Though the weather outside isn’t frightful yet, there is a distinct chill in the air. Fall has arrived once again, which tells us it’s time to get ready for seasonal holidays, home fires burning, and irrigation system winterization.
When the temperature begins to drop throughout Maryland and New Jersey, the ground can freeze. If that freeze descends beyond your commercial irrigation system’s underground pipes, problems will eventually – yet far from subtly – occur.
Any water remaining in the pipes can freeze, expand, and crack, wreaking irreparable damage to fittings, valves, sprinkler heads, and the pipes themselves. Your sprinkler system’s copper backflow assembly, which prevents contaminants from seeping into your building’s tap supply, can prove to be a particularly costly fix.
To avoid these frigid frustrations, commercial irrigation systems should be cleared of every last drop of moisture by implementing a “blow-out” method. This practice utilizes compressed air to effectively clear water from the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. Hiring a professional contractor to do this is often the best way to ensure that your system is operating properly come springtime.
Here are three additional reasons that hiring a professional contractor for winterization is essential:
- Failure to winterize could void your irrigation system’s warranty: Many manufacturers void labor and parts if regularly scheduled maintenance is not conducted, including but not limited to, a complete “blow-out” prior to winter.
- Winterization is not a great DIY project: Consumer-grade equipment is generally insufficient to perform an effective “blow-out” of your sprinkler’s pipes. And renting tools can not only be expensive, but even dangerous if you are not adept at using professional-grade machinery. Improper usage can cause damage to your system, and could even result in user injury.
- A contractor will make sure your commercial landscape is set for spring: Contractors hired to provide winterization services will also conduct a thorough examination of your system while they work, making note of any necessary tweaks, repairs, or upgrades to facilitate a swifter, more efficient, transition to watering lawns when spring returns.
GroundsCare Landscape has decades of experience maintaining commercial irrigation systems in Maryland and New Jersey. To find out how we can help you prepare your property for the winter months, call us today at 888-588-8451.
