How Do I Winterize My Irrigation System?

Sprinkler system winterization, how do I take care of my irrigation system for the winter? It is very important to know how to winterize the irrigation system; otherwise, your pipes will crack due to the pressure once the water inside starts freezing. You should remove all the water from the pipes and winterize the irrigation system before the winter. Here are some steps you must take. 

Close the water supply 

You should first switch off your water supply and then close the main valve so that it doesn’t freeze due to the cold weather. You must wrap them with plastic bags or insulation tapes that you will easily find in the local stores. At the same time, if there is any ground piping, those must be insulated as well. 

Control the system

If your irrigation system is automatic, you must be in full control of it. To do so you should switch off the controller and this will deactivate the valves. The programming information like valve run times won’t be lost this way. 

Drain water from the pipes

Your pipes must be fully dried; there must not be any drop of water left inside. You can use a manual or automatic drain valve to do so. Using a compressor is also a good idea to drain all the water from the pipes. You must use a high CFM compressor as the pressure will be high in such a case and the water can be drained out easily. Though the price of a high CFM compressor is high, it is still a good investment to winterize your irrigation system. 

Prevent the backflow preventers

If the backflow preventers are above the ground then you must insulate them; otherwise, they will freeze. While doing so be careful not to block the drain outlets or the air vents. 

These are some simple steps you can take to winterize your irrigation system. Your irrigation system is essential, so you must keep it in good condition so that the pipes don’t break due to freezing. You should ensure that no water is left inside the pipes and all the points through which there is a chance of water coming out are protected. You should switch off the system so that no water sprinkles out even accidentally. Winterizing your irrigation system is quite simple; you can do it yourself. But if you are having trouble, you can always call someone professional to help you.