Irrigation Helps & Tutorials - How to winterize your Irrigation & Sprinkler System (Automatic Drain Valve Method) (2023)

FAQs

Do I need an automatic drain valve on my sprinkler? ›

In cold climates, underground sprinkler systems can freeze and burst in winter unless the lines are drained or blown free of water. An easy way to drain those irrigation lines is to install automatic drain valves.

Make sure the sprinkler valve is closed, unless it's the valve farthest from the main water source. You'll want to leave this valve open and remove the sprinkler nozzle to allow air to escape when you turn on the water.

Manual valves should be left in the open position throughout winter to prevent repressurization. Some sprinkler heads have both side and bottom pipe inlets. If you use the side inlet, install a drain valve on the bottom inlet to prevent the case from freezing.

Your lawn should receive 1″ of water per week unless it is in dormancy. Shutting off irrigation systems just before the temperature begins to drop below freezing will help ensure that your system is not damaged.

When temperatures start to fall, it's time to consider winterizing your sprinkler system. Your lines must be drained or blown out using an air compressor before the first hard freeze.

Winterizing a drip irrigation system will take between fifteen minutes to an hour, and is best done before the first freeze. The little time spent now will result in a low maintenance irrigation system that does not need replacement parts because of freeze damage.

Now that night temperatures are dipping below freezing, it's time to think about turning off your irrigation system. Shorter days, cooler temperatures and plant dormancy, all signal decreased needs for water. To avoid damage from freezing, shut off your system before cold temperatures arrive.

Not all systems need to have the water blown out of them. You can winterize a sprinkler system without an air compressor if all of your irrigation lines are buried at a slight downhill slope. Simply shut off the main water supply to your system and open the drain valves at the end of each zone.

How long does an irrigation valve last? ›

One of the components that you may need to replace regularly are the wires, often due to improper installation and corrosion. Valves will give you 10 to 15 years of service, while controllers 5 to 10 years.

Pressure regulators are not essential, but tend to make a much better drip system. Drip irrigation usually requires lower water pressure than the normal pressure found in the average home water supply. The low water pressure makes sure that the drip system works effectively without wasting water.

Watering every day is not advised. It should be done 2 to 3 times per week only to prevent a shallow root system. If possible, water during the early morning hours to ensure that the lawn dries entirely before nightfall. However, watering at any time of the day is better than not watering at all.

Share: If you own a home, chances are pretty good that you have at least one outdoor faucet. With outdoor faucets, it's exceptionally important to remember to detach your garden hoses at the end of the season, close the inside shut-off valve(s) and drain the faucet fixture before it freezes.

A sprinkler system will freeze if the temperature falls below 32° F (0° Celsius). Now, most indoor sprinkler systems are inside of buildings or homes where the temperature won't ever drop into the danger zone.

To avoid any possibility of damage, sprinkler lines need to be drained prior to temperatures dipping below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Failing to winterize a sprinkler system before a hard freeze (air temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit) can lead to expensive and time-consuming repair costs.

If you forget to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes and sprinkler heads. When water freezes, it expands causing the parts of your system to burst and destroying your sprinkler system.

No. Don't let your sprinklers run at night. Without the sun to help dry up the water, it can turn your lawn into a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus that have the potential to actually kill your lawn.

Watering grass at night or later in the day—particularly if it's bright, warm, and breezy—means that the wind and heat of the sun and soil will rob your grass and other plantings of precious hydration. Water is less likely to evaporate in morning's lower light and temperature, so you waste less.

In general, a very approximate time frame that is needed for your pipes to freeze and then burst is from four to six hours. But that is only if there is no access to a heating source, and if the temperature is lower than twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

Is it best to turn off water during a freeze? ›

Even when the water is turned off, you'll see the leaks," he says. To prevent pipes from freezing, the best thing to do is turn your water off if you can locate your valve. If not, leaving your faucets on with a slight trickle - not a drip - to prevent broken pipes, he says.

The typical sprinkler winterization cost of $75 to $150 assumes that you have an irrigation system with 3 or 4 zones. You may have more or less depending on the size of your yard. The more zones you have, the more you'll pay to prepare your sprinklers for freezing temperatures.

Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it's cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate.

