As the temperature starts to drop and winter is on the horizon, it’s time to get your sprinkler system ready for hibernation. Sprinkler system winterization in Calgary is crucial for protecting your investment and ensuring your system is in tip-top shape come springtime.
If you’re wondering how to do this, don’t worry about handling it yourself. Instead of risking DIY mistakes, we can take care of your sprinkler system winterization. We outline the process below for you to see how the process works. Contacting one of our certified contractors is the best choice for protecting your sprinkler system.
Step-by-Step: How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System
Naiad Irrigation technicians follow these steps to winterize your sprinkler system.
- Turn Off the Water Supply
First, we turn off the water supply to your sprinkler system. We locate the main shut-off valve and make sure it’s completely turned off; this prevents water from continuing to flow into the system while you work.
- Winterize the System Using Compressed Air
Once the water supply is off, it’s time to remove any remaining water from the system. Using compressed air to blow out the irrigation lines is the most effective way to prevent freezing damage. Here’s how it works:
- Attach the Air Compressor: Connect an air compressor to the mainline, ensuring it’s set to a safe pressure level to avoid damaging pipes.
- Blow Out Each Zone: Run the compressed air through each zone of the irrigation system individually, allowing the air to push out any remaining water in the pipes and sprinkler heads.
- Move Through the System Methodically: Work through each section carefully, watching for mist or water to stop flowing before moving to the next zone.
Using compressed air for winterizing can be tricky without the right tools or experience, so it’s recommended to have a professional handle this step. Proper winterization ensures your irrigation system is thoroughly protected from winter damage, saving you from costly repairs in the spring. For more information on the winterization process, check out our video.
- Check the System
Once everything is drained and winterized, we walk around your yard to double-check that all sprinkler heads are fully retracted and that no water is left in the system.
Main Risks for Not Winterizing Your System
In Calgary where it’s common for the temperature to fluctuate below and above zero frequently, there are major risks to not scheduling a winterization, also called a blowout, in time for colder weather. A sprinkler system should be winterized before overnight temperatures fall below zero degrees Celsius.
Below are the major risks:
- Burst pipes and broken valves are among the main risks to your home. In addition, they are expensive to repair. The damage often isn’t discovered until the spring, when your lawn has to be dug up for repairs to your system.
- Water damage to your home. Irrigation systems connect directly to your home’s water supply, so any water leak issues can show up as a basement leak or flood.
Trust Naiad for Your Sprinkler System Winterization
If the blow-out method sounds daunting, that’s because it can be. Without the proper equipment or experience, trying to winterize your sprinkler system on your own can lead to costly mistakes. Using the wrong air pressure or missing crucial steps can damage your system instead of protecting it. Rather than risking expensive repairs or replacements, it’s best to leave it to the Irrigation Association-certified technicians at Naiad Irrigation.
Our team has the expertise and the tools to properly winterize your sprinkler system, ensuring everything is done right and giving you peace of mind throughout the winter months. Safeguard your system for the winter with our complete and certified blowout service. Book your service online today, or call us at 587-205-5768.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be home for the winterization appointment?
In general, the components we need to complete the winterization are located outside the home so you do not need to be home for the appointment as long as the water is turned off inside the property. If your irrigation system control valves or the connection to the system is located inside the home (which is very rare) then you will need to be home.
How long does the appointment take?
Each system is unique, the size of the system, components used and even the time of year can affect how long an appointment takes. That being said, for a typical residential system the appointment will take between 5-20 minutes on average.
What’s your service area?
We are able to service a large area which includes Airdrie, Bragg Creek, Calgary, Canmore, Chestermere, Cochrane, Diamond Valley, Foothills County, Heriage Pointe, High River, Langdon, Lyalta, Okotoks, Rocky View County, Strathmore, Lethbridge and Kelowna
What if you find damage?
If while winterizing the system we notice damage, it will be documented and a report will be sent to you with a picture of the suspected damage so that you are aware if you are planning to turn your system on yourself the next season. We will contact you as we are preparing to do service work in the next season to see if you would like to have one of our irrigation professionals out to correct the damage.
Book a service or call us today @ 587-200-3994. We provide top-notch services from Irrigation Association-certified professionals.
