When part of a landscape is not properly winterized, the trickle effects can be significant. Consider gutters as an example. If leaves and debris aren’t cleared out of gutters before winter hits, they can freeze — and once the ice melts, restricted water can seep through your roof. All the while, the weight of the debris itself can cause gutters to sag, also leading to costly repairs.
In this sense, winterizing your gutters can be viewed as critical to preserving your investment. A similar sentiment rings true in the case of winterizing your sprinkler system.
The Answer Is Yes — It’s Necessary to Winterize Your Sprinkler System
When water freezes in any type of pipe (an irrigation system or otherwise), it naturally expands. This added space creates a considerable amount of pressure inside pipes. Such pressure can crack or break internal components of a piping system and call for costly repairs, or it weakens the system to the degree which it inevitably suffers damage down the line.
In the winter months, any water that is left behind in a sprinkler system is subject to freezing. This can cause pipe walls to rupture as well as damage other components like sprinkler heads, valves and backflow preventers. Oftentimes, these damages are irreparable and a replacement is required, which of course comes with a cost:
- Replacement sprinkler head: $2.50-$30
- Replacement valve: $12.50-$150
- Replacement backflow preventer: $125-$900
While these costs are representative of the parts themselves, there’s also the labor costs to consider. On average, professionals will charge anywhere between $50 to $100 per hour.
Winterize Your Sprinkler System & Save Headaches Down the Road
Winterizing your sprinkler system is a critical step in preserving your investment. Draining pipes of all water before the first frost hits will ensure pipes and sprinklers are protected in the winter season, and that there will be no unpleasant surprises in system performance come spring.
As a member of the Green Impressions Irrigation Club, we’ll have our irrigation professionals help prepare your sprinkler system for the winter, as well as assist with your system’s start-up, backflow inspection and mid-summer check-ups. The end result is year-round protection without the stress of having to maintain an irrigation system on your own.
Interested in joining our irrigation club? Fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch with next steps.
