With the cold winter months right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about scheduling winterization services for sprinkler systems. Lakeville residents should call Advanced Irrigation as soon as possible to make sure they can get on our schedule. But why is it so important for sprinkler systems to be prepped for winter? Can’t you just turn off the water and leave the rest of the system alone?

You could do that, but there is still going to be water in the irrigation system that could freeze and expand when it turns into ice. When it expands like that, it will be too much for the system and pipes, fittings, valves and other parts could crack open or burst. That means you could end up spending a lot of money to get those parts repaired or replaced when the spring time rolls around again.

When we winterize sprinkler systems, we will generally follow the same steps for each system. We will drain the system using the manual or automatic drain valves to get most of the water out. After that, we use compressed air to “blow out” the system, making sure there is no water left in there that could potentially freeze and damage the system. When we use this compressed air, we are very careful to use the right amount to ensure we do not accidentally damage the sprinkler systems and any of their parts.

Then we make sure the main valve is closed, which will keep the water from flowing into the system and freezing when the temperatures get below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

We will then make sure the timer or controller is turned off. This means that the system will not turn on during the winter months, but you will not lose any of the programming in the system either.

If your sprinkler system doesn’t already have one, consider having a rain and freeze sensor installed. This will monitor the outdoor air temperatures and rain fall. If the temperatures drop below freezing before sprinkler systems are winterized, the sensor will keep the irrigation systems from turning on.

This is just a general overview of what winterizing sprinkler systems entails. Call us and we can tell you even more.

If you would like more information on sprinkler systems in Lakeville, call Advanced Irrigation at 612-599-8675, or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.