Irrigation is a great way to keep your lawn and plants looking amazing. The ease of use, reduced yard maintenance and look of your yard make it a great investment for your property. During the growing season you set the system and forget it. There is however, a bit of maintenance at the beginning and end of each growing season. We'll go over how we shut down irrigation systems for the winter.
How to Blowout and Winterize Your Irrigation System for the Winter
Tools Required:
80-100 CFM Compressor
Proper rated hose and coupler
Hose adapter to hook up to the main line
Pressure regulating valve with shut off at the end of the hose
Safety glasses & gloves
Before You Begin
Warning: If you've never been trained on how to winterize your system, it's best to leave it to a professional company. Improper blowout can result in pipes being burst, fittings coming loose, valves and heads being damaged and more, leading to hundreds even thousands of dollars worth of damage.
These steps are for those in Canada where we tie our irrigation systems into the the house/building spigot and not directly into the properties water line with meter and backflow preventer.
Compressors should not exceed 50psi for Polyethylene pipe and 80psi for PVC pipes. DO NOT EXCEED these at any time unless you know its safe to
Do not pressurize the main line without a valve being open
Do not allow the system to blow out completely dry, it is okay if there is a bit of water left in the system
Let's begin!
Step 1: Inspect the system for leaks and damage
Before you begin the blowout, you'll want to inspect your system for leaks and damage. Do a walkthrough and inspect the valves and visible mainline for signs of wear, damage and leaks.
Step 2: Remove the irrigation systems main line from the building spigot
Turn off the house spigot that is connected to the irrigation system's mainline. Remove the mainline connector from the houses spigot.