Lawn irrigation is essential for keeping your grass and garden lush and healthy, especially during spring and summer. However, cooler fall and winter temperatures can take a toll on the components of your watering system. Here’s how to prepare for the seasonal change.

3 Tips for Preparing a Lawn Irrigation System for Fall

1. Perform a Thorough Inspection

Most lawn irrigation systems break down due to a lack of timely inspections. Minor issues can quickly turn into significant malfunctions when they go unchecked.

Take the time to walk around the lawn and look for brewing troubles. Pay attention to excessively damp spots that could indicate a leak or overspraying. Other issues might include clogged sprinkler heads or faulty pumps or controllers. It’s easy to forget about these problems during the cooler months, so have a technician address them before they worsen.

2. Drain the Pipelines

When winter comes, low temperatures could cause water trapped inside the pipelines to freeze and rupture the pipes and supporting components of the sprinkler system. To prevent this problem, turn off the water supply to the sprinklers. In most cases, you can find the shut-off valve next to the water meter.

Next, you’ll need to depressurize the system by shutting off the drain valves. There are typically two types of valves: manual and automatic. The former has a handle that can turn the system on and off, while the later is electric and works remotely.

You’ll likely encounter multiple valves on the sprinkler system, which could be a bit confusing. If you aren’t confident about draining the system yourself, hire a professional to do the job for you.

3. Insulate the Watering System

To further protect your lawn irrigation system in the fall, winterize the pipelines with insulation. You can wrap them in insulating foam or foam tape. Doing this will prevent cold temperatures from freezing residual water that could damage the pipeline. Be sure to insulate the backflow preventer, the shut-off valves, and the other essential components of the system.

Keep your lawn irrigation system in optimal shape this fall with the experts at The Sprinkler Connection. Proudly serving Monroe County, NY, and the surrounding areas, they offer an extensive range of lawn sprinkler services, including installations, repairs, backflow testing, and winterization. Visit them online or call (585) 398-3960 to schedule an appointment.