Winterizing irrigation systems is an important step to protect them from damage caused by freezing temperatures. There are three basic methods for draining leftover water from your sprinkler or irrigation system: manual drain, automatic drain, and blow-out. The method you use depends on the type of irrigation you have in place. If you’re not sure, or don’t feel comfortable winterizing yourself, contact us for help.
Here are the general steps for each method:
Some irrigation systems are equipped with manual drainage. These systems allow you to empty excess water from the system by simply opening a valve. If you have manual drain irrigation, follow these steps:
An automatic drain system has valves that automatically drain water from the pipes. This happens only when the water pressure falls below a certain number of pounds per square inch. To activate an automatic drain function, follow these steps:
The final way of draining an irrigation system is known as the blow-out method. To drain the pipes, you force compressed air through the irrigation system. This discharges excess water through the sprinkler heads. It works if you have the proper irrigation system to handle the pressure. The blow-out method is potentially hazardous.