If you have not blown out your sprinkler system, you will be fine. It takes a sustained hard freeze of around 28 degrees to potentially cause sprinkler damage.
At the freezing point of 32 degrees, Fahrenheit water left in your sprinkler system can expand and burst the pipes.
Normally, this is not a problem because the main shut-off, zone valves and heads are below ground and stay relatively insulated. However, if the temperatures do dip down into the 20's, or temperatures remain below 32 degrees for an extended period of time, your irrigation system can be damaged.
To avoid any possibility of damage, sprinkler lines need to be drained prior to temperatures dipping below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Failing to winterize a sprinkler system before a hard freeze (air temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit) can lead to expensive and time-consuming repair costs.
A sprinkler system will freeze if the temperature falls below 32° F (0° Celsius). Now, most indoor sprinkler systems are inside of buildings or homes where the temperature won't ever drop into the danger zone.
Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, meaning they can freeze overnight. If the outside temperature is below 32 degrees F and your pipes are unprotected, your chances for a frozen pipe increase.
You should shut off your irrigation system just before temperatures in your region begin to dip below freezing at night.
It is dangerous to let your sprinkler system go unprepared in freezing temperatures — 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. If you live in a wintery climate, the best time to start thinking about winterizing your sprinkler system is when temperatures hover around 40 degrees.
Yes, pipes can freeze overnight. The lower the temperature outside and the more unprotected the pipes are, the more likely the pipes are to freeze.
While you may be eager to get your lawn back to its pristine green state, it is important to remember that temperatures at and below 32 degrees Fahrenheit put your sprinkler system at risk of freezing.
It is best to turn on your system during the warmest time of the day when anticipating freezing conditions. Be sure the outside temperature is 40 degrees fahrenheit or above when you run your system. You ABSOLUTELY do not want to run your sprinkler system during a hard freeze as this will cause damage to your system.
So remember, during a hard freeze, turn off your sprinklers, not just because you might turn your lawn into a giant icicle but because you might also be responsible for street accidents.
Like anything else involving water, sprinkler systems can freeze-up if the temperature drops below a certain point. You should be aware that a freeze failure may occur any time the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Without proper inspection and maintenance, a dry pipe control valve can leak at the riser and fill the sprinkler piping with water. Now the pipe is “wet,” and in an unheated space, it can freeze and burst, potentially causing significant property damage and business interruption.
Heat from a fire will cause the liquid to expand, once the pressure gets too high the bulb will burst and the water in the system will be released. The liquid in the sprinkler head comes in a variety of colors, which indicates the temperature required to activate the head: Orange – 135° F. Red – 155° F.
It is best to water in the afternoon or evening the day after a freeze so plants have had a chance to slowly raise their temperature. After a freeze, soft-stemmed, non-woody plants such as impatiens, cannas, elephant ears, agapanthus, amaryllis, begonias, philodendron and gingers may be pruned back to living tissue.
An automatic sprinkler is typically activated when the temperature reaches within the range of 135-165 degrees Fahrenheit, saturating the fire below it. Sprinkler heads have a small glass plug containing a glycerin-based, colored liquid that expands with temperature.
The answer is “before temperatures generally dip below freezing at night.” The biggest problem that can strike an irrigation system in the winter is water leftover in the pipes and valves from the summer freezing.
When your lawn goes dormant, irrigate once or twice a month. Winter irrigation keeps the grass root cells full of water and acts as an insulator, giving the cells a better chance to withstand freezing temperatures. And moist soil adds even further protection to the roots because it stays warmer than dry soil.
ANSWER: Anywhere from 55-62 degrees will keep your pipes from freezing while cutting your heating bill dramatically. PROCESS: While the weather outside is frightful and inside is so delightful, sooner or later you'll have to brave the blizzard and leave the house.
We all know that freezing begins at 32° F or 0° C, but at what point do pipes freeze within our own homes? Temperatures only need to drop to about 20° F for a few hours to put exposed pipes at risk.
The temperature of the pipe
If the temperature falls to 32 degrees or lower, your pipes are likely to freeze.