In Vancouver, BC, winters are quite challenging for gardeners. Temperature often drops below 0 °C, and water in pipes freezes. This frozen water puts pressure on the irrigation system, resulting in breakage of sprinkler heads, cracks in pipes, and sometimes valves also stop working. To avoid this condition, gardeners should prepare the irrigation system for the winter season before it starts.
In this blog, you will learn practical tips to prepare your irrigation system for the winter season in Vancouver, BC.
When should you winterize your irrigation system?
The best time to prepare the irrigation system for winter is when nights start feeling cold, and you observe an ice layer on the grass in the early morning. You should not wait for winter to start and freeze water inside pipes. Because once water freezes, it costs repair bills to functionalize the irrigation system in spring again. In terms of months, this time period starts from late October to mid-November.
How to prepare your Irrigation System for winters in Vancouver, BC?
After an in-depth study, I have listed 6 important steps to save the irrigation system from the bad effects of winter. First, we will take an overview of all 6 steps, then we will discuss each step in detail.
- Turn Off the Water Supply
- Drain All Water From the System
- Protect the Backflow Preventer
- Insulate All Exposed Components
- Prepare Sprinkler Heads and Irrigation Lines
- Shut Down and Protect the Irrigation Controller
1. Turn Off the Water Supply
You must start preparing your irrigation system for winter by blocking the water supply. In most houses in Vancouver, the main water supply to the irrigation system may be in the basement, garage, or outside near the house wall. You have to turn off the main water supply by rotating it in a clockwise direction. If you do not follow this step, water keeps entering the frozen water pipe, causing the pipe to burst in most cases. By turning off the water supply, you can remove the prime cause of damage to the irrigation system during winter.
2. Drain All Water From the System
Even a small amount of water in pipes freezes in winter and causes damage to the irrigation system. You must remove all the water present in the pipes. The following table shows three types of draining methods that are used in Vancouver.
| Manual Drain | Automatic Drain | Blow-Out Method |
| Most irrigation systems consist of small drain valves located at the lowest points. | Many new systems drain themselves when pressure becomes low. | This method uses an air compressor to push out every bit of water. |
| Open these valves and let the water flow out. Once dripping stops, close them tightly. | Just open one sprinkler zone to release pressure; the system will empty on its own. | It is the most effective way, which is why many professionals use it. |
In the Blow-out method, too much air pressure causes damage to pipes and sprinklers. You should hire professionals like Harry Lawn Care to handle it carefully.
3. Protect the Backflow Preventer
A backflow preventer stops dirty water from flowing back into your home’s clean water. These are one of the most important parts of the irrigation system. Backflow preventers are mostly present above the ground, so they directly interact with the weather. During winter, water in backflow preventers freezes faster than water in pipes underground. To protect it from harsh winters, just do the following 2 steps:
- Drain the water present inside by slightly opening the test valves
- Wrap it with insulation foam or a thick cover
4. Insulate All Exposed Components
Insulate all the components of the irrigation system that are in open exposure to the cold weather, including exposed pipes, connectors, valves, and fittings. Use insulation tape, thick pipe covers to tightly pack exposed components of the irrigation system, so that no air can enter.
5. Prepare Sprinkler Heads and Irrigation Lines
You should also prepare sprinkler heads and irrigation lines, including drip lines and garden tubes, for winter. If your irrigation system design allows you to remove sprinkler heads, then remove them and store them in a safe place. Otherwise, clear them properly of dirt, grass, and other things that block them. So that we can again functionalize the irrigation system, there will be no blockage. Check cracks in sprinkler heads and irrigation lines because in the spring cost to repair cracks doubles.
6. Shut Down and Protect the Irrigation Controller
The irrigation controller is the main section that controls the system’s operation. To prevent accidental functioning of the irrigation system in winter, turn it off by removing batteries or keep it in rain mode before winter starts. This prevents your irrigation system from any accidental damage during winter.
Conclusion
In Vancouver, BC, freezing temperatures in winter cause damage to the irrigation system. Repairing this damage costs a lot more than preparing your irrigation system before winter. You can prepare your system for winter by turning off the main water supply, draining the pipes, insulating exposed components, protecting sprinkler heads, and turning off the controller. If your irrigation system is advanced or has underground pipes, hiring a professional such as Harry Lawn Care is a smart choice. They have the expertise and the right tools to protect your irrigation system. Do not wait for winter; make your irrigation system ready right now.
1. How to Winterize Your Irrigation System?
The simplest way to Winterize Your Irrigation System is to cut off its main water supply. Drain all the pipes, insulate all exposed parts, and protect the backflow preventer. This protects your irrigation system from winter.
2. How to turn the irrigation system on after winter?
When the spring season starts, first observe the whole irrigation system. If you notice any problem, crack, or irregularity, seek help from experts and fix it. Then, remove insulations, gradually turn on the main water supply, sprinkler zone (one at a time), and switch the irrigation controller back to its normal setting.
3. What temperature will freeze an irrigation system?
The freezing temperature of water is 0°C (32°F). A few hours of freezing temperatures are enough to freeze all the water present inside the irrigation system pipes. That’s why it is important to prepare your irrigation system for the winter season in Vancouver, BC.
