Blow out Sprinkler Line. Next, turn off the water supply to the sprinkler system and set the timer to open just one zone. Make sure and check rotors, risers, spray heads, backflow devices, and valves. How to Winterize a Sprinkler System to Prevent Disaster - The Grounds Guys SHOP FOR ALL IRRIGATION SUPPLIES ON SPRINKLER WAREHOUSE. Blow out the irrigation system. Understanding how to properlywinterize your backflowdevice is something that everything home owner should know so as to avoid costly repair bills or the possibility of contaminating your water supply. Then turn off the water supply. A 10 cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) air compressor should suffice, and if you don't have one, you can rent one. The controller continues to keep time, the programming information isn't lost (start times, valve run times, etc.) You have questions, we have answers. The sensor uses such a small amount of energy that leaving it on through the winter wont typically add much to your energy costs. Then put a threaded metal nipple and cap on the extra leg; you can use this as a connection to the air hose. Can I Insulate the Backflow Preventer in My Lawn Irrigation System? There are three ways to drain the water: manually, automatically or blowing it out via an air compressor. Here, we breakdown exactly what you need to do to winterize a sprinkler system. Once you determine this, you can delve into the specifics. 5 tips to make your grill last longer and perform better, I test standing desks for a living and these are my top 5 picks for every budget, Apple's mixed reality headset is a make-or-break moment for VR and AR. Youll also need to determine the type of drain valve your system utilizes, as this dictates whether draining is automatic or manual. You need to find an air compressor with a volume of 80-100 cubic feet per minute. If youre not using potable water for irrigation, your system may not include a backflow device. Winterizing your irrigation system will keep it running better and longer. SHOP FOR ALL IRRIGATION SUPPLIES ON SPRINKLER WAREHOUSE. It does not matter which ball valve handle you turn first. This will prevent the possibility of the pump being accidentally activated which could cause damage from overheating. All you need to do is turn on the sprinklers while the water is shut off. If you live in a region that is temperate/moderate i.e., it either never freezes or only freezes for an hour or two at a time when it does there are far fewer steps involved when it is time to winterize your irrigation system. This is an important distinction because codes and installation methods differ greatly from state to state and city to city. This final step is simple: youre going to want to insulate any exposed components. The article above demonstrates how to winterize in cold climates and its easy to see that it doesnt have to be an impossible task. Just be careful not to block any vents or drains on the backflow preventers. Prevent leaks and burst pipes by winterizing your sprinkler system. Its definitely more work, but the good news is that once thats done, its done. In cold climates, occasional late and early season freezes occur and can damage your equipment. 2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Once each sprinkler station is clear, switch off and disconnect the compressor. There are two main ways to go about this: One is to drain water from the valves, and the second is to use an air compressor to blow water out of the irrigation pipes. Many offer sprinkler winterization services this time of the year. At a minimum, you should use a 50 cubic feet per minute compressor to get the job done right. Copyright 2023 Rain Bird Corporation. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at. What is lawn sprinkler system freeze prevention? Otherwise, another way of going about this process is unscrewing one of the test cocks and threading a male air hose fitting onto it. Why Trust Us? Many offer sprinkler winterization services this time of the year. In the spring, simply turn off the rain mode and watering will resume like clockwork. Self-sticking insulating foam tape works best to insulate these pipes. Visit our corporate site. Turn Off the Water. Valve boxes are buried up to 5 feet underground and may require a long key to shut off. If you are wondering when to winterize sprinkler systems, many sprinkler system manufacturers recommend that homeowners drain their systems when temperatures dip to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. There are usually two of these valves that lead into the backflow device; be sure to shut them both off. Leave the indoor drain screw off all winter, with an optional bowl below the valve to catch any water that drips from it. Those screws, as with the ball valve, are open when the slot of the screw is in line with the flow of the metal fitting they are attached to and are closed when the slot cuts across it. Youll notice the sprinkler heads spitting and misting. If you fail to winterize your sprinkler system properly, any water left in the lines can freeze, expand, and crack when the cold weather hits, potentially causing costly damage to a likely expensive system. With screw driver in hand, standing in front of your PVB we are going to focus on the test-cocks. First, shut off the water to the system. Thats it!! Winterizing your sprinkler system is an . This valve is now in the off position. There is a great deal of misinformation out there as to how to properly winterize your backflow to avoid a frozen backflow preventer. On mine, I built a quick-connect adapter that hooks up to the blow out port. Connect The Air Compressor - On the downstream side of the system, connect the air compressor to the backflow preventer riser. The good news is that, with the right equipment and methods, you can drain the sprinkler system and prepare it for winter yourself no professional needed. Finally, insulate exposed pipes, and set all the valves in the proper position. Make sure no one is standing near the open sprinkler station. This lessens the chance that the system could over-pressurize. If your system doesnt use potable water, it might not have a backflow preventer. After draining out most of the water from the sprinkler system, hook up an air compressor to blow the lines clear of any remaining water. Learn about the steps you need to take in this guide. 