Irrigation Winterization in Chicago, IL

Sprinkler Blowout in Chicago

During winter, excess water within the irrigation equipment can freeze and shatter essential components. Individuals that fail to prepare their unit for cold temperatures will encounter multiple disrepairs during the spring reactivation. Hence, the system winterization is a crucial maintenance task that cannot be ignored.

The best time to winterize a sprinkler system in Chicago is a week before the first freeze. However, it is not always possible to know when the first freeze will be, but it is a good idea to have a winterization plan in place before November.

Winterization is a complicated process, with several steps required to protect an irrigation installation from snowfall and freezing temperatures. For that reason, we recommend you hire an irrigation technician to handle the equipment winterization. They are your best chance to safeguard your system.

How to Winterize a Sprinkler System

Close the water supply – A technician will shut off the water supply and attach an air compressor to the system’s main water line. The air compressor is required for the preferred way to remove water from a sprinkler system, which is often called the “blow out” method.

Drain the system – Technicians will use compressed air to force the water out of the irrigation system. The air pressure must be high enough to drain all the moisture, so small consumer compressors likely are not powerful enough for the job, another reason why it is important to hire a pro.

Deactivate the controller – After draining the unit, the controller must be turned off. Each controller is different, and whether or not it needs to be unplugged or simply “switched off” depends on the brand.

Insulate components – Sometimes, the backflow prevention device and aboveground valves will be insulated to protect them against freezing temperatures. For this purpose, the technicians can use foam pipe insulation, insulation blankets, or a material with similar properties.

Effects of an Improper Winterization

Damaged backflow – Backflow prevention devices are installed to keep dirty or contaminated water from flowing back into your home’s water supply. If a sprinkler system is not properly winterized, frozen water can cause the assembly to crack and allow water to flow back into the home.

Busted pipes – Water left in the system during freezing weather can cause buried pipes to crack or rupture. Come spring, this will result in high water bills and puddles forming in the irrigation zones.

Cracked valves – The same threat exists for the system’s water valves. If exposed to freezing temperatures, water left in the valves will expand and crack the brass housing. This can cause the valve box to flood and reduce water pressure throughout the system.

Faulty nozzles – On the lawn itself, cold climate might damage the sprinkler heads. Any ice that forms on the heads will warp components, leading to inconsistent spray patterns or unresponsive nozzles.

Sprinkler Activation After the Winter

You will want to avoid restarting an irrigation system until the threat of frost has passed. When that may be is hard to predict and varies from region to region. In Chicago you will probably have to wait until late April.

Contrary to what many property owners believe, the spring reactivation is a painstaking process that should be handled by a trained professional. An adequate system configuration at the beginning of each growing season will optimize the functionality of the equipment and protect it against common disrepairs associated with a lack of maintenance.

To reactive an irrigation system, technicians will make sure there are no frozen patches in the lawn area. Then, they will turn on the controller, inspect the sprinkler heads for frost or damage, and slowly turn on the water supply. The speed at which liquids are reintroduced is critical to prevent a huge surge of water from shocking the system. Finally, the technicians will check the irrigation zones to make sure the sprinkler heads are all lined up and in working order.