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know how and when to winterize your irrigation system

How to Winterize your Rain Bird Sprinkler System

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Winterizing your Rain Bird sprinkler system ensures that your irrigation system does not break during freezing temperatures.Knowing how and when to winterize you Rain Bird sprinkler system is another story. Sprinkler systems need to be properly prepared for the winter months to avoid costly damage.

Consider investing in Full Service Lawn Care. We will get your lawn lush and green and we will keep it that way.

Read on to learn the significance of winterizing your sprinkler system and how to do it in a safe and effective way.

Is it necessary to winterize my sprinkler system in North Texas?

You might be wondering if you need to winterize your sprinkler system in North Texas. The short answer is: this is a personal choice.  Here in North Texas, we don’t get as much freezing weather as more northern areas do, but you should still take precautions to protect your irrigation system from the cold weather.

One of the biggest dangers of winter is frozen and burst irrigation pipes. By winterizing your sprinkler system, you can avoid this costly and frustrating problem.

When to winterize sprinkler systems?

man working on sprinkler system-learn how to winterize your Rain Bird Sprinkler system
Man working on sprinkler system

Winterizing your sprinkler system is something you should do at least a week before the first “hard freeze,” which is when the outside air temperature falls below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

To obtain a decent idea of when the first hard freeze will occur, keep a watch on the local weather forecasts. October is usually the best month for winterization.

For more resources on winterizing an irrigation system, check out some videos posted by Texas A&M.

More Lawn Tips:  Lawn Irrigation Services Can Save You Money While Saving The Planet

Steps to winterizing my Rain Bird Sprinkler System

To winterize your sprinkler system, follow these simple steps:

  1. Turn off the water supply to your sprinkler system at the main valve.
  2. Drain all the water from the pipes and valves by opening them and allowing the water to flow out.
  3. Close all the valves and disconnect the hoses.
  4. Store the hoses and sprinkler heads in a safe place.
  5. Cover the pipes and valves with insulation or plastic to protect them from freezing.
shut off valve-winterize your Rain Bird irrigation system
Test cocks, shut off valves, and vacuum breaker to a lawn sprinkler irrigation system

If I choose not to winterize, how do I prevent my sprinkler system from freezing?

If you forget or choose not to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes, and sprinkler heads. Water expands when it freezes, which causes parts of your system to burst and destroy your sprinkler system. Although, if you choose not to winterize your Rain Bird sprinkler system, you can take some preventative steps to prevent it from freezing.

Turn off the water and then loosen the backflow cap to avoid a crack if there is water in it. Later, once the weather warms up, you will perform a more thorough inspection of any systems that weren’t blown out in the fall.

This process is only effective for short periods of freezing temperatures, fully winterize your system before prolonged freezing winter weather.

Check out our Lawn Watering Guide to get important advice on how best to water your lawn and garden.

Wrapping Up

It is a good idea to winterize your Rain Bird sprinkler system to protect it from cold weather and freezing temperatures. As fall sets in, make sure to have your sprinklers winterized before winter arrives.

More Lawn Tips:  Seasonal Lawn Care: From Winter to Spring

We offer a lawn irrigation service to help ensure that your sprinkler system is working efficiently.

View PDF: How and When to Winterize your Rain Bird Sprinkler System

 

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