Winterize Sprinkler System
Winterize Sprinkler System St. Louis, MO. With unpredictable and rather harsh winters, the St. Louis area is not the place to leave sprinkler systems bare and exposed -- susceptible to damage and cracks -- in cold temperatures. Most pipes are made from rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or flexible polyethylene. Both of these materials crack, tear, or even burst under pressure. If the water freezes inside the pipes, it will expand and push out against the pipes’ walls exerting too much pressure, causing the pipes to break. The sprinkler heads and valves are also not designed to withstand the pressure from frozen water and may suffer the same fate as the pipes.
You certainly do not want this to happen, as the damage is widespread and costly, which is precisely why you should turn to Lawn Sprinklers St. Louis to winterize your sprinkler system. Call us as soon as possible at (314) 450-0342 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis To Winterize My Sprinkler System?
We are a local, family-owned and operated business with decades of experience in the irrigation industry. Our primary goal is to provide the best possible service to our customers and guarantee that all our work is completed safely and in a timely manner. We have been providing St. Louis neighborhoods with quality lawn care services for more than 30 years.
We are your complete lawn care professionals. In addition to being the go-to choice for winterizing your sprinkler system, Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis provides the following services:
How Does Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis Winterize My Sprinkler System?
You make sure your car’s radiator is full of antifreeze, you tune-up your home’s furnace, and you stow away lawn equipment for the winter – so why not professionally winterize your sprinkler system? Winterizing is the best way to protect the investment in your irrigation system and it ensures that the system is raring to go, set to keep your lawn looking luxurious, as soon as spring hits. Be sure to have a professional at Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis winterize your system. We follow a step-by-step process which includes:
- Closing the water supply – One of our skilled technicians will shut off the water supply and attach an air compressor to the system’s main water line. The air compressor is required for the preferred way to remove water from a sprinkler system, which is often called the blowout method.
- Draining the system – Our sprinkler system specialists will use compressed air to force the water out of your irrigation system. The air pressure must be high enough – 40 to 80 pounds per square inch (psi) is ideal, with 80 psi being the maximum for rigid PVC pipe and 50 psi for polyethylene pipe – another reason why it is important that a professional from Lawn Sprinklers in St. Louis does this.
- Deactivating the controller – After draining the unit, our specialists will turn off the controller. Each controller is different, and whether or not it needs to be unplugged and stored or simply “switched off” depends on the brand. Our team has in-depth knowledge of and hands-on experience with multiple brands of controllers, including:
- Rain Bird ESP-Me Controller
- Rain Bird Esp-Smte Controller
- Hunter HC Hydrawise Wifi Modular Controller
- Hunter Pro-Hc Wifi Hydrawise Wifi Controller
- Toro Evolution Controller
- RainMachine Touch Wifi Controller
- Insulating the system – Our team’s final step is to cover all the components above ground with insulation tape, foam covers, or perhaps insulation blankets to prevent them from freezing and cracking. This includes:
- The main water supply shutoff valve
- Backflow preventers – making sure to leave air vents open
- Exposed parts of the pipes
What Happens If I Don’t Have Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis Winterize My Sprinkler System?
If you decide to skip the winterization process in St. Louis, the drastic drop in temperature can cause damage to your sprinkler system ranging from minor inconveniences to a full-blow disaster. Your best bet is to just have Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis winterize your sprinkler system. Call us today at (314) 450-0342 or contact us online. Here’s what could happen if you skip winterizing or try doing it yourself:
- Cracked/Leaking Pipes and Fittings
- Water bubbling up from the ground between sprinkler heads when the system is on
- Flooded areas between sprinklers
- Very soft or wet areas
- Ground depressions
- Sprinkler heads not popping all the way up, and barely spraying or haphazardly shooting water
- Sprinkler line spraying dirty water
- Mushrooms growing in a specific patch
- Water meter running when the system is off and no water is being used in the home
- Broken Sprinkler Heads
- Busted Valves and Backflow Devices
If a sprinkler system isn’t properly winterized, water will be left in the pipes all winter. When that water freezes, everything in your irrigation system is at risk of cracking, leaking, and/or bursting.
Signs you have a cracked or leaking pipe include:
When water freezes in sprinkler heads, they easily break under the pressure. A broken sprinkler head in the springtime is no way to start the season.
Similarly to sprinkler heads and pipes, your valves, anti-siphon devices and even backflows can be severely damaged by ice and could be irreparable and might need to be replaced. Even if something isn’t cracked or broken right away, it could be damaged down the line, causing leaks or breaks.
How Do You Prevent These Damages to Your St. Louis Sprinkler System?
The best method for avoiding these issues is prevention. If you haven’t started thinking about winterizing, now is the time. Call Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis now at (314) 450-0342 or contact us online.
Contact Us Now to Winterize Your Sprinkler System | Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis
Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis is dedicated to delivering exceptional results and we are as passionate about lawn care as you are about having an amazing lawn. We are the lawn care company in St. Louis that will provide the service and products you need, when you need them. We know the St. Louis area – its weather, what kinds of grasses grow best, and the right irrigation patterns – but, best of all, we know the neighborhoods, the people, and their yards.
If you are looking to winterize your sprinkler system, call Lawn Sprinklers of St. Louis right away at (314) 450-0342 or contact us online.