Lawns, trees and shrubs need water year-round. The drought since August finally broke with last week’s rain and was exactly what we needed. The gentle, multi-day rain provided lawns and trees with one to two inches of moisture, enough to penetrate the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, deep enough to replenish the water that our lawns and trees desperately needed. With the drought over and cold weather on the way, it is time to turn off and winterize sprinkler systems.
Systems that are completely below ground (no above ground check valves) must be winterized before the ground freezes. It takes a lot of cold weather to freeze the ground, so we still have plenty of time before damage might occur. For systems that have any above ground parts (water lines, valves, check-valves, etc.), your system should be shut off right away, before temperatures drop much below freezing.
Winterizing an underground sprinkler system is more complex than just turning the water off to the system, or turning off the timer. Those are certainly important steps in the process, but you must also drain the sprinkler system properly.
Winterize Sprinkler System by Draining these Areas:
- Drain the line to the check valves
- Drain the check valves
- Drain the sprinkler lines
If you winterize the sprinkler system yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s and installer’s instructions in the proper sequence exactly as stated. Not properly following the steps in order can result in costly broken pipes, check-valves, or worse a flooded basement. If in doubt about how to winterize your system, consider that the repair cost of any freeze damage to your system will be far more expensive than the cost of hiring a professional. If you would like a referral for a sprinkler company in your area, please give Martz Bros. Lawn & Tree Care a call at (913)789-9333 or contact us online.
