Each year when winter comes around, New Jersey homeowners perform their annual ritual of winterizing their sprinkler systems. We use our air compressors to remove every last drop of water from our sprinkler lines, inflate our lines with air so they hold through the cold months and then say goodbye to our beautiful green lawns for the winter.
Don’t do it too early
It’s easy to get excited at the first sign of spring. The trees are budding, birds are chirping and everything is coming back to life. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to wait until the last freeze (usually the third or fourth week of April) before turning your sprinkler system back on. If the weather turns freezing again while your system is filled with water, it’ll expand as it freezes and cause all sorts of damage.
When you de-winterize, you’re clearing your sprinkler system in Burlington County, NJ of the air you filled it with, removing any debris inside and starting the flow of water through the system again. Before doing this, though, you should run through a simple readiness check to make sure everything is functioning the way it should. The process is fairly straightforward if you know what you’re doing. If you run into any issues, an expert can do a thorough check of the system, de-winterize it and even give you tips to make sure your lawn is getting maximum sprinkler coverage.
Check your sprinkler heads for clogs and damage
Winter’s hard on your sprinkler system in Burlington County, NJ, even when you winterize it. Before you turn your sprinkler system back on, check each of your sprinkler heads. Make sure the filters aren’t clogged, and that none of the heads are damaged.
You can also remove the sprinkler heads simply by unscrewing them and remove any additional muck that’s worked its way inside.
An expert will help clear debris from the entire line before slowly turning your sprinkler back on. They’ll be able to fix any leaks or cracks right away. And if you decide you want to expand your sprinkler coverage, they can add additional sprinkler heads to your irrigation system with no problem.
Make sure your drainage system is working
Winter is associated with more erosion that people realize. The significant precipitation combined with the intense freeze/thaw cycle can cause issues in your drainage system. If your drainage system isn’t working like you expect, it doesn’t take very long for water to begin pooling in the yard—even backing up into your irrigation system.
A good drainage system is just as important as a good sprinkler system to keeping your yard green. For peace of mind, have a professional double-check your drainage and sprinkler systems before you begin using them this spring.
Learn more about irrigation systems in Burlington County, NJ
If you need help with your irrigation system in Burlington County, NJ, please contact us here at Star Sprinkler Systems Inc. We have nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, and are highly knowledgeable about both residential and commercial sprinkler systems. When you’re ready to de-winterize your sprinkler system this year, give us a call right away!