here slowly once the water is shut off (and expect waterworks). Because the system is pressurized, water can come out quickly, so always wear eye protection, and don’t stand in front of the valve. Some systems also have an air drainage system, which enables you to hook up an air compressor and blow the water from the pipes. This method should only be used in systems that have that as an available option. Check your manual closely to ensure that your model of irrigation system can work with air. Improper air drainage can cause extensive damage and bodily harm, so it’s important to take precautions when draining the system.
4. Insulate
Above-ground components of your irrigation system, like sprinkler heads, need to be properly insulated from the cold air. Because air temperatures are lower than ground temperatures, this step is important. There are plenty of products available to help cover and insulate sprinklers and other valves in the winter, but make sure you’re using a method that’s approved by the manufacturer.
Get Help Winterizing Your Sprinkler System
Winterizing your irrigation setup is a task you need to take seriously this fall, but you don’t need to take it on alone. Work with The Parke Company this year for your irrigation system winterization, and give yourself some peace of mind that this investment is well protected all winter.