It seems like everybody and their brother are out there on the internet offering to walk you through irrigation winterization if you want to tackle this project yourself.
There’s lots of talk about valves, plenty of shaky video footage of dark basements, and lots of sounds of whooshing air compressors.
Shutting down your sprinkler system for the winter is a crucial task before the first deep freeze of the season.
What are the risks of doing your own irrigation winterization? Plenty.
If your system isn’t completely drained, that remaining water can freeze and expand inside the pipes, potentially cracking them and requiring pricey repairs.
If you don’t winterize your backflow device, that can freeze, too, damaging its internal components.
And if you try blowing out your sprinkler system with too much air pressure from your home air compressor, the force could damage components, blow off sprinkler heads or even melt the gears in your irrigation heads.
So, what could go wrong? Several bad situations that could cost you hundreds of dollars or more to repair, from a cracked valve to a broken manifold to a busted backflow device.
And if you make it through the winter with no broken components that need sprinkler maintenance, don’t breathe that sigh of relief yet.
Irrigation system components often fail prematurely if they’re not winterized, or not winterized properly.
Your sprinkler system could let you down just when you need it most, in the middle of a busy summer watering season.
Here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, it’s not a matter of IF we’ll get freezing temperatures, but if we’ll get them before you have a chance to put your lawn mower away for the season.
And if there’s even a little bit of water left in your irrigation system once we get freezing temperatures, that water freezes, expands, and can cause components to break, and that means a costly repair for you.
So you absolutely have to get the water out of your pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads before the first deep freeze.
But how? With forced air that blows any lingering water from the pipes so it doesn’t freeze.
That air compressor you stashed in the back corner of your garage doesn’t get much use. Might be nice to put it to work for your irrigation system blowout, right?
Bad idea, for reasons a lot of people don’t realize.
Your workshop or garage air compressor probably has a 100-160 psi. That’s high pressure, but not much volume.
For a sprinkler system blowout, you need a wall of air to get that water out. It’s not about the pressure (PSI). It’s about the volume of air (CFM).
RainMaster’s pro-level air compressor has a big diesel engine and produces massive quantities of air.
But not high pressure. We run between 60-80 psi. And that’s a crucial difference.
Most components of your irrigation system are only rated to handle 100 psi. If you use 120 psi you can blow them apart.
Heads come flying off. Pipes burst. It’s a dangerous situation.
Also, If you leave your compressor on too long, really trying to get all the water out, it can melt the gears in your irrigation heads.
This is a job best left to lawn irrigation maintenance professionals. There’s just too much at stake.
Here’s an extra hassle: If you use a lake pump for your sprinkler system, it has to be winterized, too, so it doesn’t break from winter’s freezing temperatures.
That involves adding RV antifreeze to protect it, covering up the ends of the pipes so critters don’t crawl in and camp out, and
removing the wiring so it doesn’t accidentally get turned on.
Pro tip: Take your intake out of the lake or river and store it for the winter. Spring flooding could carry it away.
Remember your backflow device? It’s that irrigation system gizmo that prevents water contamination. Most sprinkler systems are set up along potable municipal water supply lines. The water from the irrigation system may be contaminated with fertilizer, dirt, germs, and pesticides.
Allowing water to flow back into the supply line contaminates the water, making it unsafe to use or drink.
Well, your backflow device is part of that important sprinkler winterization, too.
Freezing water in the backflow will damage the internal components and can crack the body.
That will cause it to malfunction when your system is turned back on in the spring.
If all the water isn’t out of your backflow device, you may need a plumber in the spring.
And the news keeps getting better: Every backflow is different and requires a different procedure to winterize it. If your instruction manual gives you more headache than help, this is a great reason to hire a professional irrigation company to do it for you.
Sprinkler winterization involves a lot of steps, and they’re all crucial, including turning off your irrigation controller for the winter and shutting off any irrigation-related valves that are inside your house.
Pros know all the steps, and handle it all.
It’s a good idea to have lawn irrigation maintenance professionals take a look at your sprinkler system routinely, anyway. They can spot and fix small problems early that can lead to expensive repairs down the road.
Everybody loves saving a few bucks. But you’re only saving just under $200 by tackling your own irrigation winterization.
And if you don’t do all the steps of shutting down your sprinkler system just right, it could cost you a lot more in repairs.
The cost of repairs we do because of improper sprinkler winterization ranges from $300 to $1,500.
The cost of professional winterization is $189.
Every one of RainMaster’s irrigation maintenance packages includes shutting down your sprinkler system for winter. That’s how important it is.
Avoid a huge stress headache — and expensive repairs — and leave your sprinkler winterization to us.
Our expert technicians can also handle any of your other lawn irrigation maintenance or repair needs, including repairing any damage from your DIY attempts that didn’t exactly go as planned.
When it comes to irrigation system blowouts, every single step counts. Mess it up, and you’re looking at expensive repairs.
Choose lawn irrigation in Minneapolis, MN & Eau Claire, WI that makes it all easy for you.
Our irrigation packages include winterization and start at just $229 a year. Every visit is planned to optimize the performance of your irrigation system, reduce water usage, and promote a healthier landscape.
Ready to rest easy for the winter, knowing your sprinkler system is in expert hands? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it.