Winterizing Irrigation in the South
In the southern parts of the United States there is very little winterizing compared to the northern states or colder climates. In the south, you do not have to blow out or drain all the lines. You can drain your pump, but it is better to just insulate it and run your system at least once per week.
The biggest mistake that I see customers make is to turn off their system for 3 months. This is especially bad on systems with wells. The well debris hardens inside the pump and can cause the pump motor to seize up. Foot valves and check valves go bad when they sit. It's common sense when you think about it. If you don't use it, you loose it. What happens to a car when you let it sit? The battery dies, the fuel injections lines rot, parts rust easier, etc...
Of course you don't want to water during a freeze, but there are plenty of days where it is above freezing for the entire day and even night. Watering once to twice per week is usually fine in the winter in the Southern United States.
You should insulate or cover up your pump, above ground back-flow preventer, and any pipes that are above ground. Any pipes installed above ground should at least be schedule 40, which is thicker pipe, but even this can freeze crack. Simple insulate the pipes with foil insulation tape from Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, or other hardware store. There is also a foam style wrapper which can be used together with the tape. Just get the right size foam insulation according to the pipe size you are insulating (3/4", 1", 1&1/4", 1 & 1/2", etc...).
Submersible pumps are down in the deep in the well and obviously don't need to be insulated. Above ground centrifugal or shallow well pumps are the most likely to freeze crack. There is a particular seem in the housing or volute which is a weak spot in the metal. To insulate your pump you can use the foil tape, build or buy a pump house cover, or wrap it up with thick blankets.
Make sure you only wrap the housing (the part that holds water) and not the motor. The motor is the long end with vent holes on it. It needs to breath or it will get too hot and catch fire. I've seen houses that have caught on fire because of people wrapping blankets around the whole pump, including the motor. Just a word of caution! It's common sense really, but not everyone gets it, so I have to educate people.
The regular grass in the south goes dormant in the winter months. It turns brown on top, but the root system is still alive, and this is why I still say that you should water once to twice per week. Those who shut their system off completely will weaken or kill off their grass after 3 months of no water. Weeds will come back in the spring, not grass!
Good luck with you winter irrigation watering. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
The biggest mistake that I see customers make is to turn off their system for 3 months. This is especially bad on systems with wells. The well debris hardens inside the pump and can cause the pump motor to seize up. Foot valves and check valves go bad when they sit. It's common sense when you think about it. If you don't use it, you loose it. What happens to a car when you let it sit? The battery dies, the fuel injections lines rot, parts rust easier, etc...
Of course you don't want to water during a freeze, but there are plenty of days where it is above freezing for the entire day and even night. Watering once to twice per week is usually fine in the winter in the Southern United States.
You should insulate or cover up your pump, above ground back-flow preventer, and any pipes that are above ground. Any pipes installed above ground should at least be schedule 40, which is thicker pipe, but even this can freeze crack. Simple insulate the pipes with foil insulation tape from Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, or other hardware store. There is also a foam style wrapper which can be used together with the tape. Just get the right size foam insulation according to the pipe size you are insulating (3/4", 1", 1&1/4", 1 & 1/2", etc...).
Submersible pumps are down in the deep in the well and obviously don't need to be insulated. Above ground centrifugal or shallow well pumps are the most likely to freeze crack. There is a particular seem in the housing or volute which is a weak spot in the metal. To insulate your pump you can use the foil tape, build or buy a pump house cover, or wrap it up with thick blankets.
Make sure you only wrap the housing (the part that holds water) and not the motor. The motor is the long end with vent holes on it. It needs to breath or it will get too hot and catch fire. I've seen houses that have caught on fire because of people wrapping blankets around the whole pump, including the motor. Just a word of caution! It's common sense really, but not everyone gets it, so I have to educate people.
The regular grass in the south goes dormant in the winter months. It turns brown on top, but the root system is still alive, and this is why I still say that you should water once to twice per week. Those who shut their system off completely will weaken or kill off their grass after 3 months of no water. Weeds will come back in the spring, not grass!
Good luck with you winter irrigation watering. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
posted by Irrigationman at
7:18 PM
<< Home