Never skip an irrigation winterization!
Skipping a sprinkler winterization in the fall can lead to an expensive repair bill in the spring!
Properly shutting down an irrigation system before winter is crucial to preserving its performance and efficiency. Even though the system is underground, when water is trapped in the sprinkler system during winter, it can freeze and cause serious damage. As water expands into ice, it can burst pipes, crack valves and sprinkler heads, and harm critical components such as the backflow preventer. Unfortunately, when this type of damage occurs, homeowners can expect a non-functioning sprinkler system and costly repairs when spring arrives.
Even if freezing temperatures don’t cause immediate damage to a sprinkler system, the pressure and stress from the expanding ice weaken piping and irrigation components and valve parts over time. Cold weather expansion and contraction shortens the lifespan of the system and leads to premature component failure.
Common DIY Winterization Mistakes
The internet is filled with advice for homeowners who are attempting to shut down their home sprinkler system on their own, but the only way to fully protect the system from winter damage is to have the irrigation system winterization completed by professionals.
Even a small amount of water left in the system can cause major damage. It takes a surprisingly small amount of freezing water to destroy valves and damage sprinkler heads. Although opening the lowest point of the system allows water to drain by gravity, it does not completely empty the system. This is why the irrigation professionals at Heinen utilize purpose-made air compressors and blow-out equipment designed specifically for the task.
Backflow preventers are critical components of modern sprinkler systems and require careful attention during system winterization.
When it comes to ridding an irrigation system of water, it’s the constant volume of air blowing water out of a system that makes the difference, and less about the extremely high air pressure. System pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads often have different PSI tolerances that must be considered to avoid weakening or damaging the system. Using an air compressor to blow water out of the sprinkler system incorrectly can be dangerous, even causing sprinkler heads to blow off or interior components to melt.
An often overlooked step of a sprinkler winterization is one of the most important. The backflow preventer protects a home’s water supply from contamination. It allows clean water to flow into the system while preventing potentially contaminated water from flowing back into the home’s water supply. Proper winterization of the backflow preventer is critical, as freezing temperatures can cause cracks and other damage – again leading to costly repairs and even health hazards.
Heinen Irrigation – The Professional Difference
Protect your system during the cold season with a professional sprinkler winterization completed by the Heinen Irrigation specialists!
The irrigation specialists at Heinen have over three decades of experience prepping thousands of systems for winter – and are truly experts at sprinkler system shutdowns.
The process begins with a careful inspection of the system to spot any potential issues. The specialized air compressors safely and effectively remove all water from the system, including tricky low-lying areas, and the specialists pay expert attention to more delicate components, such as the backflow preventer.
When you book Heinen for a professional irrigation system shutdown, rest assured your sprinkler system will be safe from any extreme weather that strikes the Kansas City metro area this winter, and your system will be ready for reactivation and reinvigorating your lawn and plantings after spring’s first thaw!
When Should You Winterize Your System?
In Kansas City, it is essential to winterize your irrigation system before the first hard freeze. This is generally between late October and early November. Following this timing ensures all the water is removed from the system before temperatures are consistently below freezing.
