This time of year when the temps can fall below 32 deg. Fahrenheit, above ground irrigation lines can freeze.
This most notably happens with The Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly or RPZ. The main purpose of this device is to serve as a backflow preventer – it stops the non-potable water from the irrigation system from flowing back into the potable water in the house. Potable water is water safe for human consumption, non-potable water is water not safe for human consumption. There are five other types of backflow preventers, this is just one. Your house may have one of the other types so see the picture here to see if you have it.
The RPZ also serves as your irrigation shut off device. If there is a leak further down the system this is where you want to turn the system off.
Now, when the temps drop below freezing this device and the pipes attached to it can freeze, expand, and break. If this happens, hopefully, you will have an isolation valve that you can shut off. If not, you will have to turn off the ball valve next to your meter in order to stop the leak. This will also turn off the water to your house. The best way to ensure your RPZ doesn’t freeze and break is to turn the isolation valve off and drain the system. If your system doesn’t have an isolation valve call us and we can install one.
