There are lots of reasons that it’s a good idea to get your pipes ready for winter. This also pertains to your sprinkler system. Here are some reasons that you should think about getting your sprinkler system ready for winter.
Costly Repair Work
All of those sprinkler heads and control valves were expensive to put in the first time. You run the risk of them breaking if you don’t take the proper steps to ensure that the water is drained out of them before winter arrives. This is because water expands as it freezes. Even a little bit of water in these costly parts can be enough to cause them to malfunction. This will leave you in the situation where you have to replace them the next time you need to use your sprinkler system. Replacing pipes on your sprinkler system makes things so much more complicated than they have to be. There is always a way to replace these sort of things before they break outright.
Current Condition of Your Piping
It’s a common misconception that because your pipes are underground that they’re protected from the cold weather. The pipes for your sprinkler system aren’t required to be buried at the same depth as for those that supply your house. This leaves them more vulnerable to the freezing weather. Another consideration is the types of pipes that you used for your sprinkler system. Using steel pipes may be a better choice because they can resist freezing better than plastic. Materials count for a lot, and pipes are no exception to the rule.
Prepare for the Winter Freeze
One of the biggest steps that you’ll need to take in order to winterize your system is to drain all of the water out of it. This can be done with ease by installing a drain valve. The first step is to shut the water off to the system and then open up the drain valve. You may be surprised at the amount of water that your system can hold even when it’s not operating. This will ensure that everything is ready for the coming winter. Make sure to hook up an air compressor to your system as well, so that you can force out any leftover water. If too much water remains in the pipes, it will freeze and cause damage to them during the cold winter.
Spring is around the Corner
Even though it seems like a long way off, spring is just around the corner. This means that you’ll want a sprinkler system to help you get your yard back in order. Taking the time now to winterize your system will ensure that it’s available for your immediate use when the weather does start to warm up again. This will save you time so that you can focus on those other tasks that you have around the house. Winterizing your system is incredibly important, so make sure to do it every single year. There are so many advantages to doing this.
Winterizing your sprinkler system before it’s too late will save you money. Consider these reasons for why it’s an important step to take each year.
