How to winterize a sprinkler system without a professional
How to winterize your sprinkler system without a professional
Ever wondered how to winterize a sprinkler system? It might not exist at the acme of your list of things to do, but it's of import, especially if your yard is field of study to frost. If you don't, any sitting water tin can freeze and burst the pipes, resulting in costly repairs. It's one of the things you should exercise to get your home ready for fall, but it falls off the list for many of u.s..
If you oasis't already taken care of this, you demand to do so now. The good news is that, with the right equipment and methods, yous tin can bleed the sprinkler organization and set it for winter yourself — no professional person needed. Here, we breakdown exactly what yous need to do to winterize a sprinkler organization.
- Earlier you start walking dogs in the snow, here are 6 essential safety tips
- Bank check out these tips on what to practice later on information technology snows in your garden
If you're not comfortable handling any of the following steps, then of course y'all should still call in a professional. Just don't leave this task unfinished — a professional volition exist much cheaper than repairing the system!
You should also cheque your transmission for direct guidance. Most will follow the below steps, but you should e'er double-check the specifics in instance you lot risk voiding the warranty.
How to winterize a sprinkler system
What you'll need
Protective goggles
Air compressor (optional)
Insulation foam or tape
1. Close off the h2o — First, switch off the water supply to the arrangement. This is usually via a master valve nigh your h2o meter. If your system has backflow preventing valves, then those need to be shut off too.
2. Switch off your timer — If your organisation comes with an automatic timer, then switch it to rain style. That fashion you can shut information technology downward and save your settings ready for the spring. If you lot don't have a pelting mode, so switch it off completely.
iii. Drain the remaining h2o — Now it's time to remove any residue h2o from the pipes. This is the tricky part, but one time you lot know what yous're doing, it'due south fairly straightforward. There are three means to drain the water: manually, automatically or bravado it out via an air compressor.
Manual Draining
This is a straightforward method. Essentially, the pipes are elevated so that they manually drain when you release a valve at the everyman point — this could be at the stop of the pipes. Wearing goggles to protect your eyes, slowly release each valve to let the h2o bleed until empty. Close them once again in one case finished.
Automatic Draining
Some sprinkler systems tin can automatically drain, which is very useful. All you need to exercise is turn on the sprinklers while the water is shut off. This will bleed the bulk, but some rest water volition nonetheless remain in the valves. To drain what's left, you lot demand to loosen the solenoid on every valve (it looks like a couple of wire cables looped out of a plastic cap). Tighten these again once the water is completely drained.
Blow-out Draining
This is the most complicated and time-consuming draining method. You essentially strength compressed air into the organisation, blowing out whatsoever excess water through the sprinkler heads.
This can be a dangerous method though, which can potentially impairment the system every bit well as yourself if not performed correctly with the proper safety equipment. Non every sprinkler system is designed to handle this corporeality of pressure either, and then the manual should besides be consulted. If you're not comfortable doing this, or are unsure in whatsoever style, or even if it's your commencement time, we recommend calling a professional to handle this method.
If you are qualified and comfy using this method, follow these steps:
1. Outset, make sure you're wearing prophylactic goggles to protect your eyes.
two. You demand to notice an air compressor with a volume of 80-100 cubic feet per minute. Y'all may accept to rent a machine, as nigh home compressors won't reach this kind of level.
3. Adjacent, after your water is shut off, you demand to connect the compressor to your sprinkler organization using the hose bib or coupler. Be careful not to blow air through the backflow device every bit this could damage it.
iv. Now, y'all need to find the sprinkler station that's the highest and furthest away from the compressor and switch it on.
five. Next, you demand to close the backflow isolation valves.
6. Slowly and advisedly open up the compressor valve — this will start releasing air into the system. Brand sure no i is standing near the open sprinkler station.
seven. Gradually release more than air into the system, but don't release also much at one time or else you lot could damage it. Keep going until yous see water start to come through. Accept care not to exceed the maximum recommended pressure level for your sprinkler system; refer to your manual for guidance. Generally speaking, don't go above 80 PSI on PVC piping or 50 PSI for polyethylene pipe.
eight. Once the h2o stops spraying, switch off the compressor. Starting from the uttermost sprinkler station and working your way back to the compressor, you're going to open each sprinkler head in turn, then shut it off once the water stops spraying from it. Recall to shut off the compressor between each station switch. Work through them chop-chop merely carefully — y'all don't want compressed air blowing through dry pipes for any longer than necessary.
9. Once each sprinkler station is articulate, switch off and disconnect the compressor.
10. Now, release whatsoever remaining pressure in your sprinkler arrangement using the valves on the backflow device, or via the manual drain valve. Exist certain to close the valves once again afterwards.
Whichever method you cull, your sprinkler organisation should at present be fully drained — at present y'all're ready to insulate.
How to insulate a sprinkler organization
This final step is unproblematic: you're going to want to insulate any exposed components. This means everything should be covered in insulation foam or tape, including the water supply shut-off valve, backflow preventers as well equally any exposed pipes. Only be careful not to block whatsoever vents or drains on the backflow preventers. If you don't have insulation cream to hand, we recommend Frost Rex FV30 Foam and Foil Pipage Insulation ($15 at Amazon).
That's it, your sprinkler arrangement is now all set up for winter. Come spring, it volition exist up and running again gear up to revive your lawn and flowerbeds.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-winterize-a-sprinkler-system
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