Usually 1 or 2 times a week is sufficient. If you want to determine the maximum amount of time your sprinklers can be left on at one time, observe a cycle from the beginning to the time when runoff begins. That is the maximum amount of time that you let your sprinklers run in any given watering.

Your goal is to irrigate enough in one day to soak just past the root zone, then let the soil dry down a few days. The best time to water is in the early morning hours. Allow 30 to 60 minutes between watering cycles so water has a chance to soak in the soil. The heavier the soil, the longer the soak time needed.

Your plumber or landscaper may do it for you as part of the winterization service. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, ask to be sure.

Turn off water to the backflow preventer. Most have an isolation shutoff valve located below ground before the backflow preventer. Open test cocks on the backflow preventer to drain all the water from it. Once water is drained, close both shutoff valves with a one-quarter counterclockwise turn.

The different types of irrigation include- sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation, drip irrigation, sub-irrigation and manual irrigation.

The disadvantages of automatic irrigation are: costs for purchasing, installing and maintaining the equipment. reliability of irrigation system (due to human error when setting up) increased maintenance of channels and equipment to ensure it is working properly.

That might not sound like a lot, but your sprinkler system uses about 12 gallons of water per minute, which works out to 2,160 gallons or $13 over three hours. A leak in the system will spike your water bill even higher.

How long does it take to drain a sprinkler system? ›

What is the typical process for blowout? The blowout process is a pretty quick process, typically only taking about 15 – 20 minutes, depending on the number of zones. General steps are as follows: First shut off the water supply to your irrigation system using the master shut off valve.

Most fire sprinkler systems have three types of drains: the main drain, the test drain, and the auxiliary drains.

Lawn irrigation systems can backflow contaminated water into your drinking water. In order to prevent this, building codes require that these systems be protected with a backflow preventer: International Plumbing Code 2006 608.16.

Without a rain sensor, you're at risk of higher utility bills and overwatered sections of your yard. Residential rain sensors offer multiple advantages when attaching them to your automatic sprinkler system.

Master valves are a common component in most irrigation systems, but they are not always required. A master valve is an automatic valve that is installed at the point where the irrigation system connects to the water supply.

Plastic Automatic Drain Valves prevent damage to irrigation system due to freezing by automatically draining the sprinkler lines when the water is turned off. Automatic Drain Valves are installed at the lowest point of each sprinkler zone.

You should have your backflow prevention assembly installed inside an above-ground enclosure. It's the safest and most cost-effective place to put it. Installing your backflow preventer above ground in an outdoor enclosure allows you to protect your backflow preventer and maintain easy access to it.

A licensed contractor, plumber, backflow professional, or the property owner can install the device.

Pressure regulators are not essential, but tend to make a much better drip system. Drip irrigation usually requires lower water pressure than the normal pressure found in the average home water supply. The low water pressure makes sure that the drip system works effectively without wasting water.

IFAS researchers recommend rain sensor thresholds of 1/4” for 2 or 3 day per week irrigation with no more than 1/2” for 1 day per week irrigation. Remember, the lower the setting, the more water saved.

How long does an irrigation rain sensor last? ›

How long do rain sensors last? The average rain sensor only functions for 3-5 years before needing replacement.

The Wireless Rain and Freeze Sensor operates automatically and usually requires no regular maintenance other than replacing the batteries in the Rain and Freeze Sensor (Transmitter) every three (3) years. Replace the batteries with two Panasonic CR2032 3V or equivalent replacement.

It is connected to the "master" or "pump" connection in your controller. For Generation 1 controllers, this is the blue terminal in the wall mount. For Generation 2 controllers, find the terminal marked "M". In the image below, the master valve is in the small circular box to the left of the main sprinkler box.

The uses of booster pumps are many, and it's even a necessity for applications like watering your lawn or garden using an irrigation or sprinkler system, or for increasing water pressure in a multi-story building or apartment complex.

Locate the main shutoff valve on your irrigation system. It is between the main water supply to your home and the sprinkler controller. Alternately, the main shutoff is located outdoors near a faucet bib. The main valve may be in a box in this area to protect it from the elements.

What is the typical process for blowout? The blowout process is a pretty quick process, typically only taking about 15 – 20 minutes, depending on the number of zones. General steps are as follows: First shut off the water supply to your irrigation system using the master shut off valve.