Winterizing Your Irrigation System: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Winterize Your Irrigation System in Massachusetts
As winter approaches in Massachusetts, protecting your irrigation system from freezing temperatures is crucial. Harsh New England winters can cause significant damage to your sprinkler system if it's not properly winterized. By following these steps, you can avoid costly repairs and ensure a smooth start-up in the spring.
Access the Timer
The first step in winterizing your irrigation system is turning off the water supply from inside the house and accessing the timer. Massachusetts winters can be especially unforgiving, so it's essential to allow professionals to safely blow out the system using compressed air. This prevents wear and tear on the valves, which could occur if the system were accessed through the valve box, a common mistake in DIY winterization.
Blowing Out the System
Once we have access to the timer, we’ll blow out the irrigation lines with compressed air. This is a critical step, especially in Massachusetts, where frozen pipes can lead to cracks and other damage during the harsh winter. By removing all water from the lines, we ensure that freezing temperatures won’t cause expensive repairs down the road.
Handling the Spigot or Plug
If your system has a plug, we’ll place it in a plastic bag and tape it to the backflow after blowing out the system. This ensures it’s easy to locate when the Massachusetts spring rolls around and it's time to restart your system.
If your system has a spigot, we will leave it open or remove the plug. In Massachusetts, freezing conditions can linger well into the late months of winter, so this extra precaution prevents any trapped water from freezing and damaging the backflow.
Extra Precaution: Wrapping the Backflow
For added protection, we recommend wrapping the backflow, especially in Massachusetts, where freezing temperatures can be extreme. Insulating the backflow reduces the risk of it freezing and breaking, which is a common issue in cold-weather regions.
Important Reminder for Spring Start-Up
If you plan to start up your irrigation system on your own in the spring, don’t forget these key steps:
- Replace the plug (if your system has one) or close the spigot.
- Turn on the water slowly to prevent a sudden rush of pressure, which could damage the system.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your Massachusetts irrigation system is protected from the cold and ready to function when warmer weather returns.