3 Things That You Need To Do To Your Irrigation System As Winter Approaches
Having an irrigation system to water your grass can be an amazing and very helpful thing. And while it doesn't require too much care, there are a few things that you need to do with it to ensure that it is functioning properly for you. One time of year when this is going to be essentially important is during late fall and early winter. This is a time when the weather is changing, and you are not going to need to use your sprinkler system. This article will discuss 3 things that you need to do to your irrigation system as winter approaches.
Adjust The Watering Clock
As it gets colder and colder outside, your grass is going to need less and less water each day. Because your sprinkler system will be set on a specific setting that gives a designated amount of water each day, it is important that you adjust this setting. You can do this by adjusting the schedule on your irrigation system's watering clock. At first you are just going to want to cut back the times of day you water, then you'll cut down on the number of days you water, and finally you will get to the point where you will simply want to shut off the water altogether. At this point, your lawn will have reached a dormant stage and will no longer be actively growing and needing water.
Blow Out The System
Another thing that you are going to need to do before the first freeze of the year is to blow out your irrigation system. This is done by hooking up an air compressor to the blowout port on your irrigation system and then blowing air through the entire system. The pressure behind the air gives it a great deal of power. Doing this allows all of the excess water to exit the system, thus avoiding the hazard of having the water freeze, expand, and then crack your pipes.
Ensure All Sprinkler Heads Have Closed Properly
When you blow out your irrigation system, you are going to get more than just water that comes out. You may also get some dirt and rock particles. Since these rock particles have to be smaller than the sprinkler head in order to properly exit, you can sometimes run into issues. This is why it is very important for you to look at all of your sprinkler heads and ensure that they don't have rocks or other small items stuck in them. A sprinkler head that is left open will allow all sorts of things to get inside during the winter and may create water flow problems when you turn the system back on again in the spring. Ensuring that each sprinkler head is free of debris and closed properly is the best way to make sure nothing gets into the system.
