Here in North Texas, we may not get as cold as the northern states but there are times when we do have cold spells and freezing temperatures. Many of the newer sprinkler systems have automatic precautions built-in but if it does not or is an older system you may need to prepare your system for the freezing weather.
Prepare your sprinkler system with proper winterization in order to protect it from the freezing temperatures. The water trapped in the water lines and pump could cause damage to the system as the water expands and blows out the sides of the pipes. While this seems to be easy enough, some homeowners prefer to call on the experts to ensure it is done properly. This is why we offer such a service to our clients as we want you to be fully confident that next year your system will be good to go and ready when you are.
We work with client’s systems of all kinds and even those that have various zones to ensure that your system is properly winterized. However, some like to attempt on their own. We hope that our guide on how to properly winterize your sprinkler system for cold weather will be of some help.
Insulate
There typically is a shut off valve located on the system. This shut-off valve will stop the water flow to the pump. This valve needs to be protected from the winter cold so that the valve itself doesn’t freeze. Typically foam insulation tape is used here. If you are in areas that get extremely cold, then you might want to invest in heat tape. If you have any pipes that are above ground beside the valve, you will need to wrap that as well. This ensures that they are protected from the cold.
Keep controls set properly
If your sprinkler system has controls, then you will need to ensure that you keep them set for the next season. This can be done by simply putting the controller on the rain mode. This will allow the controller to skip sending signals to the system that it needs to run but will maintain all the set times that have been working for you. This will also allow the clock to continue to run to keep those times accurate. If the controller is also responsible for starting the pump, then taking those wires off of the pump will ensure it doesn’t kick on during the winter months. Simply undo the terminals to the pump and cover them with wire nuts or electrical tape.
Draining the Pipes
Draining the pipes is something that most people are not comfortable doing and call on the experts. However, it is something that you can certainly try on your own. To drain, there is typically a drain valve that can be used to release the water. These can be automatic or manual. You can also blow out the pipes with compressed air. This can have some potential safety risks so do proceed with caution.
Protect the backflow preventers and valves
Insulate the backflow preventers and valves and any other part of the sprinkling system that is above ground. This will ensure that it doesn’t have issues next year.
If you would like some assistance in knowing if your sprinkler system needs winterization call today or contact us at Fallaslandscape.com
