How to Winterize Your Sprinklers

Its very important to winterize your sprinkler system so you can avoid all potential problems and complications. If there is any water left in the pipes, your pipes burst and freeze, causing a leak. This is especially important to winterize your sprinkler system if you live in cold parts and colder climate. Here are some ways you can winterize your sprinklers.

Manual Drain Method

1. Make sure the water supply at the main valve, and open the manual drain valve.
2. Open the main drain pipe and waste and let the remaining water drain.
3. Make sure you open the cocks on the back flowing instruments to let the water waste out.
4. Close the valves when all the water has went out the valves.

Automatic Drain Method

1. Close off all the water supply and try your best to relieve the water system pressure to drain the water from the main valve.
2. Unseal the boiler drain once the water is out of the mainline way. Make the rest of the water drain so that it is caught between and shut off valve and back flow instrument.
3. Make sure you open the test cocks on the back flow to let the water run out.

Air Compressor Method

1. Go to an local equipment rental place and rent an air compressor.
2. Close off the main water supply.
3. Attach the compressor with a connector, such as a quick coupler to the mainline.
4. Make sure you open the main test cock of the back flow instrument to all of the water out.
5.Open the compressor box valve slowly and slowly start the airflow into the water system. Make sure the pressure of the air stays at 50 pounds per square inch.
6. Slowly start adding air pressure if the sprinkler heads do not pop up. Do not allow the air pressure to go over 80 psi.
7. Then turn the air compressor off when the lines are dry.
8. Finally leave the isolation valves open. Leave them open half way and leaves the test cocks open all the way.

If your system that you have had is installed with automatic drain valves, the lines downstream will drain whenever there is no system pressure. It is a very good idea to check first to see if the drains are working. You should do this right before it is winter.

Visit http://www.ehow.com/how_2154856_winterize-sprinkler-system.html and http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/winter.htm.