Every year, as winter approaches, it becomes time to end your summer lawn care regimen and begin winterizing your sprinkler system. To avoid unnecessary sprinkler repair when spring rolls around, it is important that you follow a series of winterization techniques to prevent freezing water from rupturing your pipes and damaging your valves.
Sprinkler valve repair and sprinkler head replacement can largely be sidestepped by being vigilant and cautious about your winterization methodology. If you are unsure, contact experts in sprinkler repair in Austin, such as South Austin Irrigation, and we can come and help you carry out a winterization procedure to protect your system.
With that said, here are some winterization pointers to prepare your system for the fall so it can make it through the winter without significant damage.
Shut Off The Water Supply To Your Sprinkler System
The first and most critical step in winterizing your sprinkler system is to shut off the water supply. Shutting off the water supply in preparation for winter will require locating the main shutoff valve. Typically, the main shutoff valve for the sprinkler system is located near the main water supply near your property’s entry. In some cases, the water supply might be in the basement, crawlspace, or utility room.
Once you’ve located it, use a wrench or a valve key to turn the main shutoff valve clockwise to shut off the water supply. Make sure it’s fully closed so that no water can enter the system during the chilly season.
The valves on the backflow preventer should also be opened to help drain any remaining water from the system. Typically, backflow preventers consist of two shutoff valves, one on the incoming side and one on the outgoing side. Open both of these to allow any trapped water in the backflow preventer to escape. Draining any residual water can be done by tilting the backflow preventer gently to allow water to flow out, but you should be sure not to damage the device when doing this.
If you notice any leaks still causing water to enter the system, address them promptly before continuing the winterization process.
Drain Your Sprinkler System
Once you have shut off the water supply, it is now time to drain the system completely. Water trapped in the pipes can expand when frozen, which can cause pipes, valves, and other components to rupture. This is why you don’t want any water in the system when freezing temperatures hit.
Most sprinkler systems will have manual drain valves, which are typically located at the lowest point of your sprinkler system. Often, these are inside valve boxes in low-lying areas or at the end of lateral lines. Open these drain valves by turning the handles counterclockwise to allow water to flow out. If needed, use a wrench or pliers to pry the valves open.
If you have multiple zones within your sprinkler system, drain each zone individually. Usually, it makes sense to start with the zone farthest from the water source and work your way back. To be extra sure, you can also use an air compressor to push the water out of the system. This is particularly useful if your sprinkler doesn’t have manual drain valves or if you want to ensure thorough water removal.
You can attach the air compressor with a regulated pressure setting to the main line or the blowout connection on your sprinkler system if you have one, usually located near the backflow preventer.
Usually, around 50 psi is enough pressure to flush the system without damaging anything. Any higher pressure might cause ruptures to occur. Again, you should start by draining the zones farthest from the water source, flushing out one zone at a time, and working your way back.
You will know when the sprinkler system is completely cleared of any liquid when the compressed air doesn’t result in any visible water or mist coming out of the sprinkler heads.
To be thorough, disconnect any hoses from your sprinkler system and drain them before winter comes. Store these hoses indoors to prevent them from getting damaged during the winter season.
Protect Your Backflow Preventer
Your backflow preventer is a crucial component in preventing water from going back up into the water supply and contaminating it. Therefore, protecting it is necessary during winter. If you do not know where your backflow preventer is, the first step is to find and drain it by shutting it off, as described earlier.
Once this has been done, insulate it with some kind of insulation cover. You can either purchase an insulation cover specifically designed for backflow preventers (usually available at home improvement stores) or wrap the backflow preventer with a blanket or some other insulation material. Wrapping or covering the backflow preventer will prevent it from suffering the worst freezing temperatures.
You might want to check it periodically throughout the winter to make sure that the protective covering is still secure and that there are no signs of freezing damage.
Prepare For Startup
If you have followed all of these steps and your irrigation system has survived the winter intact, then you will want to de-winterize your system in preparation for spring. However, before you do this, check the weather to ensure freezing temperatures have fully passed.
When the time comes, you can carry out the reverse of the steps described above. This entails closing the manual drain valves so that pressured water is once again supplied to your irrigation system, finding the main water shutoff valve and turning it back on.
Importantly, once you’ve turned everything back on and refilled the system with water, check for leaks and damage you may not have noticed before. Common areas to check include pipes, fittings, sprinkler heads, and valves. If you notice any issues, call in a professional.
To be absolutely sure, test each zone to make sure everything is operating as expected. Over the following days, carefully monitor the system’s performance to ensure it’s functioning as expected, and any signs of overwatering or underwatering should be noted to make adjustments.
If any or all of the above seems too much for you to handle alone or you are not confident in your ability to do it correctly, then it is best to call in the professionals to come and do it for you. Irrigation specialists like South Austin Irrigation offer full winterization services to ensure that your sprinkler system remains intact throughout the season and can be put to good use when needed again.
South Austin Irrigation can assist you in avoiding unnecessary sprinkler repair as well as other issues by making sure that your system is safeguarded throughout the fall and winter months. For any kind of sprinkler repair in Austin, ranging from sprinkler valve repair to sprinkler head replacements, get in touch with us right away!
