Prepare Your Irrigation System for Winter: Simple Steps to Avoid Costly Repairs
It may not feel like winter yet but some regions of the state have already begun to experience some colder weather and freezing temperatures at night. With these colder temperatures, many landscape plants like turfgrass have started to go dormant. Dormant plants require almost no supplemental irrigation since winter rainfall usually provides sufficient water. It is typically recommended not to irrigate during the winter months.
Winterizing is the process of preparing an irrigation system for winter weather and can help avoid costly repairs in the spring.
Follow these simple steps to Winterize an irrigation system:
- Turn off the irrigation controller,
- Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system. Most irrigation systems have an isolation valve located near the water meter or backflow prevention assembly for this purpose,
- Insulate any PVC pipes that are exposed above ground by covering with pipe insulation or other material. The resource link below contains how-to videos for proper insulation methods, and
- Drain the water from irrigation components installed above ground such as backflow prevention assemblies. In regions of the State where the ground freezes for longer periods of time, drain the irrigation system if so equipped.
Additional winterization resources, including “how-to videos” are posted at https://irrigation.tamu.edu/
Contacting a local TCEQ Licensed Landscape Irrigator can ensure that your system and backflow prevention assembly are prepared for winter.