2. Close the test-cocks with a screw driver (screw slots vertical) which will stop the water from spraying out of the backflow. Once you know what type of system you have, you can accomplish almost all the necessary winterization on your own with the information belowthough, of course, you should review the owners manual and keep it nearby for reference. Step Three: First turn one ball valve to a forty-five degree angle and then turn the second ball valve to a forty-five degree angle so that your backflow looks like the one in the image on the lower right corner. If you dont have a rain mode, then switch it off completely. When in doubt, always consult a professional. How about shoveling snow? Next, drain as much water as possible. Be sure not to block the air vents and drain outlets on backflow preventers. 4. 1. Hes the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. Particularly if you live in an area where ground temperatures dip below freezing, youll want to make sure that youve properly prepared the system for winter weather by draining out the water and insulating the sprinkler components. The backflow device prevents the contaminated water from mixing with the potable water you and your family use daily so it is very important the backflow device is installed up to code, is well maintained and functioning properly at all times. Come spring, it will be up and running again ready to revive your lawn and flowerbeds. Kate with Just Sprinklers shows you how to save some money winterizing your RP back-flow device in less than two minutes and five easy steps. Turn each of your test cocks to 45 degrees. Turning off the water on your sprinkler system - How to keep your irrigation or sprinkler system from freezing during cold winter months. Particularly if youre winterizing your sprinkler system for the first time, make sure you double-check the manufacturers user manual. 7. 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Most controllers have a "rain-mode" which simply shuts off the signals to the valves. 3. Next, you will need to remove the backflow preventer from your lawn sprinkler system. FPT | TC-100. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! We may earn a commission from your purchases. Just make sure at the beginning of the season next year you do a run-through and check for damaged insulation and make touch-ups as needed. For a free quote for TruGreens lawn irrigation services, including the Annual Sprinkler Maintenance Plan, call1-866-817-2287or fill out thisonline form. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Turn Off The Water. The first thing to do when beginning a sprinkler system winterizing project is to assess the best way to release water from your particular system. Turn off the water supply and connect the air compressor to the sprinkler system after the backflow preventer. If you are looking for the best process for irrigation winterization, heres what you need to know about preparing a backflow preventer for the winter. Drain the remaining water Now its time to remove any residual water from the pipes. When the time to winterize your system rolls around, you will need to first shut off your water at the main valve. After having my sprinkler system winterized, I noticed water leaking from the spigot. With Worleys Home Services, you can leave your winterization, weatherization and insulation, heating and cooling, and electrical services to us so that you can enjoy peace of mind through the holiday season and beyond. 9. Now repeat to blow out each of the remaining sprinkler zones. If you don't have insulation foam to hand, we recommend Frost King FV30 Foam and Foil Pipe Insulation ($15 at Amazon). If youre looking only to drain the pipes, you can proceed to Step 5. How Do I Winterize My Irrigation System? | Rain Bird If the zone has a manual drain valve, open it up . By Steffani Cameron and Gretchen Heber and Bob Vila | Updated Nov 23, 2022 2:26 PM. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. On each valve of the sprinkler system, locate the solenoid, which looks like a PVC cap with wires coming out of it, and loosen it by hand so air can flow inside the system. We review lawn care plans and packages, navigate the provider website and speak with customer service representatives, request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. How To Winterize A Sprinkler System With Backflow Preventer What you'll need: A flathead screwdriver Foam insulating tape Foam pipe covers How-to: Step 1: Shut The Main Valve Off Slowly shut the water off that's coming from the meter. The team at Worleys Home Services talks to many Virginians each year about fixing broken backflow preventers, shut-off valves, and pipes after the cold weather has caused irreversible damage. Use your screw driver to turn each of the test-cocks one quarter of a turn so that they are