Your sprinkler system is an intricate network of valves, pipes, fittings, and other crucial parts. When not prepared properly for the cold winter, the icy weather can cause serious damage to the entire system. Water that is not blown out of your sprinkler system can cause your pipes, sprinkler heads, and manifold to crack and burst, resulting in very costly repairs and replacement.

Winterization is critical for keeping your irrigation system safe throughout the cold months of the year. If you live in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and the surrounding areas, here is why it is crucial to winterize your sprinkler system before the freeze sets in.

Frozen Water Causes Cracked Pipes & Burst Lines

After using your irrigation system, water remains inside your pipes. If you fail to blow out your pipes, then any remaining water in them will freeze. With no room for the freezing water to expand, your pipes will crack and burst in large sections. Frozen pipes are very costly and difficult to repair or replace because they are entirely underground. Fixing broken irrigation pipes requires digging and repiping the entire system. The key to avoiding this damage and a costly repair is to drain as much water from the lines as possible before they freeze and burst.

Winterizing Protects Your Sprinkler Head From Irreparable Damage

Water can, and often does, get trapped inside the sprinkler heads themselves. When this water freezes it expands and the resulting pressure can cause your sprinkler heads to pop off and break. Water can also freeze inside the sprinkler body, cracking it down the side and bursting. The mechanism inside your sprinkler heads that regulates when they pop up while running can also freeze and crack, causing the heads to permanently remain stuck in the ground.

At A+ Lawn & Landscape, our technicians are experts in proper sprinkler system care and can provide safe and convenient winterization to prevent damage and keep your system safe.

Preparing Your System Prevents Costly Repairs

Winterizing sprinkler systems prevents costly repairs such as this one in West Des Moines, IA.

Your sprinkler system contains a regulator called a manifold. The manifold is like the heart of the sprinkler system as it controls the flow of water from the main line to the rest of the irrigation system. It consists of the main pipe with several attached valves. If water is allowed to freeze inside the main pipe, it can crack the plastic and damage the attached valves. Repairing or replacing a damaged manifold is one of the most expensive and labor-intensive repairs to perform on a sprinkler system. The manifold is located deep underground amidst a complex network of pipes and valves. Winterizing your pipes is an easy way to avoid this damage and prevent costly repairs.

When & How to Winterize Your System

Lines must be drained and blown out using an air compressor before the first hard freeze. The general rule to follow is to winterize your system at least a week before the first freeze is expected. You can drain your system either manually or using the blow out method. If your system uses manual valves located at the end and low points of your irrigation system, then you can simply shut off the water supply and open all the manual valves to let the remaining water drain out. If your system is more complex, then use an air compressor to blow out excess water. Our team of professional irrigation technicians can assist in this process to ensure all the water is removed properly.

Winterize your pipes before the freezing cold sets in!

At A+ Lawn & Landscape, we provide professional winterization services for irrigation systems in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and surrounding areas. Our crew is knowledgeable and experienced in system winterization. Call us today at (515) 289-2020 to prepare your irrigation system for the winter and keep it safe from damage!