An important item to include in your lawn and home winterization plans is your sprinkler system. Trust us, frozen sprinkler pipes aren’t any fun for anyone.
In this issue, we’ll tell you what to do.
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly handy, you should be able to fully winterize your sprinkler system by following these simple steps.
Turn off the water before the freezing temps arrive.
Yes, this is Southern California…but it can still get cold. To protect the main shut-off valve of your sprinkler system, wrap it with a cover. While you’re at it, make sure that any aboveground piping is covered.
Adjust the automatic controls.
Most sprinkler systems contain “off” and “rain-mode” settings. While you can use the rain-mode setting to prevent the valves from opening with water, you can also turn the power off from the controller. The only downside to that is that you’ll probably have to re-program all of your settings when you crank the system back up.
Drain the water that’s still in the line.
Locate the “backflow” tab that prevents water from the sprinkler from flowing back into the house, and close it. Then, open the manual drain valve. Relying upon gravity, this should help the water stream out.
Use air compressor to get our all water.
While the step above is important, pipes that are underground can shift over time, which can lead to shallow areas where water can accumulate and sit. To address this, keep the backflow valves closed, and connect the air hose from an air compressor to the blow-out cap.
You should be able to clean a typical PVC system by adjusting the compressor to 80 psi.
For all of your landscaping needs, call us here at Juniper Landscape Company. Our number is 619-334-9464.