Failing to adequately winterize an irrigation system can lead to major damage and costly repair bills. Even in milder winters, an unwinterized sprinkler system is at risk for damage and the unexpected expenses that accompany it.
1. Burst Pipes
Even the smallest amount of water left in a system can freeze and expand within the pipes, causing them to crack or even burst. The work required to locate and repair a broken pipe can be extensive. Keep in mind, too, that finding, excavating, and replacing a burst pipe can cause significant damage to lawn and landscape, making this an even more costly fix.
A professional “blowout” using compressed air forces any remaining water out of your irrigation system.
2. Valve and Sprinkler Head Damage
Valves are critical components of any sprinkler system, controlling when water flows into specific zones to activate the sprinkler heads. Valves are particularly prone to winter damage, as freezing water can make them brittle, sometimes cracking them and causing them to malfunction. This holds true with sprinkler heads, too, as they are above the surface and exposed to even more severe cold. Any water left within them is subject to freezing and expansion – which is why it’s essential to force all water from every part of the irrigation system well before the ground freezes.
3. Higher Water Bills
Even if a major pipe burst is avoided, small cracks can still develop within a sprinkler system. These tiny leaks often go unnoticed for weeks or even months, stealthily driving up water usage in the spring. The EPA reports that even a single leak in an irrigation system can waste thousands of gallons of water each month, leading to steep and unexpected spikes in water bills.
4. Diminished System Efficiency
Parts damaged during the winter can easily go unnoticed until spring arrives and systems are restarted. For example, sprinkler heads may no longer distribute water evenly, leaving parts of a lawn under or over-watered. Oversaturated patches of a lawn are then prone to mold or disease, while dry spots often turn brown and die. Locating the cause of these issues after the fact can be challenging, and replacing components to reach peak efficiency again can quickly become expensive.
5. Shortened System Lifespan
Even if a system avoids significant damage or complete failures, such as burst pipes or broken sprinkler heads, the stress of frozen water on a system still can add up. Constant exposure to freezing temperatures without proper winterization will shorten the lifespan of any irrigation system. Most sprinkler systems are designed to last anywhere from 10 to 20 years with proper maintenance, but neglecting critical seasonal maintenance like winterization can drastically shorten that time frame.
The irrigation pros at Heinen use high-velocity equipment to safely and effectively blow all water out of a sprinkler system – and examine the system for any other issues at shutdown.
Schedule Professional Winterization with Heinen Today!
Give yourself the peace of mind this winter that comes with scheduling a professional sprinkler shutdown from the irrigation professionals at Heinen. Kansas City’s weather is famously unpredictable, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the perfect shutdown date. The Heinen irrigation team recommends that winterization be completed before Thanksgiving. The appointment book fills fast as fall turns to winter, so call and schedule a shutdown today and put your mind at ease until spring!