open. Keep in mind, that even when used properly these arrangements can be affected by power outages. According to HomeAdvisor, it can cost between $53 and $121 to winterize a sprinkler system. Working Time: It can take 3 to 5 minutes per zone, so calculate based on your system size. Why do some sprinkler systems have backflow preventers? You have questions, we have answers. Now you will need to decide whether you need to use the Manual Drain Valve Method, the Automatic Drain Valve Method, or the Blow Out Method. Properly preparing irrigation systems for winter Turn ball valves on either side of the backflow preventer to 45 degrees. The Freeze Drain Irrigations Best Kept Secret. Wear protective goggles for this, because the water can be under pressure and its possible to open valves before they depressurize. As the name suggests, a backflow preventer is a device that prevents contaminated water from flowing backward, where it can harm your plumbing or worse, your family. RELATED: Garden Sprinklers for Every Yard: Our 15 Favorites. If it does, turn it off via two valve shut-off handles on the separate pipes feeding into the device. If the appropriate air compressor is not available, please call an irrigation contractor. The test-cocks are a pair of small nozzles that are used to test or drain the main cavity of the backflow. DO NOT turn the screws more than a quarter of a turn or remove the screws from the test-cocks. Disconnect the hose as soon as they run dry. Many sprinkler system manufacturers advise homeowners to drain their systems when temperatures fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit if you're wondering when to winterize sprinkler systems. If your sprinkler has manual drain valves, also shut off the valves on the backflow preventer. Most will follow the below steps, but you should always double-check the specifics in case you risk voiding the warranty. Make sure that after the water has drained out of the mainline you drain the water that is between the shut-off valve and the backflow device. Sprinkler Backflow Preventers | Sprinkler Warehouse Copyright 2023 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Do you have icicles hanging from your house? An isolation valve is in a valve box usually near the meter or at the foot of the backflow as pictured on the left and will be a simple manual valve, usually a ball valve, like the one seen in the image on the right which is in the open position as indicated by the handle being in line with the direction of the pipe. While the above steps should resolve any issues with freezing, some irrigation systems may require going the extra mile to remove as much water as possible from your system. If youve never connected an air compressor to the backflow preventer riser on your irrigation system before, its important to learn. Chat with uson the forum! Winterizing your backflow preventer on your sprinkler irrigation system What Is a DCDA Backflow Preventer and Why Do You Need One We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Winterizing a Lawn Sprinkler System | Hunker Dont be alarmed by water that may shoot out of the test cock with some pressure, it will quickly die down. Chat with us on the forum! Its not enough just to keep water from flowing into the system; you also need to drain out the water thats already in there. If your system runs on an automatic timer, make sure you shut that off, too. Use SUNDAY20TOH for $20 off the Smart Lawn Plan, honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. Add to Cart. This includes shutting off the water supply at the backflow preventer as you prepare to drain the sprinkler system. I thought it would stop once all the extra water came out but it is still leaking after 1 week. Remove the quick-connect blow-out plug from the backflow preventer and re-insert the original plug. Without proper preparation, your sprinkler system might be damaged by freezing temperatures. Just turn these rectangular handles clockwise one-quarter to one-half turn; use pliers if the valves are too tight to turn by hand. It is a common misbelief that if the system can withstand 120 psi of water pressure, similar air pressure will not damage the system. You have questions, we have answers. These assemblies are usually used in fire sprinkler systems, as they provide an extra layer of protection against backflow contamination and ensure the system has enough pressure to do its job in the event of a fire. For this step you will need to drain water out of any irrigation part that might freeze when subjected to freezing conditions. You should Winterize your sprinkler system in Southern Texas if the temperatures are expected to drop below 32 degrees. First, turn off the main water supply to the house, which is often found near your water. Otherwise, try using some R-11 fiberglass insulation. Finally, make sure that all the above-ground parts of the sprinkler system are properly insulated from the weather. Tighten these again once the water is completely drained. