Before the first deep freeze of our winter season, it's a good idea to prepare your irrigation system to survive freezing temperatures. If you've lived in Cumming, Ga long enough, you know that in the coldest part of winter, we can see temperatures in the single digits. These temperatures can wreak havoc of sprinkler system components.
The best way to winterize your irrigation system is to blow it out using compressed air to remove all water from the system. This requires having a connection point to hook the compressor hose up to as well as an air compressor capable of pushing all of the water out of the pipes. This cannot be done with a common 6 gallon pancake-style air compressor. You need an air compressor capable of pushing at least 10 CFM @ 40 p.s.i. These compressors easily cost more than $1,000 new. You can also damage components or injure yourself if the system is over-pressurized.
An alternative winterizing method to the blowing out of your sprinkler system is to turn the water supply off to the irrigation system at the main shutoff valve near the meter and run your system from the controller. Even though the water supply is turned off, the controller will still send the signal to open up the zone valves and allow the pressure to bleed down and the water to drain out of the system at the lowest heads. Time and gravity does most of the work. Allow the zones to be timed long enough to allow the majority of the water to drain out. There will still be some small amounts of water present in the pipes and heads but the danger of pipe freezes and other winter damage is reduced.
Need to hire a professional sprinkler system company? McBrayer Landscapes is able to handle any sprinkler system repair or maintenance service that you need.