Guidelines for properly shutting down the water supply system during winter months
Say Goodbye to Summer, Hello to Winter-Ready Irrigation 🌿❄️
September 14, 2023
As the golden hues of fall slip into the horizon, it's time to bid adieu to the irrigation season and brace for the winter frost ahead. To keep your automatic irrigation system, including smart ones, in tip-top shape, don't forget to drain and prepare it for the winter season. Give special attention to removing water from the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads.
To close the irrigation system, here's what you'll need to do:
- Close the manual drain valve installed on the main pipeline
- Shut off the automatic drain valve
- Give solenoid valves a good clean
- Blast out the system using compressed air
Once that's done, don't forget to check your controllers, depending on the type:
- Faucet-mounted controller
- IP68 in-ground controller
- Indoor controller
- Outdoor controller
Pay Attention to Execution
Draining the irrigation system is a crucial step that deserves your full focus. If water remains in the solenoid valves or the bodies of faucet-mounted controllers like Amico+, Amico R, and Amico Vision, the water could freeze, leading to leaks when reopening the system for the next irrigation season. To prevent this, make sure to remove the devices and store them properly. The same precaution should be taken for the solenoid valves installed in the ground, as water not removed could cause damage during winter freezes and when reopening for the new season.
Closing Thoughts
Proper winterization of the irrigation system is essential to ensure the system functions smoothly when the new irrigation season rolls around.
Draining the system of water prevents water from freezing inside the irrigation components and systems, such as pipes, which could expand and burst due to winter temperatures. The same applies to solenoid valves and emitters, whether drip or spray.
Taking different approaches is necessary for irrigation controllers, regardless of whether they're traditional or smart, wall-mounted or battery-operated. For in-ground and faucet-mounted controllers, it's essential to remove the power supply batteries. No special precautions are required for 24Vac programmers. But it's crucial to remove the faucet-mounted controllers and store them in a dry, protected place (both the solenoid valve body and the controller itself).
Follow these simple steps, and you'll be ready to face the warm season in spring!
Previous Next Delve into the latest advancements in irrigation systems!
Contact Us
Sideline Knowledge:Winterizing an automatic irrigation system is of utmost importance to prevent costly damage from freezing temperatures. The guidelines above help ensure a well-prepared system, saving you time and money. Taking proactive steps like cleaning solenoid valves, blasting out the system with compressed air, and insulating exposed components will help keep your irrigation system in prime condition for the winter season.
Additional Tips:
- Need more help? Reach out to our experts for personalized support
- Shut off the water supply using a main valve or backflow preventer as required by the manufacturer
- Be sure to check for any manufacturer-specific instructions related to your irrigation system before proceeding with winterization
- After the winter season, follow the same steps in reverse to reopen and prepare your system for the new irrigation season
- To maintain your lifestyle and home-and-garden during the winter, it's essential to follow the instructions for winterizing the irrigation system, as water left inside could freeze, leading to damages when reopening the system for the next irrigation season.
- For a smooth pre-winter preparation and a well-irrigated home-and-garden lifestyle in the spring, pay attention to the removal of water from the irrigation system components and systems, such as pipes, solenoid valves, emitters, and irrigation controllers, which should be drained, cleaned, and insulated to prevent freezing.