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Your yard will thank you when you can still water the lawn next spring. An alternative to using the rain mode is simply to shut off the power to the controller. This allows for any trapped water remaining in the valves to drain out and to prevent any cracking due to freezing. This will not remove the water from your backflow device or your sprinklers. Information to help prevent your pipes from. Use the compressor to blow out the first sprinkler zone. The backflow device is NOT an irrigation shut-off though it does turn water off to the irrigation system when closed. Plant Health. If your system has valves to prevent backflow, shut these off, too. 8. If youre not comfortable doing this, or are unsure in any way, or even if its your first time, we recommend calling a professional to handle this method. Some systems require that valves be stored indoors and pipes capped during the winter. Backflow Preventers. You can also use insulation tape for this. In this case, youll just need to uncouple them on either end of the backflow preventer, just before the bends in the piping. If your sprinkler system is on a timer, be sure to shut it off for the season. Total Time: Plan on 1 to 2 hours to complete this task. Safety. This is a dangerous practice that places very severe stress on all of the components of the system. No matter what climate you live in, you can make winterization easier by insulating your irrigation systems backflow preventer. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}8 Super-Effective Ways to Soundproof a Room, How to Kill Those Pesky Mosquitoes in Your Yard, How to Make a Forge and Start Hammering Metal, Safe and Fun Rules for Using an Angle Grinder, 15 Secrets to Cleaning Your Home in Half the Time, How to Fix Dry Grass and Brown Spots on Your Lawn, How to Disinfect Your Phone Without Ruining It. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Other serious damages can also affect your irrigation system. You can connect your air compressor hose to this for the easiest, most straightforward time. After locating your isolation valve step one is simply turning it off. Then, open one of the control valves on the system. This is usually via a main valve near your water meter. If your system has backflow preventing valves, then those need to be shut off too. It is always best to consult your personal landscaper, horticulturist, or Houston irrigation systems expert to find out what the winter water requirements are for your landscape before making this decision. Skill Level: Intermediate Estimated Cost: $53 to $121. Consult your owners manual to find out the recommendations for your particular sprinkler system. Winterization is an important part of maintaining a properly running lawn sprinkler system. Winterization is an important part of maintaining a properly running lawn sprinkler system. If you do water during the winter then you will perform this winterization process before each freeze. How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System: Blowout Method. Do not run the compressor without at least one sprinkler control valve open. Close off both valves on the backflow preventer. To make your sprinkler system functional again you simply need to: Your PVB will once again look like the one in the image featured at the very top of this article. There are three main methods of drainage depending on what type of sprinkler system you have. Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system. In fact, too much pressure can damage the system. Most of the time, you just need to look for a hose tap, quick coupler, or hose bib that is after your irrigation shutoff valve and backflow preventer. Next, turn off the sprinkler systems mainline shut-off valve. Purchasing a few supplies at the home improvement store will likely put you at the lower end of this range, while hiring a pro will drive the cost to the higher end. These steps can help you with the winterization of sprinkler systems efficiently and effectively, ensuring that your sprinkler system wont be adversely affected by colder weather. Sprinklers keep your lawn looking great most of the year, but when autumn rolls along, take some time to empty and insulate them, so theyll be every bit as reliable next spring. SKU: WK14-ZWFR. This is a dangerous practice that places very severe stress on all of the components of the system. Connect the compressors air hose to the blow-out plug. Wilkins 14-ZWFR Freeze Prevention Valve 1/4 in. If the zone has a manual drain valve, open it up. Some sprinkler systems can automatically drain, which is very useful. The following procedure is the proper way to winterize your PVB backflow device in the Houston, Texas area. Heres a quick DIY guide to winterizing a lawn-sprinkler system: If your sprinkler system is connected to your house water source, then there should be a backflow preventer that ensures sprinkler water doesn't flow into the house. Winterize a Sprinkler System Through a Backflow Preventer There is a great deal of misinformation out there as to how to properly winterize your backflow to avoid a frozen backflow preventer. Remember that once youve insulated all of your pipes and backflow preventers properly, you will be set for some time and wont need to repeat the process every single year. How To Winterize A Sprinkler System With Backflow Preventer The main shut-off valve, plus any exposed pipes or backflow preventers, should be wrapped in foam covers or insulation tape. Before you begin to drain your sprinkler system, you have to shut off all water supply to the system. Finally, slowly open the manual drain valve and allow it to drain fully. A professional-quality air compressor can blow out sprinklers quickly and thoroughly. We recommend the nationwide provider TruGreen. Keep going until you see water start to come through. Now that winter is fast approaching, you could benefit from learning how to winterize a sprinkler system. If you live in a region that is temperate/moderate, it either never freezes or only freezes for an hour or two at a time. Affiliate Disclosure: This OldHouses Reviews Team is committed to delivering Read More honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.