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Irrigation System Care

Winterization Procedure Outline

  1. Shut off irrigation system ball valve and/or curb stop. (If additional shut-off is within building shut this valve off ). Also at this time shut off the #2 ball valve on the DCVA.
  2. Start air compressor and let idle with air valve open on compressor.
  3. Connect air compressor assembly to irrigation stub-out, downstream of the DCVA. Be sure that gate valve is shut off on air compressor assembly.
  4. Manually open one valve, this should remain open through-out the entire operation.
  5. Slowly open air compressor assembly gate valve and energize the system, be sure that air pressure doesn't exceed 80 psi max., 60 psi is the normal pressure range.
  6. Let each zone run until only air vapor is coming out of sprinkler heads.
  7. Activate the next zone by the irrigation controller. After going through each zone then repeat the process a second time to insure that each zone is fully evacuated.
  8. Shut off air compressor gate valve and remove from system, but do not shut compressor down.
  9. Go to DCVA, open all test cocks, open irrigation system ball valve while leaving the #2 ball valve on the DCVA closed.
  10. Place air compressor assembly on the #1 test cock and blow through the DCVA, water in the pipe to the building and also in the DCVA will be evacuated.
  11. Then proceed to place the air compressor assembly on the remaining test cocks one at a time until all water is removed from the unit.
  12. Close all test cocks, shut off irrigation ball valve, leave DCVA ball valves open at 45' angle.
  13. Replace cap on irrigation blow out stub.
  14. Close the valve that was opened manually after air in the system has evacuated.
  15. Turn controller to the off position and leave plugged in

Sprint Start-up Procedure Outline

  1. Close all drain valves, automatic control valves, that may have been manually opened during the winterization process and all hose bib assemblies.
  2. Close the petcocks on the backflow device, which may be one of the following; PBVA, DCVA or RPBA.
  3. Locate the main water supply meter or point of connection and turn on very slowly.
  4. Open the ball valves on the backflow device to energize the mainline. These should be opened slowly.
  5. If your controller is equipped with a alkaline battery, it should be replaced at this time. If the controller was left plugged in over the winter months, simple check current programming, make whatever adjustments are necessary and proceed to step 6. If the controller was unplugged over the winter months, it may need to be reprogrammed.
  6. Run through the enitre system to assure proper  working conditions and to check for leaks or repairs that may need to be addressed.
  7. Place controller to the on position and monitor the system to ensure that adequate watering is provided for various planting mirco zones.