Prepare your Irrigation System for Winter

Although the weather outside isn’t frightful – yet – it soon will be. Are you ready for another winter? More important, is your home ready?

Let’s take a look at the important steps to take to winterize your outdoor water supply and irrigation systems to avoid breaks and leaks over the winter.

1. Disconnect the hose and splitters from the faucet. These act as water traps and cause the fixture to freeze. Drain all the water from the hoses and then store them in a protected area to keep them from becoming brittle.
2. Check your hose bibs (plumber’s word for faucet) for leaks. Look closely around the handle and the spout for seeping or dripping water. If it leaks, you can either fix it yourself or call a plumber. The former is, of course, less expensive and it’s not that difficult to do. 
3. Drain the water from the pipes. First, shut off the water in the line to the faucet and then turn on the faucet to drain the water.
4. Use a hose bib cover to protect the faucet over the winter. You can buy these at the large home improvement stores.

Sprinkler Lines

PVC pipes have a tendency to crack and break when they freeze so it’s important to blow out your irrigation lines before the first freeze. It’s not hard to do but you’ll need some tools, a 100 psi air compressor and eye protection. Don’t neglect the latter – using compressed air can be dangerous.

You can also call a local lawn care professional to blow out your irrigation lines for you.