Getting Ready For Spring – Check The Outside Hose Bib

Springtime in Colorado has always been amazing. One day it’s 70 degrees.
The next there is several inches of snow.

But as the weather continues to warm, and we go weeks without moisture,
it may be time to head outside, and begin watering your landscaping.

Preventing damage and flooding in the spring actually requires winterization
methods in the fall. During the warm months, the lawn sprinkler system
is used regularly. Hoses remain attached to water spigot for ease of use.

If you don’t winterize the system and remove hoses, the water will
remain in the system and can freeze, crack, or rupture the pipe walls.
And if the water freezes in the backflow assembly, it can damage and can
even crack the body of the internal components.

If any damage occurs during the winter months, it may not become apparent
until the spring, when things began to thaw and you begin using your system
for the first time of the season.

To winterize your system:

1. Turn off the irrigation water supply.

2. Open the manual drain valves and drain the mainline.

3. Drain the water still remaining between the irrigation water shut off
valve and the backflow device.

If you didn’t properly drain the sprinkler system in the winter,
and you notice cracks, drips or flooding when you turn everything on for
the first time in the spring, it may be time to call in your plumber.

Your plumber can assess the complete damage, fix the problem areas, and
provide advice for avoiding the same problems in the coming year.