Those who’ve had them installed know sprinkler systems are no small investment. That’s why properly maintaining them throughout the year is key to protecting your investment and saving you money on repairs down the road. A crucial part of this routine maintenance and seasonal care is the winterization process. Let’s break down why it’s necessary to winterize your sprinkler system.
What Is Sprinkler Winterization?
Sprinkler winterization is the process of preparing a sprinkler system for cold weather in order to prevent damage to the pipes and other parts. It involves draining the lines and the sprinkler heads of all water.
Why Winterize Your Sprinkler System?
Neglecting to prepare your lawn’s sprinkler system for the freezing temperatures that New England winter months bring can cause several different problems, including damaged valves, cracked or broken pipes, and even broken sprinkler heads.
Frozen Pipes
When water freezes, it expands. In the case of an irrigation system, water left in the lines could cause the metal pipes to bend or crack. Not only are underground burst or cracked pipes hard to identify, but they’re also incredibly costly to repair or replace. And many times, a property owner won’t find out about the issue until months later.
Sinkholes and Leaks
Cracks in sprinkler pipes waste water and may also cause low spots or sinkholes to form in the yard. Even the smallest of cracks can grow into large breaks that result in major underground leaks. These leaks have the potential for further damage if they run back to your property’s foundation wall. Constant underground thawing and freezing throughout the winter months is already stressful on your lawn sprinkler system, but when water is left to freeze inside of it, that adds to the stress and reduces the overall life expectancy of the system’s parts.
How to Winterize a Sprinkler System
The best way to ensure the winterization process is done properly is to call in the professionals. They will:
- Check the whole system for leaks or other problems
- Shut off the water flow
- Shut down the sprinkler controller
- Fill the sprinkler system with compressed air
- Make sure no water is left behind to freeze in any of the zones
We’re here to help make sure your Central Mass sprinkler system is prepared for a harsh winter season ahead. Avoid the headache of dealing with burst pipes in the winter and discovering you have no lawn irrigation during the dog days of summer by letting our team of professionals take care of the winterization process for you before the first frost hits. Here at Dolan Landscaping, we’ve been installing and maintaining irrigation systems for 30 years. Contact us today for a consultation on the irrigation needs of your commercial or residential property.