How To Turn Off A Sprinkler System For Winter | EHow

Share

1. Home Sweet Home
2. Green Thumb

How to Turn Off a Sprinkler System for Winter By Whitney Houston eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here. Further protect your sprinkler heads against freezes by blowing them out.

A harsh winter freeze could damage your irrigation system--and your wallet--if not properly drained. You'll want to winterize or drain the components of your irrigation system so no residual water remains. If left untended, water inside the outdoor pipelines might freeze and expand, causing cracks and breaks in the system. Proper shutdown of your sprinkler system will save you money and headaches.

Advertisement

Step 1

Grasp the lever of the main shut-off valve inside your home and turn it perpendicular to the pipe to shut off the outside water line from the main water supply. If you can't find the main shutoff, locate the pipes on the exterior of your home. The main shut-off valve is located close to these pipes on the other side of the wall.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Home Sweet Home 10 Items to Repurpose as Garden Planters Home Sweet Home How to Prevent Grass Clumping Home Sweet Home Chinese Plum Trees

Video of the Day

Step 2

Seat a large bucket just below the main drain valve, which is near or on the main shut-off valve. Twist open the drain and allow water to drain into the bucket. If the bucket fills, turn the drain off, empty the bucket, reseat the bucket and turn the valve back on until all the water is drained. Allow the drain to remain open with the bucket underneath for the duration of winter.

Advertisement

Step 3

Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the screws of the test cocks on the side of the backflow prevention unit, which connects the main line to the sprinkler system. Twist open the screws until each groove is parallel to the cocks. Leave the test cocks open and allow the water to drain.

Step 4

Move the two backflow prevention ball valves to the open position or parallel to the pipe, not perpendicular.

Advertisement

Step 5

Screw off the drain cap located at the bottom of the prevention unit. Allow water to flow from the unit. Keep the cap in a safe place throughout the winter season.

Step 6

Insert the flat-head screwdriver into the screws of the test cocks and twist them to a 45-degree angle after the unit drains. Grasp the two ball valves and move them to a 45-degree angle as well.

Advertisement

Step 7

Locate the sprinkler valve box or boxes in your grass. The boxes house the sprinkler valves and have green lids. Remove the lid and loosen the solenoid of each valve by twisting it counterclockwise. In one of the boxes is the end valve. Open the end valve completely and allow it to drain.

Step 8

Open the box to the controller or timer and turn the unit to "Off" by twisting the knob or pressing the "Off" button.

Video of the Day

Advertisement

references

• Rain Bird: Protect Your Irrigation System From Winter Damage
• Hunter: Winterizing Your Irrigation System
• City of Prescott: Prevent Frozen Pipes

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

you may like

1

What Phylum Is a Rose In?

2

How Do I Disassemble a Moen 103258 Faucet?

3

How to Install a Thermostatic Mixing Valve

You May Also Like

1

How Do I Repair a 1500 Delta Series Faucet?

2

My Toilet Water Shutoff Valve Does Not Shut the Water Off

3

How to Find a Leak in a Sewer Vent Pipe