Quick Freeze Prevention Tips:
Follow these quick and easy tips to prepare your system for a “quick freeze” or sudden drop in temperature.
1. Turn Sprinkler Water off. (make sure you don’t turn the water off to the entire house!) Test one of your faucets to ensure your home water is still on.
2. Locate Vacuum breaker on side of your house. (It will say something like “Febco, Watts, or Wilkins” brand on the device. It will usually have a canopy or lid that is black plastic or brass cover.
3. Open one ofthe check ports with slotted screwdriver (Little ports with black rubber caps in picture – take a slotted screw driver and check to see that water is actually off) – hint: if the water is still turned on – water will come out at a high pressure continuously ; if this happens turn the slot back to a vertical position to close the valve. – go back and find the right sprinkler shut off valve, and repeat the process to ensure that the right shut off valve is turned off. Don’t forget to check a faucet in the house to ensure you haven’t shut off the entire house water.
4. Once you have the proper water shut off valve in the closed position you next want to prepare the vacuum breaker for the upcoming cold weather. There are usually two valves with large handles on the device, you will want to turn the handles to a 45 degree position, once that is done turn both slotted small check ports to a a 45 degree position as well. (There should be no water gushing out of the unit once these steps are completed. If water is still coming out of the unit you haven’t got the right valve shut off.)
5. Go back to the sprinkler shut off valve and have a bucket or container with you to catch the water. Position the bucket under the small screw cap located near the shut off handle. Start by unscrewing the cap only slightly but not all the way off. You should see some water start to flow out of the cap. Catch the water until it slows to a dribble, then screw the cap back on.
6. This is the last step. Go into your green sprinkler box/ boxes outside. Open them up (Watch out for spiders !!! I am not kidding here – Spiders thrive in this box – have some spider spray with you and wear gloves) Locate a drain valve and open them up and allow the remaining water in the line to come out.
7. Dont’ forget to turn your timer to the off position
You are all set.
Don’t forget to still have your system winterized/ blown out at your earliest convenience. This is only a quick freeze prevention and not the complete shut down of the system
If you have completed these steps you have now prepared your system for the quick freeze
Until next time………. Dam The Sprinkler Man
This is a new Orbitz 12 zone timer I installed this week in Arvada. The customer had 7 sprinkler zones but boxes are typically made for 6 zones or 12. His old timer box was fried. The ideal place for a sprinkler system timer would be in the garage for easy access manual watering when necessary but the wiring was originally set up the basement. I left it up to the customer where he wanted it, as we could have moved it to the garage, but he chose to leave it in the basement.
