As the vibrant colors of autumn give way to the chilly embrace of winter, homeowners and businesses with irrigation systems face an important task – winterization. The process of preparing your irrigation system for the winter is critical for preserving its functionality for years to come. In this blog post, we’ll delve into why winter irrigation care is so important and provide a brief overview of the process. At SCW Group this is an important irrigation step in landscape maintenance and we’re here to help it be an easy and convenient process for you!
The Importance of Winter Irrigation Care
Having a beautiful landscape requires a consistent water source. If you’re lucky enough to have this in the form of an irrigation system then you know maintaining that system is vital to the health and beauty of your landscape. Get comprehensive irrigation care in place before your system suffers from unnecessary damage. One of the most common reasons for damage is not having a thorough winterization completed. This is an important step for protecting your system and here are 4 reasons why.
Prevent Freeze Damage: Perhaps the most compelling reason to winterize your irrigation system is to protect it from freeze damage. When water remains in the pipes and other components during sub-zero temperatures, it will expand and cause cracks or burst pipes. This not only results in costly repairs but also affects the efficiency of your system and .
Preserve Components: Your irrigation system is made of various components, from pipes and valves to sprinkler heads. Winterization ensures that these elements are protected from harsh winter conditions, which prevents corrosion and extends their lifespan.
Conserve Water: Proper winterization can save water and money. Leaks aren’t always easily detectable, especially in the winter time. If your area has the tendency to freeze and warm throughout the season (like Middle TN sometimes does) you could be wasting water without even knowing it. Then when you turn your system on in the spring you could be facing some surprising damage.
Easy Spring Startup: Winterization paves the way for a smooth spring startup. After this process you won’t have to worry about repairing and replacing damaged components. Your system will automatically be ready to provide lush, green lawns as soon as the warm weather returns.
The Irrigation Blow Out Process
Irrigation winterization is a straight forward but essential process. While the steps seem simple there are a variety of factors to take into consideration to ensure a smooth process.
1. Shut Off the Water Supply & Timer: First we begin by turning off the water supply to your irrigation system. This may involve shutting off the main valve and any secondary valves leading to the irrigation system. Next we turn off the timer so that your system doesn’t start running again after this process.
2. Release Pressure: To prevent any residual water from freezing and damaging your pipes next we release the pressure in the system. By opening the manual drain valves and the blow-out valve the water int he system is able to escape.
3. Blow Out: The core of the irrigation blow-out process involves using an air compressor to clear the remaining water from the system. This is a step best left for a professional since not all systems are compatible with a blow out. We have the proper tools and knowledge to ensure there is no damage done to your system during this process. After connecting the compressor to the system we gradually increase the air pressure to clear all the water from the pipes, valves, and sprinklers.
4. Check for Leaks: After blowing out the system we carefully inspect all components for leaks or signs of damage. This ensures that your system is ready to go when spring arrives.
5. Insulate Valves and Above-Ground Components: When necessary we make sure to insulate above-ground components, such as backflow preventers and above-ground pipes. This provides an additional layer of protection during winter to ensure smooth sailing at startup next year.
Conclusion
Winter Irrigation Care is an essential practice for maintaining a healthy, efficient, and cost-effective irrigation system. By prioritizing this process, you’ll ensure your landscape continues to flourish when the thawing season arrives. Investing in professional irrigation winterization safeguards your system while saving you money and future stress if not done properly. Give SCW Group a call if you want to make sure your irrigation is getting proper care.
You must be logged in to post a comment.