Winterize Your Irrigation System to Prevent Freeze Damage

Each year our staff responds to numerous water shut-off emergencies from private water linSprinklerse breaks. These breaks can occur both inside and outside your home and have the potential to cause a lot of damage. The majority of calls we receive are in the winter from homes with irrigation systems that were not winterized properly.
__________________________________________________________________

In An Emergency: If there has been a break and you need to turn your water off , click here to learn how to do it yourself. For assistance, contact the Utility Customer Service at 503-657-0891.
__________________________________________________________________

Sometimes the damage is apparent immediately and other times it is not. When below ground components freeze, water can leak into the ground unseen. Sometimes the leaking can go on for months before it is noticed. These types of leaks can be costly to repair and can also result in a very expensive water bill.

As cold winter storms become more frequent in our region, we recommend winterizing your irrigation system to protect it from freeze damage. Below are some steps you can take to winterize your irrigation system. You can also hire a professional to winterize your system for you. Most landscaping companies offer winterization services.  

Most irrigation systems have a valve that can be turned off to isolate the sprinkler system from your water service. This is commonly referred to as an ‘isolation valve’ and is usually located below ground in circular box with a green lid. Sometimes this valve is located in a garage or crawl space. Turn this valve off to stop the flow of water to your irrigation system.

2. Turn off the timer

If your system runs on an automatic timer, turn it off. Some timers have a ‘rain mode’ which allows you turn the system off without losing your programmed schedule. Check the user manual for your timer to see what the best option for your system is. If you run your sprinkler off a hose bib timer, disconnect the hose and timer and store in a protected area, such as a garage or basement.

3. Drain the system

After turning off the water, you should drain the piping of any existing water, so it doesn’t freeze and damage your system. Most irrigation systems are constructed of plastic piping which will crack or break if water freezes inside. How you drain your system will depend on how your system was installed. It is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to properly drain your system. The most common methods are manual draining, automatic draining, and the blow out method.

  • Manual draining: Open the manual drain valve(s) and allow the water to drain from the system. Make sure to also drain water from the backflow preventor.
  • Automatic draining: Systems equipped with automatic drains should automatically drain when the system shuts off. However, you will still need to drain water from the backflow preventor.  
  • Blow Out method: The blow out method includes hooking up an air compressor to the pipes and forcing out any remaining water.  There are risks associated with the blow out method; therefore, it is best to hire a professional if using this method.

4. Insulate

Make sure to insulate any above ground components, including any hose bibs. You can use insulation tape, foam, etc. We also recommend adding insulation to below ground components that are in boxes, such as your controls and backflow preventor. You can do this by adding insulating foam or wood chips to the box.

Don’t forget to get your backflow assembly tested when you turn your system back on in the spring. 

Backflow assemblies are required to be tested annually and by having the assembly tested prior to the irrigation season you can be confident that it is doing the job for which it is intended –keeping your drinking water safe!’