How to Winterize your Rain Bird Sprinkler System

Winterizing your Rain Bird sprinkler system ensures that your irrigation system does not break during freezing temperatures.Knowing how and when to winterize you Rain Bird sprinkler system is another story. Sprinkler systems need to be properly prepared for the winter months to avoid costly damage.

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Read on to learn the significance of winterizing your sprinkler system and how to do it in a safe and effective way.

Is it necessary to winterize my sprinkler system in North Texas?

You might be wondering if you need to winterize your sprinkler system in North Texas. The short answer is: this is a personal choice.  Here in North Texas, we don’t get as much freezing weather as more northern areas do, but you should still take precautions to protect your irrigation system from the cold weather.

One of the biggest dangers of winter is frozen and burst irrigation pipes. By winterizing your sprinkler system, you can avoid this costly and frustrating problem.

When to winterize sprinkler systems?

Winterizing your sprinkler system is something you should do at least a week before the first “hard freeze,” which is when the outside air temperature falls below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

To obtain a decent idea of when the first hard freeze will occur, keep a watch on the local weather forecasts. October is usually the best month for winterization.

For more resources on winterizing an irrigation system, check out some videos posted by Texas A&M.

Steps to winterizing my Rain Bird Sprinkler System

To winterize your sprinkler system, follow these simple steps:

1. Turn off the water supply to your sprinkler system at the main valve.
2. Drain all the water from the pipes and valves by opening them and allowing the water to flow out.
3. Close all the valves and disconnect the hoses.
4. Store the hoses and sprinkler heads in a safe place.
5. Cover the pipes and valves with insulation or plastic to protect them from freezing.

If I choose not to winterize, how do I prevent my sprinkler system from freezing?

If you forget or choose not to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes, and sprinkler heads. Water expands when it freezes, which causes parts of your system to burst and destroy your sprinkler system. Although, if you choose not to winterize your Rain Bird sprinkler system, you can take some preventative steps to prevent it from freezing.

Turn off the water and then loosen the backflow cap to avoid a crack if there is water in it. Later, once the weather warms up, you will perform a more thorough inspection of any systems that weren’t blown out in the fall.

This process is only effective for short periods of freezing temperatures, fully winterize your system before prolonged freezing winter weather.

Check out our Lawn Watering Guide to get important advice on how best to water your lawn and garden.

Wrapping Up

It is a good idea to winterize your Rain Bird sprinkler system to protect it from cold weather and freezing temperatures. As fall sets in, make sure to have your sprinklers winterized before winter arrives.

We offer a lawn irrigation service to help ensure that your sprinkler system is working efficiently.

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