When and How to Winterize Your Irrigation System
As the seasons change and temperatures start to drop, it’s time to think about winterizing your irrigation system. If you've ever dealt with frozen pipes and the costly repairs they cause, you know how important this step is to properly winterize anything that involves water. Winterizing prevents water from freezing in your system, which can lead to cracked pipes and damaged valves—problems that can put a serious dent in your spring gardening plans. In this guide, we’ll walk you through winterizing your system to minimize damage and maximize system lifespan.
What is Winterization?
When water is left inside your irrigation system, freezing temperatures can cause it to expand. If water freezes and expands in areas surrounded by rigid plastic, the plastic will crack. This will cause leaking, spraying, and possibly system failure the next time you try to run your system. Winterization is the process of draining your system to remove water from those tight spaces, thus preventing damage.
What Parts Are Most At Risk?
- Non-adjustable drip emitters, including the emitters inside the dripline, are very vulnerable to freeze damage. These drippers have a maze-like pattern inside them consisting of many small, twisting passageways. While this is great for slowing water down to a predictable flow rate, it also means that water trapped in these areas can easily crack the passageways when it freezes. This damage is irreversible and will require you to replace the dripper.
- Head assembly components like your timer, pressure regulator, backflow preventer, fertilizer injector, and filter. These parts are both vulnerable to freeze damage and more expensive than most other parts of the system. Luckily, at least in the case of systems attached to a garden hose or hose spigot, the head assembly parts are easy to take off and put inside, where they can be kept safe.
- Valves, specifically solenoid valves. Like head assembly components, these are both expensive and vulnerable.
What Parts Are Least At Risk?
While it’s best to get as much water out of your system as possible before the first freeze, some items are less at risk than others. Specifically, your mainline tubing - whether it’s ½” or ¾” - as well as your ¼” or ⅛” sub-lines, is least at risk from freeze damage. These items are flexible by design, which means they can absorb the expansion of water as it freezes more easily. They’re also large enough that water doesn’t tend to fill them completely. Rather, it pools in the low areas, giving it plenty of room to expand into as it freezes.
When to Winterize
You should always try to have your system winterized before the first frost of the year. Out here in the Sun Valley of Arizona, it doesn’t freeze, so we can keep our systems out year-round as long as we have plants that need water. In areas less hospitable during the winter months, freezes typically occur starting in October or November. It’s a good idea to use weather forecasting tools to help determine the first frost date in your area. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Signs It’s Time to Winterize
- Temperatures are forecasted to drop below freezing
- Your plants are starting to go dormant.
- It’s the end of your gardening season.
Step-by-Step Guide to Winterizing Your Irrigation System
Step 1: Unhook Your System From The Water Source
The first step is simple: disconnect your system from its water source. This will ensure that no more water will enter the system when it’s not in use. If your system has a dedicated spigot then you can just turn the spigot off, but it’s best to physically disconnect the system, especially since you’ll want to bring the head assembly inside.
Step 2: Drain the System
- Manual Draining:Open the line ends to let water escape from the lines. As long as you have a week or two’s notice before the first freeze, this is really all you need to do to drain your system.
- Blow-Out Method: If a freeze catches you off guard, you can use an air compressor to blow out the system. Use the manual drain method first, then close the system up and use an air compressor to blow any remaining air out of the lines and drippers. Make sure you put the line ends back on before you do this, otherwise, you won’t help to blow the water out of the drippers.
- Note on Auto-Flush Valves: Most automatic flush valves, like this one, are not designed to automate winterization. They typically just drain water from the system until the pressure equalizes. You’ll still need to winterize your system even if you have auto-flush valves on your line ends.
Step 3: Insulate Above-Ground Components
Wrap any exposed pipes, valves, and backflow preventers with insulation material. This will protect them from freezing and extend their lifespan. You don’t need to do this will properly drained drip tubing, emitters, or sprayers.
Step 4: Disconnect and Store Timers and Controllers
Disconnect your head assembly parts, let them drain, and store them indoors while not in use to protect them. If you have a battery-operated timer outdoors, remove the batteries over the winter to increase their longevity.
Step 5: Be Careful!
Remember to be careful around your drip system while it’s frozen. Drip irrigation parts are very hardy, but they can still be damaged by blunt forces while frozen.
Protect Your Irrigation System with The Drip Store
Winterizing your irrigation system is an important step to avoid the headache of springtime repairs and to ensure your garden flourishes year after year. Whether you need help finding the right products or want expert advice, The Drip Store is here to help.
Visit The Drip Store to explore our selection of insulation materials, drip emitters, and other essential items for winterizing your system. If you need personalized guidance, don't hesitate to reach out to our helpful team for a free consultation.
Make winterizing a breeze and keep your irrigation system prepared for whatever the seasons throw your way!
