Irrigation services gurus note that, since water expands as it freezes, the PVC and polyethylene piping in irrigation systems can easily crack if water freezes inside them. In other words, if you fail to drain all water before winter hits, your irrigation system could be destroyed. To avoid unnecessary (and costly) repairs, follow the directions below to winterize your irrigation sprinkler system.
Step 1: Turn off the irrigation system's water source.
The main valve to an irrigation system is usually located below the frost line, in a heated room. Otherwise, the sprinkler system's valve may be located above ground and wrapped in protective insulation. You will need to turn off this valve first. Some irrigation systems lack a separate water valve; if this is the case, call an irrigation services company to install one for you.
Step 2: Use the controller to deactivate the system.
There are two main varieties of irrigation controllers: digital and analog. If your irrigation sprinkler system includes a digital controller, turn it to the rain setting. (This will preserve all of your automatic settings so you won't have to reprogram the system the following year.) Dial/analog irrigation controllers should be completely turned off during the winter.
Step 3: Remove water from any parts that could freeze.
In general, there are three ways to remove lingering water from irrigation systems:
Automatic draining. Some sprinkler systems automatically drain out water when pressure in the system drops below 10 PSI. If you are lucky enough to own such a system, look for a separate control station for automated draining. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations to remove water between the backflow device and the shutoff valve, and for eliminating water from sprinkler heads.
Manual draining. This method of draining irrigation systems is not recommended for inexperienced homeowners, since any water left in the structure could cause significant damage. If you are well versed in draining your irrigation sprinkler system, you'll begin manual draining by turning off all valves and shaking sprinkler parts to remove any extra water. Typically, manual valves are placed at low points of irrigation systems. After opening all valves to drain excess water, ensure that you also remove any remaining water between the shut off valve and the backflow device. Open the cocks on the backflow device as well as on individual sprinkler valves. If your sprinklers lack individual valves, you may need to physically shake each sprinkler until all the water comes out.
Blow-out draining. Professional irrigation services use the blow-out method to winterize irrigation systems. This approach entails using compressed air to blow all remaining water out of irrigation systems. If done correctly, the blow-out technique is extremely effective and is recommended for all systems. However, as the blow-out method can cause damage if done the wrong way, you should absolutely call in an irrigation services professional to blow-out your irrigation systems for you.
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