Manual Draining: Some sprinkler systems may allow you to drain the water manually. These systems have shut-off valves at low points or ends of the piping. Make sure to wear eye protection while completing this step because the water supply in the system is under pressure.
Compressor Set-Up
With a basic quick-connect coupling, you can use your air compressor to clear water from your sprinkler system for the winter. But, there are many different ways to connect to your system. Just be aware that even the largest home compressor isn't powerful enough to blow out the entire system at once.
Locate the main valve of the system and turn the water supply off from there. Doing so prevents more water from entering the system, so all you need to do is drain the water already inside. The shut off valve for your sprinkler system should be located in an area that is not prone to freezing.
Sprinklers help keep your lawn properly watered and looking its best. But at the end of the watering season, it's important to winterize your sprinklers so that the water does not freeze inside the system and cause damage.
Particularly if you live in an area where ground temperatures dip below freezing, you'll want to make sure that you've properly prepared the system for winter weather by draining out the water and insulating the sprinkler components. Here, we'll go over how to winterize your sprinkler system in four easy steps.
To minimize the risk of freeze damage, you'll need to winterize your irrigation system. In areas where winterization is mandatory, irrigation systems are installed using one of three types of water removal: manual drain, auto drain, or blowout. If you don't know your system type, it is best to use the blowout method.
A good rule of thumb is to have your sprinkler system winterized in early fall, but we recommend keeping an eye on the weather, and ensure that your watering system is drained and blown out at least one week prior to the seasons first freeze.
Turn off your water at the dedicated Sprinkler Line Shutoff (A) in your basement / crawlspace. Open the 2 Petcock's (F) with a flat head screwdriver so that the screw head runs a 45 degree angle. Open the Inside Drain (B) to drain your system.
Not winterizing an irrigation system won't always result in cracked, broken or busted parts, but it could, and even if something doesn't break right away, it could be damaged, causing leaks or breaks down the line, resulting in unhappy clients.
A sprinkler system will freeze if the temperature falls below 32° F (0° Celsius).
Manual valves should be left in the open position throughout winter to prevent repressurization. Some sprinkler heads have both side and bottom pipe inlets. If you use the side inlet, install a drain valve on the bottom inlet to prevent the case from freezing.
Not all systems need to have the water blown out of them. You can winterize a sprinkler system without an air compressor if all of your irrigation lines are buried at a slight downhill slope. Simply shut off the main water supply to your system and open the drain valves at the end of each zone.
If you are wondering when to winterize sprinkler systems, many sprinkler system manufacturers recommend that homeowners drain their systems when temperatures dip to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even the most careful winterization can leave some water in the system, and if that water freezes, your pipes and hoses will suffer damage. A sprinkler blowout takes the process a step further. It uses an industrial grade air compressor to blow all of the water out of the system.
Winterization is an oil refinement technique commonly used in biotechnology. The process involves dissolving the extract in ethanol, then placing the mixture in a freezer to chill. The cold allows for the separation of compounds by differences in their melting and precipitation points.
Typical home sprinklers lose 25-50% of the water due to these factors. Not good. But you can significantly reduce the losses with a little knowledge of some basic facts and Northwest weather. The first issue is evaporation of the water droplets.
With this in mind, expect most pipes to freeze within six to eight hours. Uninsulated exterior pipes can freeze in under six hours if the temperature is below 20 degrees. It takes at least 12 hours for unprotected pipes to freeze at 32 degrees.
1) The deeper the pipes are, the better. But how deep do pipes have to be to not freeze? Many municipalities in cold climates are now required to go at least 8 feet deep on main underground water lines for new construction. 2) Some new piping material is more weather/cold resistant than others.
Pipes are at risk of freezing when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but they most commonly freeze at temperatures of 20 degrees and below. (Keep in mind, wind chill increases the risk of freezing.)
How long does each zone take? Typically each zone takes about two to three minutes to blow out. Time should also be allowed for the contractor to set up and take down. As an example, if you have a five-zone irrigation system, you can expect the total time – including setup and takedown – to take around 20 – 25 minutes.
The recommended PSI ratings for blowouts are not to exceed 50 PSI for general safety and efficiency. Never exceed this PSI when the system is using PVC piping, or you can crack the pipes. If nothing else, absolutely do not run any compressor higher than 80 PSI in your lines, or damage will be more than likely to occur.