Sprinkler systems are a great way to conserve water, lower your bills, and keep your landscaping looking fresh and healthy. However, these systems require some maintenance to keep them in ideal condition from one year to the next. With the frigid winters in Omaha and across Nebraska, it’s important to winterize your sprinkler system each year to protect it from the damage caused by freezing. When temperatures start to drop, it’s important to follow these winterization steps from USA Hoich Irrigation, the trusted source for irrigation in the area for over 30 years.

Here are the company’s top tips for winterizing your sprinkler system:

• Shut Off the Water Supply: Your sprinkler system can be disconnected from the water supply by turning the shut-off valve to the off position. If your system has a backflow device, you should turn that off as well. The backflow device valves are typically located near the main shut-off point. If you’re not sure where to find the shut-off point or can’t access the valves, contact your irrigation contractor for help.
• Drain the System: How you drain your sprinkler system will depend on whether you have an automatic or manual drain valve. Automatic drains will automatically open when the pressure in the system drops below 10 pounds per square inch. If you have a manual drain system, you’ll need to open all the drain valves by hand. For either system, open the stop and waste valve or boiler drain valve as well as the check valves on the sprinklers themselves to drain any remaining water.
• Blow Out the System: Even a small amount of water can freeze your irrigation piping and damage your sprinkler system, so it’s recommended to blow out the system after you’ve drained it to remove any lingering water. It’s possible to blow out your sprinkler system yourself using an air compressor, but you could seriously harm both yourself and your sprinkler system if you don’t do it correctly. To protect yourself and your investment, you should hire a contractor to do this for you.
• Insulate Above-Ground Components: To protect the above-ground elements of your sprinkler system from winter damage, it’s advised to insulate them during the winter months. Use insulating pipe covers or insulating tape to protect all exposed parts of your system until the temperatures rise in spring.

If you need help winterizing your sprinkler systems, contact USA Hoich Irrigation at (402) 896-5899. You can find more information on the company and their services online, and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.