How do I winterize my sprinklers? Winterization Basics

IN THIS ARTICLE

• Why Winterize? Winterization Basics
• Step to Winterizing

In this article, we'll walk you through the basics of winterizing your irrigation system and explain why it’s recommended for optimal watering performance. 

Why Winterize? Winterization Basics 

If you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures, winterization is an important step in caring for your irrigation system and your Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller. Winterization is necessary in colder climates where pipes can freeze and burst if water remains in the system.

While you can manually drain the water from your system to help prevent freezing, some water can still remain and damage pipes. If all the water is not removed, you could have significant damage waiting for you in the spring. To protect your sprinklers from freeze damage, we recommend a sprinkler winterization (also known as a "blowout").

Steps to Winterizing

Drain your pipes

Before scheduling a blowout, check the following:  

• Do you have any above ground piping?
• Do you have an RP (Reduced Pressure) backflow, or a PVB (Pressure Vacuum Breaker) backflow? These above ground irrigation system pieces are especially vulnerable to freeze and can be costly to fix. Cracked pipes and broken backflow preventers are a pain that no homeowner wants to deal with. 

If your system includes these components, we recommend scheduling a sprinkler blowout with a RachioPro prior to your first freeze. Check to see when your area typically experiences freezing temperatures using the USDA Hardiness Zone Map.

Before the blowout, drain the external pipes that are subject to freeze first. To speed up the blowout process, you may want to share Rachio access with your irrigation professional. Click this link for more information. 

Blowout underground pipes

Sprinkler blowouts are an affordable way to prevent costly springtime repairs. A blowout is the process of removing water from external pipes and underground lines. This is performed by opening each zone and blowing air through the lines. If you have an air compressor, you can perform the blowout yourself. However, we recommend hiring an irrigation professional. Without professional equipment and expertise, the process can be time-consuming and could even cause system damage. 

If you wish to attempt a sprinkler blowout yourself, please refer to this video for step by step instructions.

Rachio recommends hiring an irrigation professional for a blowout if your sprinkler system needs winterizing.

Put your Rachio into "Standby" mode

After the blowout is completed, there are a couple steps you will need to take in getting your Rachio bundled up and ready for winter. We recommend the following standby procedures to prepare for the colder months and get your controller ready for hibernation. To winterize your Rachio, simply place it in standby mode within the app. From your Rachio App Menu tab, select “Standby Mode”. Now your Rachio is ready for the cold months ahead!