Locations that go through the winter season need to protect their irrigation systems from being damaged. This process is called winterization wherein there are certain things you have to do and procedures you have to follow to be able to apply protective measures to make your equipment ready to start working again come spring time.

How is Winterization Done?
Doing basic winterization is really a simple task. The main point is simply to turn off the main irrigation valve and controller. This is to prevent the irrigation system from following the set schedule. Because of the freezing temperature, water inside the system will tend to freeze as well. This may cause problems if the system tries to work with only frozen water inside of it.

You should also drain the valves of water that may freeze inside. You can do this manually to make sure that there will be no water left inside. Removing excess water inside may relieve the system of any pressure that may worsen when winter does arrive. You can simply open the hose to drain the water. However, to make sure every drop is drained out, open each valve and blow air into it to push any drops of water contained within. Just make sure you do not blow into it for too long that the heat would build up inside. The heat also has its negative effects on certain components and it is important to prevent that from happening. After all these, close the valve nice and tight so water would not enter it.

Dangers of not Winterizing
There are several ways to winterize your irrigation system. It may take some extra effort but it is all worth than having to go through terrible repairs and replacements after winter. If you do not winterize your system, there is a tendency for the water to cause freezing within the valves and tubing. The freezing will make the tubes and pipes crack. When spring comes, you would have to replace all cracked and broken tubing and piping plus you would have to apply repairs as well. Most of the time, professional repairs are necessary and this would cost you a lot of bucks just to get your irrigation system to function well again.

The Best Time to Winterize
There is no absolute best time to start winterizing your irrigation system. However, it is recommended to do it before it gets too cold to be able to do it out in the field. You have to start the process before the temperature reaches a point that it would start freezing the components within your system. Ask local weather agencies as to when the first frost is bound to happen. Once you know when, schedule your winterization task before that date.

Best Time to Start Irrigation Come Spring
When winter season ends and spring starts to show up, you would also have to start up your irrigation system. However, the perfect time is dependent on how the weather is in your area and how much watering your plants need. The ideal time is to start it when all signs of frost are gone.