Shovel & Thumb Sprinklers is a business division of licensed technicians operating within Vancouver, WA. We are your reliable source for irrigation system repairs, maintenance, upgrades, and installations. Call us to schedule an appointment!
Sprinkler System Winterization in Vancouver, WA
Residential & Commercial
As a preferred local company in the Vancouver area, we service both residential and commercial properties. Our licensed technicians can handle a multitude of tasks and offer quality irrigation solutions. We have an intricate understanding of how spray sprinkler systems and drip irrigation units operate.
Repair
Restore the damaged parts of an irrigation device.
Winterization
Protect the PVC pipes, backflow preventer, and sprinklers.
Upgrade
Include modern technology to reduce water bills.
Installation
Add spray sprinklers or drip lines to any landscape.
Vancouver Sprinkler Winterization
During winter, excess water within the irrigation equipment can freeze and shatter essential components. Individuals that fail to prepare their unit from cold temperatures will encounter multiple disrepairs during the spring reactivation. Hence, the system winterization is a crucial maintenance task that cannot be ignored.
The best time to winterize a sprinkler system in Vancouver is a week before the first freeze. However, it is not always possible to know when the first freeze will be, but it is a good idea to have a winterization plan in place before November.
Winterization is a complicated process, with several steps required to protect a system from freezing temperatures. For that reason, we recommend you hire an irrigation technician to handle the equipment. They are your best chance to safeguard your system from a sprinkler repair in Camas.
Effects of an Improper Winterization
Damaged Backflow – Backflow prevention devices are installed to keep dirty or contaminated water from flowing back into your home’s water supply. If a sprinkler system is not properly winterized, frozen water can cause the assembly to crack and allow water to flow back into the home.
Busted Pipes – Water left in the system during freezing weather can cause buried pipes to crack. Come spring, this will result in high water bills and puddles.
Cracked Valves – The same threat exists for the system’s water valves. If exposed to freezing temperatures, water left in the valves will expand and crack the brass housing.
Faulty Nozzles – Cold climate might damage the sprinkler heads. Any ice that forms on the heads will warp components, leading to inconsistent spray patterns or unresponsive nozzles.
Professional Sprinkler Blow Out
Close the Water Supply – A technician will shut off the water supply and attach an air compressor to the system’s main water line. This is often called the “blow out” method.
Drain the System – Technicians will use compressed air to force the water out of the irrigation system. The air pressure must be high enough to drain all the moisture.
Deactivate the Controller – After draining the unit, the controller must be turned off. Each controller is different, and whether or not it needs to be unplugged or simply “switched off” depends on the brand.
Insulate Components – Sometimes, the backflow prevention device and aboveground valves will be insulated to protect them against freezing temperatures. For this purpose, the technicians can use foam pipe insulation, insulation blankets, or a material with similar properties.
Sprinkler Activation After the Winter
You will want to avoid restarting the system until the threat of frost has passed. The cycle of lawn irrigation in the area can be hard to predict, but you will probably have to wait until April.
Contrary to what many property owners believe, the spring reactivation is a painstaking process that should be handled by a trained professional. An adequate system configuration at the beginning of each growing season will optimize the functionality of the equipment and protect it against common disrepairs associated with a lack of maintenance.
To reactive an irrigation system, technicians will make sure there are no frozen patches in the lawn area. Then, they will turn on the controller, inspect the sprinkler heads for frost or damage, and slowly turn on the water supply. Finally, the technicians will check the irrigation zones to make sure the sprinkler heads are all lined up and in working order.
Call Our Qualified Technicians
Most individuals lack the proper knowledge to adequately install, modify, or repair an irrigation system. As such, they end up making common mistakes that deteriorate the overall functionality of the unit. Do not let that happen to you. Instead, take advantage of our services.
- Fix damaged parts to restore the efficiency of the system
- Protect the irrigation device from freezing temperatures
- Reactivate the equipment once the growing season begins
- Automate labor and reduce water bills with upgrades
- Reroute or cap any existing line of the irrigation unit
- Install a custom spray sprinkler or drip irrigation device
Let us design, install, and configure an irrigation system for your aspirational landscape.