Megan Van Eldik

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Don't forget to blow out your sprinklers!

Posted On: October 18th, 2022 7:04PM

A reminder to all as we enjoy pumpkin patches, leafing and corn maze season, that any time now we could get a freezing gust of winds, followed by that first major freeze. According to KDVR-Fox 31 News, "The average date of the first freeze of the season in Denver is Oct. 7. The earliest first freeze on record was Sept. 8, 1962. The record for the latest first freeze was Nov. 15, 1944."


Colorado State University Extension explained that "when temperatures hit 32 degrees and below, water will expand as it turns to ice and that can cause pipes and fittings to burst, valves to crack, and sprinkler and pump cases to split open."

How to prepare: To have a blowout done with an air compressor, I recommend calling your go to lawn care crew. This is a popular request at this time of year, so landscapers get busy. Here is a list of recommended crews from KDVR Fox 31 news:

"If you would rather get professional help winterizing your home for winter, here are some of the top rated lawn care providers in the metro Denver area, according to Google reviews:"

 
Or, a few pointers from Home Depot, if you decide to go the do it yourself way:
Sprinkler systems have different types of drainage either automatic or manual. 

Manual: Per Home Depot,

"These systems allow you to empty excess water from the system by simply opening a valve.

 

If you have manual drain irrigation, follow these steps:

 

  • Shut off the water supply to the system.
  • Then, look for the manual valves at the ends and low points of the piping. 
  • Open all the valves and drain the water from the system.
  • Make sure you also drain the backflow device.

 

Some sprinklers are equipped with check valves. These devices allow water to only flow one way. If you’ve got check valves on your system, try raising the sprinkler heads. This should let water drain out of those mechanisms. Once you’ve drained the entire system, close all the valves."

 

Automatic:


Home Depot says, "An auto drain system has valves that automatically drain water from the pipes. This happens only when the water pressure falls below a certain number of pounds per square inch.


To activate an automatic drain function, follow these steps:

  • Turn off the water supply.
  • Briefly run one of the sprinkler heads to relieve the water pressure in the system.
  • Automatic draining should begin, clearing the pipes of excess water.
     

You may still need to drain the water between the shut-off valve and the backflow device. If the sprinkler heads are equipped with check valves, empty them separately.

 

Good luck!

 

 

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