When the air temperature dips below freezing, the water trapped in the system will freeze. Seriously damage could occur to your entire irrigation system. By turning it off just before the cold weather arrives, you can ensure that your lawn will receive the water it needs to thrive.
In most areas, homeowners shut their systems once temperatures in your region start falling steadily during the late fall season. However, if the fall season arrives with unexpected freezes, you may need to shut off irrigation earlier.
Dormancy is a natural hibernation that allows the lawn to rest until it can start growing again in the spring. As a rule of thumb, stop watering your lawn by the third week of November. In frost-prone regions, you may need to stop watering earlier. In warm areas, you may need to water into early December.
When should irrigation systems be blown out? When blowout should occur depends on the region in which you live. Some regions begin blowout as early as August, and it can continue through early December, since ground temperatures cool slower than air temperatures.
Like anything else that contains water, fire sprinkler systems are subject to freezing at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily measures such as heat tracing and antifreeze exist to prevent this.
The water in the sprinkler pipes freezes and expands, damaging your underground system. As water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a sprinkler system will freeze. When temperatures drop to the freezing point and below, you should start worrying about your sprinkler system.
Water pipes will begin to freeze once temperatures have reached 20 degrees or below but to freeze they will of needed to exposed to those temperatures for at least a total of six consecutive hours.
Littleton Sprinkler Winterization
Although the point of any water freeze is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which does put your sprinklers at risk, it takes a sustained hard freeze to truly affect your sprinkler system. A hard freeze is considered around 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Blowout Draining
The average cost for a sprinkler system blowout is $100 to $250. A sprinkler pro can perform this service on any kind of lawn sprinkler system, and because it uses high-pressure air to force water out of the pipes, it eliminates the problem of water sitting in low spots.
If it's dry and hasn't rained for a few weeks, keep watering trees as they need it until the ground begins to freeze, which usually happens in late October or November if you experience a true winter. Or if you're in a southern climate, the soil may not begin to freeze until December (or at all).
Your grass needs to be able to absorb the water you're giving it, so make sure that air temperature is above 40 degrees before watering. Not only can ice damage your grass, but freezing temperatures can cause splitting and cracking in your hose if it's full of water when the temperature drops.
If the weather has been super dry and cooler than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it is okay to stop mowing. Without the proper moisture and cool temperatures, the grass will not grow and therefore, will not need mowing. Once again, depending on the climate, this window is normally around late October through early December.
Water in the early morning – between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Midday watering leads to wasteful evaporation, while nighttime watering causes droplets to cling to grass overnight, increasing the chance of lawn diseases.
Generally, a good benchmark is when temperatures drop below 50°F, which is usually in October for places with cold winters. “You should stop watering your lawn when temperatures consistently drop below 50°F during the day,” says Zahid Adnan, founder of the Plant Bible.
Waiting too long: Winterizing your sprinkler system too late can result in the pipes and valves cracking and breaking when a cold moves in. This could result in needing a full system replacement. So, when is the right time to turn off your sprinkler system in the winter? Just before the first frost.
Using Sprinklers In The Blazing Hot Sun
Please refrain from using sprinklers when it's sunny and 95 degrees. Practically all the water applied will evaporate into the hot air before ever reaching the roots.
Without proper preparation, your sprinkler system might be damaged by freezing temperatures. Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system. If you have a timer/automatic controller, don't forget to turn that off too. Drain water from the pipes, sprinklers, and hoses.
During cold months, these systems are more susceptible to catastrophic failure. Frozen sprinkler pipes are one of the more common service calls throughout winter months. Maintaining a minimum of 40 degrees (F) is imperative in ensuring the sprinkler pipes do not freeze.
Temperature classifications range from ordinary which has a temperature rating of 135-170OF (57-77OC) to ultra-high which has a temperature rating of 650OF (343OC).
Minor events can cause major damage when a fire sprinkler accidentally trips. Fire sprinkler heads are automatically triggered by a buildup of heat. A liquid-filled glass bulb bursts or a soldered metal link melts at a given temperature, allowing a plug to drop out, followed by water.
When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
When temperatures drop below 20 degrees, it usually takes six hours for insulated pipes to freeze, while temperatures between 20 and 32 degrees are likely to freeze pipes after about 12 hours. Knowing how long a freeze can take to set in can help you keep your pipes from freezing.
Yes, pipes can freeze overnight if temperatures plummet drastically. Uninsulated pipes in unheated areas like attics or exterior walls are most vulnerable.