Time to Winterize

 

It makes sense to insulate backflow preventers in cold winter climates even when the devices are cleared of water.

A good rule of thumb is to winterize sprinklers by Halloween, says Tim Fore, owner of Fore’s Sprinkler Service in Oak Grove, Mo. “Most years, that’s when it starts to freeze in this area.”

In northern New England, or high-elevation regions in the west, it makes sense to complete the chore a few weeks earlier.

“People forget to winterize all the time,” says Curtis Davis, owner of Curtis Sprinklers in Olathe, Kan. “It’s not hard to do.”

Here’s how people can winterize their sprinklers:

Go to the backflow preventer, located inside the basement or outside near the water meter. Turn levers off so that the waterflow is stopped. The preventer should be tested before you turn the sprinklers back on in the spring, and costs at least $50.

Insulate any above-ground piping with self-sticking foam-insulating tape or foam insulating tubes from a home-supply store.

Shut down the timer. Most controllers have a rain mode that shuts off signals to the valves. The controller continues to keep time so the programming information such as start times and valve run times isn’t lost. The only change is that the valves will not activate.

Drain the system. Open each drain valve. There should be one per zone, and a master valve for the whole system.

As an optional added precaution, insulate backflow preventers and valves if they are above ground, using insulation tape. Don’t block the air vents and drain outlets on backflow preventers.

The sprinkler system should be shut off until March or April. “That’s when you find out if you have any problems like a leak or something,” Wedman says. “So far, I haven’t had any trouble.” Source: South Bend (Ind.) Tribune