How to Prepare Your Sprinkler System for the Cold Season
Preparing your sprinkler system for the cold season is crucial to prevent costly damage and ensure your irrigation system works efficiently when spring returns. Two important aspects of this preparation are understanding the sprinkler start up process and the importance of the sprinkler blowout.
Understanding Sprinkler Blowout: Protecting Your System from Freeze Damage
As winter approaches, one of the biggest risks to your sprinkler system is freeze damage. Water left inside the pipes can expand as it freezes, causing cracks or bursts. To avoid this, a sprinkler blowout is recommended. This process involves using compressed air to blow out all water from the irrigation pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads, ensuring no residual water remains to freeze and cause damage.
Professionals use specialized equipment to perform the blowout safely and thoroughly, reducing the risk of damaging delicate parts. This preventive measure not only extends the life of your sprinkler system but also saves you from expensive repairs in spring.
The Importance of Sprinkler Start Up After Winter
Once winter is over, your irrigation system needs a careful sprinkler start up to restore its functionality. This involves turning the system back on, inspecting all components, and checking for any damage caused by the cold. During start up, it’s essential to test valves, heads, and pipes to confirm that everything is working properly and that no leaks or clogs have developed.
A proper sprinkler start up also involves adjusting the system’s settings to match seasonal watering needs. Water requirements in spring differ significantly from summer, so calibrating timers and pressure settings optimizes water usage and promotes a healthy lawn or garden.
Additional Winter Preparation Tips
Besides blowout and start up, winterizing your system also includes inspecting above-ground components for damage, insulating exposed pipes, and covering control boxes to protect electronics from cold weather. Scheduling regular maintenance checks and professional inspections can help detect minor issues before they become costly problems.