We all know that water and cold temperatures in late Fall and early Winter season can result in an adverse combination! Protecting your irrigation system via proper ‘winterization’ when the air temperature begins to drop below freezing is critical. Winterizing your system in a timely manner can help secure its operational capabilities for the next spring season, while avoiding costly repairs.
When is the optimal time to winterize? Well, every year is slightly different due to variables and fluctuations in our weather. As a good rule of thumb for the Middle TN region, the best timing is late October or early November, depending on when hard frosts become routine. However, there is a balancing act with the Winterization timing. You don’t want to winterize too early in order to utilize the supplemental water for newly sewn grass seed as well as to establish newly planted Fall flowers. If you winterize too late, freezing temperatures can wreak havoc and result in repair needs. So, the timing of winterization must be strategic in nature, while taking several variables into consideration.
The goal of Winterization is to remove all the water in the associated piping without damaging the mechanical parts in the process, prior to it freezing. Utilizing a professionally certified service provider can insure your system has been winterized properly and with the upmost care to protect your investment.
Another benefit of the winterization process is that it becomes an opportunity to diagnose deficiencies and problems within the system, while your contractor winterizes each zone. Typically, this is an optimal time to make necessary repairs or upgrades to the system so that it is ready to operate efficiently next Spring. Irrigation systems can be a valuable asset as they help protect your landscape investment, while promoting your landscape to mature gracefully over time.
Written by:
Scott Oldham - Business Development Manager with LSI. www.LandscapeServicesInc.com
