Did you know that if you don’t winterize your sprinkler system, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in repair costs? That’s right! Sprinkler systems need to be winterized each year in order to protect them from freezing, harmful temperatures of winter.
Join us as we discuss all the reasons why you can not afford to skip winterizing your sprinklers this year. Be sure to contact Lush Green Services for more information on how you can protect your lawn in winter!
What Does Winterization Mean For Your Sprinklers?
As you can probably imagine from the name, sprinkler winterization is simply the process of preparing your irrigation system for harsh winter weather. This usually involves draining all the water from the pipes and sprinkler heads, among other things, so that they don’t freeze and burst when the temperatures drop below freezing.
It may sound like a relatively simple task, but many homeowners choose to ignore winterization needs every year, and they end up paying for it during the following season. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can damage your sprinklers to the point where they no longer work when springtime rolls around and they are needed again. Skipping sprinkler winterization could lead to costly repairs for not only your actual irrigation system, but also for your lawn if it is not getting watered properly due to damaged equipment.
The Real Cost Of Sprinkler Winterization
Some people think they are saving money by avoiding winterization, but this is a very risky gamble for any homeowner. If you allow your irrigation systems to collect water, freeze, and burst without any winterization efforts, the amount of money you will have to pay in repairs to both your sprinkler system and your lawn will make you wish you had protected your sprinklers from the start!
- Sprinkler Winterization – The financial costs of winterizing your irrigation system depends on many factors that determine how much it will cost. Obviously, larger and more complex systems will require more attention, and some areas may charge more than others if winters are especially brutal. Because of all the variables, it is hard set a price on sprinkler winterization, but $50 – $200 is generally a fair asking price for such services. Regardless, this price range is far lower than what you can expect to pay in repairs if you do not winterize.
- No Winterization – Ignoring winterization needs in winter will cost you more money! A lot more money. If you have to replace your entire sprinkler system, you’re looking at a bill that could be upwards of $5,000, which is within the national average for the cost of a new sprinkler system. Even If you don’t need an entirely new system, the repairs for a frozen and burst one will still rack up a high bill. The average cost to repair a broken irrigation pipe is $200, so consider just using that money to get those pipes winterized!
How To Winterize Your Sprinklers
There are a few different ways that you can winterize your irrigation system, but they all have the ultimate goal of draining all the water from the system so that it doesn’t freeze and cause damage.
- Drainage – Turn off the water supply to your sprinkler system and open all the drains and valves. This will allow all the water in your pipes and sprinkler heads to drain out, preventing it from freezing and causing damage. Once all the water has drained, be sure to close all the valves so that no new water can enter the system.
- Blowout – Attach a compressor to your irrigation system and turn it on. The compressor will blow all the water out of your pipes and sprinkler heads, leaving them dry and protected from freezing temperatures.
- Antifreeze – Add an antifreeze solution to your irrigation system. This solution will prevent the water in your system from freezing, even in very cold temperatures. This is a lesser-used method of winterization, but it is still incorporated by certain service providers.
The methods above are typically used in conjunction with each other in order to fully protect sprinkler systems. Any reputable service provider should offer the following as part of a sprinkler winterization service:
- Turn off water flow to sprinklers.
- Drain pipes.
- Check and clean filters and valves.
- Inspect, repair, and/or replace sprinkler heads.
- Check for and repair leaks and cracks.
- Blow out all water lines.
- Adjust timers.
- Much more.
When To Winterize Your Sprinklers
Ideally, you should winterize your sprinkler system before the first frost hits. This way, you can be sure that everything is taken care of before the cold weather sets in. However, if you’re in an area with a mild climate, you may be able to get away with winterizing your sprinklers a little later on. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast so that you know when the first frost is expected.
In Colorado, we typically expect the first frost in late September or early October. However, this can vary depending on the year. If you notice a few days of consistent frost in the morning, even if it is still early in fall, you may want to start winterizing your sprinklers. Once pipes break, repair costs will start adding up quickly, so keep an eye out for that first dreadful frost!
Avoid DIY Blowouts!
We get it… saving money is important! Because of this, however, people are often blinded by the thrill of immediate savings. You may think you are making a good fiscal decision by attempting to blow out your own irrigation lines with compressed air, but this practice often ends up damaging irrigation systems and costing up to thousands of dollars in repairs.
The amount of money you might save by trying to winterize your own sprinklers is insignificant in comparison to the savings you get from a sprinkler winterization service. Lush Green Services has been installing, repairing, and winterizing sprinkler systems for nearly 20 years, leaving no doubt that they can get your sprinklers protected this winter.
Don’t waste another dollar trying to prepare your own sprinklers for winter. Instead, call Lush Green Services, and we will take care of the rest!
