Have the below normal temperatures this week got you shivering in your boots? Fire in the fireplace and a nice warm blanket? Before you settle in – have you taken care of your pipes and irrigation system? Here are some tips to keeping both from freezing and in good shape when the weather unthaws.
- Make sure you know where your main water valve cutoff is. Now is the time to find it – now when you may need it!
- Drain your pipes and if you haven’t done so already – disconnect any hoses from the outside faucet to allow water to drain before freezing.
- Wrap all pipes that are exposed and in an unheated area with insulation – you can purchase wraps for your pipes at your local hardware store. OR you can slice your kids pool noodle longways and wrap it around your pipe. Colorful and it works!
- If you are worried about plants, applying a good layer of mulch around the roots then covering the plants if needed will give more delicate plants a stronger chance of surviving the below normal temperatures.
- If you didn’t have Sprinkalawn do a winter maintenance on your irrigation system, make sure the lines are drained on your system. Then, turn off the system from the controller. It’s best to disconnect the face plate when possible to avoid ruining the controller should there be a power surge.
- Once the Arctic Blast of cold air is gone, delay turning on your system until you are sure the weather will remain above freezing. Runoff or wind can cause icy and unsafe conditions on your driveway, sidewalks or street.
- If you suspect a frozen system in spite of the precautions, contact Sprinkalawn ASAP to schedule the repair. A higher water bill, among other problems, could occur if left unattended.
- Contact Sprinkalawn for next year’s winter maintenance. We can take the worry out of winter for you!
Take heart – warmer weather is not far ahead! Now is the best time to contact Sprinkalawn to come out and take a look at your system. Take advantage of our less busy winter months to have us assess your current system and the location of the sprinklers. You will be ready when the cold weather blows away! New systems and zone installations are still being discounted, but not much longer!