The Winterization of Sprinkler Systems

by

Jordan Rocksmith

In many areas, it is necessary to winterize irrigation systems. In some places, it is even mandatory, especially in colder climates. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) piping is rigid and can easily crack with a change in temperatures. Usually the cracks form from fitting to fitting. Even the more flexible PE (polyethylene) piping can still rupture when there is freezing water inside of them. This water can damage internal components and the body of the system as well, when it is in the backflow assembly.

Winterization is a dangerous business, as it can involve hot compressed air. It is best to call in professional assistance from an irrigation company such asRonco Irrigation Inc. They can decide which method is best and then take care of all the tricky mechanics. The blowout method is the most common, forcing the water out of the system with compressed air. Unfortunately, some people try to do this themselves without proper research and they let the air pressure build, leave the compressor unattended, blow out the system through a pump, or make some other error. Any of these can cause problems. Some companies instead use a manual or automatic drain method, turning off the water supply and opening either the manual or automatic drains and letting the water exit by these openings. Some systems require a combination of draining methods.

When all of this is done, just as important as the winterization are the spring start-up procedures. Again, companies such asRonco Irrigation Inc. can take care of this. It first involves flushing the system of small animals and debris, then running the system to check for clogs and leaks. When there are difficulties, a company will generally replace controller batteries or the plastic sprinkler nozzles, since cleaning the nozzles leaves them scratched up and alters the water spray pattern. All in all, it’s important to remember this vital follow-up to the winterization process.

Ronco Irrigation (

roncoirrigation.com/

) has been dedicated to quality since 1971.For more information about

Ronco Irrigation Inc.

visit our website.

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