Perth weather is well-known for its hot, dry summers, and its mild winters. When it is the summer season, the installation of a well-built and planned reticulation system can be a lifesaver for your lawn. After all, exposure to hot heat of the sun for longer during the summer months can cause your plants to dry out from heat stress, causing irreversible damage even after the temperatures cool down. Having the right irrigation system from quality Perth reticulation services in place can be the difference between dehydrated, damaged grass and flourishing plants.
But when it comes to the cooler months, you may be wondering, is there anything that needs to be done to ensure that your sprinkler systems are maintained properly during the winter? Despite Perth’s mild winter seasons, it can still be worth your while to know how to winterize your reticulation, as this can help you reduce the chances of possible damage as the temperatures cool down.
Is it necessary to winterize a sprinkler system?
It is advised that if your area regularly goes below 0 Celsius during the winter, to winterize your sprinkler system to avoid freezing. While Perth only really gets down to that temperature once every five years, this is still important to note, as prevention is the key to ensuring minimal to no damage. After all, winterizing your reticulation system is basically protecting your sprinkler system from freezing.
Winterizing a sprinkler system basically entails turning off the power and water irrigation systems, disconnecting any monitoring devices that have been connected, then removing water from the pipes by using a blowout method or by utilising drain valves, and then closing the valves for the winter season. Basically, you need to empty out any remaining water from the pipes to ensure that there is no liquid that can freeze and expand in the pipes as the temperatures fluctuate.
What happens if you don’t winterize?
If there is remaining water in the sprinkler system, you could be looking at broken sprinkler heads. This is because water that is frozen can break the sprinkler heads from the pressure that it places it under. It can also damage valves and backflow devices from the pressure of ice, which can result in having to repair, if not replace, these parts to ensure that your sprinkler system will work correctly come springtime.
Aside from this, your pipes and fittings can also crack if there is any remaining water that can freeze during periods of low temperature. This is because water left in the pipes can freeze and expand, causing the material of your pipes and fittings to crack from the strain.
If you’re wondering how to properly winterize your sprinkler system, consult Perth reticulation systems and get the advice of landscaping experts to know what you can do to ensure that your specific sprinkler system is maintained properly during the winter time, so that you can rest easy knowing that come spring, your lawn will be irrigated properly with no problems.
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