What is the worst that could happen if I don’t winterize my sprinkler / irrigation system? In short form, your system could be severely damaged and may not work at all in the spring.
- Frozen pipes: Water left in the pipes can freeze and expand, causing the pipes to crack, break, or burst.
- Broken sprinkler heads: Water can get trapped in the sprinkler heads, causing them to expand and break. Broken sprinkler heads are difficult to fix and may require replacing the entire system.
- Busted valves and backflow devices: Frozen water can damage valves and backflow devices.
- Contaminated water supply: Frozen water can contaminate your water supply.
- Expensive repairs: Repairs to a damaged sprinkler system can be costly.
To prevent damage, you should winterize your sprinkler system before the first hard frost, which is usually around 28°F.
Winterizing your system involves:
- Turning off water and power to the system
- Disconnecting monitoring devices
- Removing water from the pipes and pumps
- Closing the drain valves for the winter