You probably don’t use your sprinkler system in the winter, but opting to turn it off isn’t the best way to maintain your irrigation system during the cold months. Instead, homeowners should winterize their sprinklers to prevent freeze damage. Below, Metro Sod & Seeding in Lincoln, NE, shares three methods you can use to winterize your sprinklers based on their extensive experience with providing the area with sprinkler services.

Try These 3 Sprinkler System Winterization Methods

1. Automatic Drainage

If your sprinkler system has automatic drain valves, you can activate them before the warm month's end. To do so, shut off your irrigation water supply. After the mainline is drained out, open the drain cap on the stop and waste valve or boiler drain valve and drain the water there. Next, use the check valves on your sprinkler heads to drain the water out of their bodies.

2. Manual Drainage

Turn off your sprinkler water supply and open every manual drain valve in your system. Then, follow the steps above to remove water from every portion of your system, including the pipes, backflow, and sprinklers. When everything is empty, close the manual drain valves, and your system is ready for winter.

3. Air Out 

While turning off your sprinkler system water source is a good idea, that won’t clear out the remaining liquid in the underground pipes and fixtures. Some homeowners use the air out method to mitigate this problem. Have a professional irrigation team come and use an air compressor to blow all the water out of your sprinkler system. This takes only a few minutes per zone and can thoroughly clear out the pipes so they won’t freeze and break.

Sprinkler systems can be quite complex, and many homeowners aren’t sure if they’ve fully drained their system. If this sounds familiar, don’t hesitate to contact a professional to take care of winterizing it for you. The experts at Metro Sod & Seeding have provided lawn care to the Lincoln area since 1994 and know how to care for your irrigation system. To set up a winterizing appointment call (402) 730-4421. Visit the website for information about their specialized professional training, top-notch equipment, and commercial and residential services.