Importance of Sprinkler Blowout and Winterization

Sprinkler pipes and backflow assemblies are at risk of freezing and breaking when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Blowing out your sprinklers and winterizing your backflow will help to prevent water from water freezing in your pipes and causing damage to them. The safest time to blow out sprinklers is before October 31st to be safe!

Frozen Pipes

When temperatures drop below freezing, water pipes can freeze. Here are some tips to avoid this issue. 

Before freezing weather:

• Locate and advise all household members where the main water shutoff valve is located in case of emergency. Typically, they are found in the crawl space under your home or in a closet.
• Make sure hoses are disconnected from outside faucets.
• Make sure water pipes in unheated parts of your home, including crawl spaces, are insulated.
• During freezing weather keep your garage door closed.
• Make sure you heat all rooms of your house that have plumbing fixtures. Water pipes in unheated rooms are subject to freezing and may cause extensive damage.
• Leave inside doors open to allow the heat from the room to enter if you have pipes located on an outside wall.

If you have a frozen pipe, NEVER thaw it with an open flame. You may start a fire or cause other damage!