An irrigation system is beneficial to ensure your lawn stays looking and feeling healthy throughout spring and summer. But when the winter weather arrives, it’s time to get your lawn for winter. This includes raking all the fallen leaves in your garden, covering the beds to keep them from frost, and winterizing your irrigation system. Winterizing your sprinkler system is as crucial as preparing it for the summer months. Thankfully, it’s simpler to accomplish than you believe by the Done right irrigation services. Let’s dive.

Common Problems During Winterization

Frozen Valves – A common problem during winter is frozen valves. If temperatures fall below freezing, the water in the valves could freeze, causing them to get stuck or even crack. To resolve this issue, gently defrost the valves with a hairdryer or heat gun. If the valves have cracked or damaged, they must be replaced.The other possible issue is broken sprinkler heads – Large objects or lawn equipment could accidentally hit and destroy sprinkler heads. To combat this issue, replacing damaged sprinkler heads with new ones is possible. To prevent further injury, stop the water supply before installing the new heads.

2 Tips to Prevent Frozen Valves

Approach According to the Weather

When is the best time to start winterizing your lawn’s sprinkler system?

The answer varies depending on your location and when the colder weather begins to take hold. Getting your irrigation system before the first snowfall, deep frost, or nighttime when temperatures fall below 32 degrees F is excellent.It is important to check the weather reports to understand when to begin winterizing your sprinkler system. The sprinkler may be run for one more opportunity to ensure your lawn gets adequate watering. Make sure that there is a suitable period of time to allow the rain to absorb into the soil before it freezes; otherwise, it could harm the health of your lawn!It’s also desirable to look for a regular pattern of temperatures dropping. If you notice an abrupt drop in temperature for only one night before temperatures begin to rise again, you could shield the exposed pipes from frost. However, if it looks like a regular cold is just around the corner, it’s time to prepare for winter. Get Done right irrigation services.

Start Draining the System

When you are in a position to shut off your sprinklers for winter, you’ll need to remove the system. This will eliminate water remaining within the pipes and safeguard your irrigation systems from the winter months ahead. The method of draining the pipes will depend on the kind of valve you are using. If you need clarification on the type of sprinkler your system is, inform the manufacturer who installed it or talk to an expert in irrigation to get benefits.

  • Manual Valves

If your sprinklers feature manual drainage, you must open every vent yourself to let the system drain. This is the first thing to do to shut off water flow. There must be a device to backflow the water, stopping it from returning to the home. Ensure the valve is closed so all water can go out of the sprinklers. Let gravity take over and pull the water away from the pipes at the lowest point in your system. Ensure you open all check valves, backflow systems, or other devices that might hinder water flow. After the water is finished draining, close the valves completely. More than manual drainage may be required. A portion of the water may be trapped in the low points of pipes and fail to be able to drain from the sprinklers. Try adding antifreeze in the pipes to stop this from happening. Alternatively, you can use blow-out systems, which we’ll discuss in a moment.

  • Automatic Valves

Specific sprinkler systems feature automatic valves that remove water from the pipes if pressure exceeds a predetermined amount of pounds for each square inch. In most cases, the operating manual includes instructions on how to operate these systems correctly. To activate the automatic draining process, switch off the water supply and run only one sprinkler head until the water has completely gone. The water system’s control panel might have a choice of whether to begin the drainage process or even go by itself. You’ll still have to manually open check valves or black flow devices to ensure all the water has been drained.

Wrapping Up

The winterizing of the sprinkler system is among the accurate methods to ensure you will have a gorgeous-looking lawn the next time. If you do not plan, your irrigation system can cause a catastrophe or cost you money in repair costs. Instead, follow these simple steps to ensure your sprinklers are safe from freezing temperatures. If you have questions about winterizing your system or want to schedule well-qualified maintenance or cleaning, call us and get Done right irrigation services. Preparing the sprinklers for the harsh winter ahead and making all necessary repairs, maintenance, or replacements will benefit our team.