Winters are beautiful but can be brutal at the points where water is being used. If the homeowners have not prepared the systems in their homes for the winter season, they may face troubles in the form of damage.
The irrigation system contains water in the pipes that can freeze in the winter, making it all problematic. Thus, a proper winterization of the irrigation system is needed to protect it from any damage.
Why is it Necessary to Protect Your Irrigation System from Winter Damage?
The irrigation system consists of PVC pipes, sprinkler heads, valves, and backflow preventers. All these parts are not designed to deal with frozen water. When the temperature drops below 0°C, the water present in the irrigation system can freeze.
We all know that water expands when freezing. It can lead to burst pipes, cracked sprinkler heads, and failed valves. The damage can remain hidden until the spring season. In the spring season, when you start using your irrigation system, you may face leakages or malfunctions of the system.
It will be inevitable to call a technical team for the fix. On the other hand, an irrigation system inspection done at the right time can save you from such a loss.
When is the Time to Winterize the Irrigation System?
It depends on the weather trend in the area. However, the perfect time to protect the irrigation system from winter damage is right before the first hard freeze. The hard freeze can be defined as a period of at least a few hours with a temperature below 0°C. In Texas, mid-November or early December can be the time to winterize the irrigation system.
How to Protect the Irrigation System from Winter Damage in 2025?
To prevent winter damage, you need to winterize the irrigation system. This process consists of the following steps:
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Turn Off Water Supply
The first step is to turn off the water supply to your irrigation system. You must be aware of the valve that controls the flow of water in this system.
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Deactivate the Timer or Smart Controller
In 2025, there will be smart homes with smart controllers linked to the irrigation system. If you, too, have such a timer or controller, it’s time to deactivate it and proceed further.
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Drain the Irrigation System
This one is the most important step of the process. There should be no water left behind in the irrigation system. Draining can be done by different methods:
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Manual Drain
In this draining technique, you need to open all drain valves and low point drains to let water flow out. You need to check the pipes manually to be sure that water is not still in them.
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Automatic Drain
The automatic drain system is designed to release water when pressure drops. After turning the water supply off, you just need to open a sprinkler head or valve, and all the water in the system will be discharged due to pressure.
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Blow-out Method
This one is the most common method that is used to drain water from the irrigation system in a home. You need to connect a compressor to the pipelines to force water out of the lines. The pressure needs to be adjusted according to the material of the pipes. Otherwise, the air pressure can damage the pipes.
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Protecting the Backflow Preventer
The backflow preventer is the most vulnerable part of the system. It should be insulated to avoid freezing of water inside. This insulation should be in place throughout the winter.
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Insulating Exposed Pipes and Valves
All the exposed pipes and valves should be insulated with the insulation tape. To avoid frost it is recommended to insulate every visible part of the irrigation system.
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Cleaning Sprinkler Heads
You need to remove any visible dirt, debris, or grass clippings from the sprinkler heads. Dirty nozzles can trap water and can crack in the winter. After cleaning them, lower their heads to prevent external damage.
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Label the System for Spring
Once the whole process is done, it is advised to label the position of valves and main connections. It will help you while reactivating the system.
What to Avoid During Winterizing?
There are some common mistakes that can damage the irrigation system even after winterizing it. Make sure that you don’t make any of these mistakes:
- Not draining the pipes properly
- Insufficient insulation of the visible parts
- Blow-out with too high pressure
- Skipping a final check
Conclusion
It is necessary to protect the irrigation system from winter damage. The process of winterizing the irrigation system is a little complicated. Any minor error can lead to a failed system in the spring season. That’s why it is better to get the irrigation system inspected and let the experts do the winterization of the system.
