Landscape & Irrigation

October 2015

Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.

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Winterize it right! SPECIAL SECTION In areas with prolonged freezing, and even temperate climates, irrigation winterizing can help avoid repair calls when spring rolls around. Pumps, backflow preventers, pipe, valves and rotors can get damaged if any water sitting in the system freezes and expands. Even controllers and electronic components can be at risk from condensing moisture in enclosures. But these issues can be typically be avoided by winterizing — removing water from an irrigation system so it doesn't get damaged when temperatures drop. This can be accomplished with manual or automatic drainage or a blowout method using a high-volume air compressor. Some winterizing techniques can also pose risks however. As you prepare for winter, here are some points to remember as you get your irrigation systems ready for the cold. 1. SAFETY FIRST! Always use eye protection when performing a blowout, and make sure no one is standing near parts of the system while the air compressor is in use. PVC pipe becomes like shrapnel if it explodes, so avoid applying air pressure to PVC that is not buried, and keep your face and head protected. 2. ALLOW A PATH FOR WATER TO EXIT THE ZONE. Remove the "guts" from the last sprinkler heads on large zones to allow more volume out during the blowout process. This makes it easier for air to drive out the water that cannot pass as effectively through nozzles at lower pressures. 3. HIGH VOLUME AND LOW PRESSURE SAVES COMPONENTS. When using an air compressor to evacuate water from the system, you want low pressure and high volume — a small air compressor won't cut it! Avoid irrigation system damage with these tips ■ BY TOM GLAZENER AND LAURA ORY PHOTO BY AARON BUDIMLIJA, EWING IRRIGATION Blowout Quick Tips 1. Shut off water to the irrigation system and drain or prepare to blow out the system. 2. With the air compressor attached to a proper point of connection, use the controller or a remote to cycle through all the valves to evacuate water. 3. Drain the backflow preventer and leave ball valves at a quarter turn. Partially open any isolation gate valves. 4. Check any pump on system and evacuate water through drain ports. Tend to lubrication and other maintenance needs. 5. Protect controllers from moisture with silica gel desiccant packs. 26 October 2015 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com

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