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Message
How to protect an underground sprinkler system from freeze?
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:25 pm
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:25 pm
First winter with a sprinkler system, what does one do to protect from freeze? I’m guessing it is naturally insulated underground so this upcoming cold night it should be fine. I’m more concerned with what to do if we have multiple days in a row below 32 like last year.
10
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:29 pm to TigerTatorTots
WPWP
White People's Winter Problems.
White People's Winter Problems.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:39 pm to TigerTatorTots
Given where we live, I have to "winterize" ours ever year. The first thing I do is turn the water off to the system. Second I remove the back-flow preventer and place it in the garage or basement. There are some sensitive gaskets in there that can deform and cause it to leak when you turn the water off. Lastly, you want to make sure that all the water is out of the system. We have a fair amount of elevation in ours, so all I have to do there is cycle the valves a few times and the entire system drains. I simply turn on the timer to open the valves for a few days after I've turned the water off.
If you don't have a good low point in the system, you can take an air compressor, open the sprinkler valves and blow air through the system until all or most of the water is out of the pipes. Make sure all the valves are open as you can cause problems if you put too much pressure on the system.
That's about it. Even with all of that, I still have to replace a few heads and sometimes repair lengths of pipe almost every year.
If you don't have a good low point in the system, you can take an air compressor, open the sprinkler valves and blow air through the system until all or most of the water is out of the pipes. Make sure all the valves are open as you can cause problems if you put too much pressure on the system.
That's about it. Even with all of that, I still have to replace a few heads and sometimes repair lengths of pipe almost every year.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:46 pm to TigerTatorTots
quote:
First winter with a sprinkler system, what does one do to protect from freeze? I’m guessing it is naturally insulated underground so this upcoming cold night it should be fine. I’m more concerned with what to do if we have multiple days in a row below 32 like last year.
This is from Rain Bird
LINK
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:49 pm to TigerTatorTots
Turn the water off to the system then you can connect your air compressor to the back flow preventer and blow all the water out of the system.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 12:58 pm to bbvdd
quote:
connect your air compressor to the back flow preventer
LOL @ttt having an air compressor
Posted on 1/28/19 at 1:23 pm to TigerTatorTots
You don't have to do all of that. Just shut the valves off on both side of the backflow preventer and drain the water out of it with the little release valves on the side. There are usually 2 small valves on the side of the preventer. That is the only thing that will freeze. If you want to take it a step further, just make sure you have the exposed lines in the preventer loop insulated.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 1:48 pm to Marlo Stanfield
its underground. ur good
Posted on 1/28/19 at 2:31 pm to TigerTatorTots
Pour antifreeze in the pipes
Posted on 1/28/19 at 2:52 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
Pour antifreeze in the pipes
I'd use Brawndo, the thirst mutilator.
Salt will keep it from freezing and it's got electrolytes. It's what plants need..
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:11 pm to oleyeller
quote:
its underground. ur good
Not where I live. The ground can easily freeze to more that 1 foot deep during our coldest cold spells.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:15 pm to TigerTatorTots
Maybe disconnect it and blow the water out with an air compressor?
Ok, should have read all the replies before I bothered.
Ok, should have read all the replies before I bothered.
This post was edited on 1/28/19 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:19 pm to tenfoe
quote:I have an air compressor thank you.
LOL @ttt having an air compressor
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:21 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
Second I remove the back-flow preventer and place it in the garage or basement.
Never heard of that doing that before. Why not just empty the water with an air line instead and leave the BFP intact?Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:24 pm to biggsc
biggsc, sorry I didn't post that info about the paneling stuff from Home Depot yet. Had some stuff come up yesterday and didn't get by there. will have to go in a little while for sure though, and I will be sure to post that for you.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:40 pm to TigerTatorTots
Post a pic of your backflow preventer
Posted on 1/28/19 at 3:43 pm to idlewatcher
quote:
Never heard of that doing that before. Why not just empty the water with an air line instead and leave the BFP intact?
My best guess is it gets so cold for so long here. But I dunno. It's just what our irrigation guy said to do. When he installed it, he put quick removal fitting on it for this purpose.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 4:01 pm to TigerTatorTots
Just run your sprinkler all night and through the freeze.
Posted on 1/28/19 at 4:51 pm to TigerTatorTots
Where are you?
Posted on 1/28/19 at 4:53 pm to Marlo Stanfield
Keep in mind the guy that responded shows that he is from Utah. If so, his approach has to be more severe than us in the southern states (and I'm north of Atlanta).
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