Time to Winterize the Irrigation System

If you have an automatic sprinkler system and live in the northern zone or upper parts of the transition zone, it's time to winterize. Systems can vary greatly from household to household so it's difficult to give specific winterizing information, however, the fundamentals are the same for every system.

An irrigation system needs to be winterized to prevent water in the lines from freezing and causing the pipes to rupture. A home sprinkler system is winterized by replacing the water in the lines with air. The system is first drained of most of the water by opening an outlet valve, usually at the lowest pint on the system. An air compressor is then attached to a port in the piping system and used to blow compressed air through each sprinkler head until all the water is gone.

That's the most important part of winterizing, though a few other measures can be taken to prepare for winter. Be aware of mice looking for a place to over-winter, like valve boxes and open drain lines. Make sure there's no standing water in valve boxes or other places where freezing could damage components. If your water source is a well used only for irrigating, ensure it is properly winterized to prevent freezing.

If you don't have an irrigation system, ensure your hoses are drained, rolled up, put away, and your sprinklers are stored for winter.

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photo © Kelly Burke