Q: What kind of maintenance should I perform each year?
A: Around April when the weather starts to get warm and the cold ground freezing temperatures will no longer be a daily occurrence you should perform these simple steps to insure that your system will run good for the upcoming season:
 | 1. Before turning on any water to the system, make sure all manual drain
valves are returned to the "closed" position. |
| 2. Open the system main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with
water gradually. If these valves are opened too quickly, sprinkler main lines
are subjected to high surge pressures, uncontrolled flow and water hammer. |
| 3. Verify the proper operation of each zone valve by manually activating
it from the controller. |
| 4. Walk through each station on the controller, checking for proper
operation of the zone. Check for proper operating pressure (low pressure
indicates a line break or missing sprinkler), proper rotation and adjustment
of sprinkler heads, and adequate coverage. Check and clean filters on poorly
performing sprinklers. Adjust heads to grade as necessary. |
| 5. Reprogram the controller for automatic watering. Replace the controller
back-up battery if necessary. |
| 6. Uncover and clean the system rain sensor, if applicable. |
| 7. Finish and clean any in-line filters for drip irrigation zones. |
Q: What type of winterizing should I do to my system.
A: Here is a perfect answer provided by Hunter Industries:
Homeowners need to be aware that over the years, the effects of repeated water expansion inside pipes can weaken those pipes and lead to fractures. Plus, if the fittings and the pipe do not expand and contract at the same rate during seasonal temperature changes, the matter of material stress will be called into question.
Of course, if your system contains PVC pipe, there is no question. Because, when it's more than half full of water and frozen, PVC pipe will crack - most often from fitting to fitting (i.e., along the length of the pipe).
You need to "winterize" your system to protect it. The only question is: "how?"
"Blowing Out" a System With an Air Compressor.
Unless your system has manual or automatic drains, you will need to "blow out" water in the system with a portable air compressor in order to winterize. And doing it all is rather easy.
After turning off the water, connect the compressor (100 CFM for pipe with 2" diameter or less, 250 CFM for pipe 4" or larger) to inject air into the system near the main shutoff. Turn off the compressor and activate the zone of sprinklers at the highest elevation and furthest from the compressor before opening the valve on the compressor. Be careful to introduce air into the system gradually to avoid high pressure surges. Then, slowly increase the air pressure to 50 psi to reduce the chance of water ram damaging the components. If the sprinkler heads do not pop up and seal, adjust the pressure upward until they do, but NEVER let the air pressure exceed 80 psi.
It usually takes about two minutes or more to evacuate each zone. Proceed in sequence through all the zones, eventually ending up at the part of the system closest to the compressor and at the lowest elevation.
Go twice through the entire system, using a short cycle on each pass rather than a single long one, as repeating the process completely removes water that has drained from one zone into another on the first cycle. It also helps reduce the amount of time compressed air is moving through dry pipes (such friction can cause heat damage).
Some Final Steps.
Got a controller? Be sure to leave your power on and the rain or station start switch in the off position to prevent condensation inside the controller enclosure. Have a backflow device with ball valves? After shutting off the water supply and draining the system, remove any water trapped in the valve bodies by opening and closing them several times with the lever handle. Then, leave the handle at a 45-degree angle, so the valve is partially open. Preparing a hydraulic control system? Close and disconnect the potable water supply line to the signal control tubing and drain the tubing.
That's it. Whether your system is an industrial one in Indianapolis, a residential one in Rochester or on a sports field in Saskatoon, the same rules apply. To prevent freeze damage you have to winterize your pipes.
"BLOW-OUT" WINTERIZATION CHECKLIST
| Don't allow air pressure to exceed 80 psi (especially in systems designed to operate below this pressure level) |
| Don't stand over component parts while the system is under air pressure |
| Don't leave the compressor unattended |
| Don't blow out the system through a pump (first blow out the system, then drain the pump) |
| Don't leave manual drain valves open (water could enter the system during a winter thaw) |
Q: How much will installing an automatic system cost and where can I find dealers for products?
A: Right Here