Sprinkler Winterization

You want to have your lines completely blown out before the first hard freeze. A hard freeze occurs when the air outside drops below 0℉. If there is still water inside your sprinkler and irrigation system during these weather conditions then some of its most critical components may be seriously damaged. It is generally recommended to have your system winterized at least one week before the first freeze of the year hits. We recommend that you begin preparing as early as October.

What Freezing Temperatures Can Do to Your Sprinkler System

Frozen Pipes

If pipes are not blown out it is likely that the remaining water inside will freeze. The freezing water will have no room as it expands, leading to cracks and bursts. Frozen pipes are very expensive to repair as most pipes are underground.

Frozen Sprinklers

Water inside a sprinkler head can freeze, causing the sprinkler head to pop off as the ice expands. Any remaining water inside the plastic body can cause it to crack as it freezes. Ice can also accumulate inside the supply tube which pushes the nozzle aboveground. If your sprinkler head experiences any of these issues you will need to replace it with a new unit.

Frozen Manifolds

The manifold consists of a main pipe and several attached valves. If water freezes inside of the main pipe both the pipe itself as well as the attached valves may be damaged. Replacing a broken manifold requires more labor than any other sprinkler and irrigation system repair work.

Like most property enhancement or renovation projects, it is possible to take care of sprinkler winterization on your own. However there are dangers involved in using the blow-out method, so it is best that you leave it to a properly trained specialist. If you want to make sure that the job is done right, contact the professional property enhancement team at Victory Lawnscape to prepare your home for winter.