When should I drain my sprinkler system?

When temperatures start to fall, it’s time to consider winterizing your sprinkler system. Your lines must be drained or blown out using an air compressor before the first hard freeze. As a general rule, you should winterize your system at least a week before the first freeze is expected.

At what temperature should I drain my sprinkler system?

So a good rule of thumb is when you see 32 degrees for the first time in the forecast, drain your sprinkler system as soon as possible.

How do I stop my sprinkler pipes from freezing?

To keep the water inside the pipes of a wet fire sprinkler system from freezing in areas where the temperature may drop below 50 degrees, an antifreeze loop is added. By adding antifreeze to the water in the fire sprinkler pipes, the freezing point is much lower, reducing the risk of the pipes freezing.

At what temperature will my sprinkler pipes freeze?

32 degrees Fahrenheit
While you may be eager to get your lawn back to its pristine green state, it is important to remember that temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower put your sprinkler system at risk of freezing.

How to drain a sprinkler system for the winter?

1 Find the main water valve to the irrigation system and turn it off. 2 Adjust all ball valves and backflow test cocks to a 45 degree angle. 3 Open each of the valves in the pipes to release the water pressure. 4 Allow all of the water to drain from the sprinkler heads. 5 Turn your controller off. More …

Where are the drain valves on a sprinkler system?

Locate the manual drain valves situated downstream of each zone valve. These are the ones at the lowest points in the sprinkler system, which is where water collects when the system is shut off. Turn off the water supply by closing the main valve to the sprinkler system. These vales are often located on a separate branch near the water meter.

Is there a standard for draining a fire sprinkler system?

NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems specifies that all systems must have the ability to be drained when needed. 8.16.2.1* General. All sprinkler pipe and fittings shall be installed so that the system can be drained. The main drain is designed to flush water from the system through a series of the pipe.

How does a sprinkler system turn off the water?

Automatic Drain Valves Turn off the water supply by closing the main valve to the sprinkler system. As pressure inside the system falls, it will drain water automatically. Open the drain cap between the main valve and the backflow device. This removes any water trapped in this section of piping.

When do I need to drain my sprinkler system?

Homeowners need to drain their sprinkler systems in preparation for winter weather, or to make repairs to the system.

Open the manual drain valves. These valves should be located at the end points and low points of your sprinkler system’s piping. After opening the valves, the water in the mainline of the system should drain out on its own. Drain the remaining water between the shut off valve and backflow device.

How can I Stop my sprinkler system from flowing into my house?

There will be a backflow preventer that stops sprinkler water from flowing into your house. All you have to do is shut off the irrigation water supply and open all of the manual drain valves. Shut off the backflow valve before you open the manual drain.

When to use an auxiliary drain in a fire sprinkler system?

An auxiliary drain is designed to allow drainage when the main drain valve is insufficient and results in water being trapped within the system. The valve size relative to the pipe used is specified by NFPA. How many drains a system contains will depend on how much water can be trapped. From the 2016 edition of NFPA 13