How to Winterize Outdoor Plumbing and Sprinklers Before Winter

As the temperatures begin to drop and the threat of frost and ice looms, preparing your outdoor plumbing and sprinkler systems for winter is crucial. Failing to properly winterise your outdoor plumbing before the freezing weather hits can lead to costly repairs and significant water damage. In this guide, plumbing expert David Cruz at MyJobQuote.co.uk will explore the essential steps to ensure your outdoor plumbing remains in good shape throughout the colder months!

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Understanding the Risks of Freezing Temperatures

Before getting into how to winterise your outdoor plumbing, it is important to understand why it is such a vital task. Water expands when it freezes, which can lead to burst pipes, ruptured hoses, and damaged irrigation systems. A seemingly small crack can turn into a major issue when the pipes thaw out in spring, leading to leaks and even flooding. Taking proactive measures in autumn will protect your outdoor plumbing and save you from some huge potential headaches later down the line. The next sections will explore the key steps you should take to ensure that your outdoor systems are fully prepared for winter:

Turn Off Water Supply to Outdoor Taps

The first step in winterising your outdoor plumbing is to locate and shut off the main water supply valve leading to your outdoor fixtures. This valve is typically situated close to where the water pipe enters your home. This step is key as this will ensure that no water remains in pipes that could freeze and cause them to burst, and it is necessary to drain and disconnect all outdoor spigots and taps. Locate each spigot’s shut-off valve and turn each clockwise until all have been fully closed. Open each spigot to drain completely before verifying that the water is no longer running in your outdoor systems.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Winterising outdoor plumbing is essential for protecting against frozen pipes, which could lead to costly repairs later on. Once water freezes within a pipe, the pressure from the expansion could lead to cracks or even bursts in the pipes, creating leaks or potential flooding. The resulting damage can be extensive, affecting not only the plumbing system but also the surrounding areas of your home. Outdoor spigots, sprinkler systems, and exposed pipes are particularly susceptible to freezing as they are exposed to colder temperatures. The best way to prevent pipes from freezing is by insulating them. Professional plumbers can assist by draining any remaining water from the pipes and wrapping them with foam insulation sleeves before caulking any openings that may exist. It is important to remember that insulation materials can degrade over time. Using old, compressed, or water-damaged insulation will not provide your pipes with adequate protection, so it is vital to inspect materials annually before winter begins and replace any that are showing signs of wear and tear.

Insulate Tap Covers

Use of foam tap covers can prevent pipes from freezing and avoid costly damage, while insulating outdoor taps from freezing temperatures. Available at hardware stores, these covers are tailored to fit snugly over outdoor taps and spigots. A potentially costly mistake is failing to remove hoses from outdoor taps before insulating. Even with proper covering, attached hoses can trap water and cause freezing damage. Always disconnect, drain, and store hoses separately before applying any insulation materials to avoid potential water buildup – any small amount of moisture left inside may freeze and expand to burst pipes!

Winterise Your Sprinkler System

Before winterising your sprinkler system, turn off the main water supply and follow these key steps:

1. Turn off the sprinkler controller – After you find the controller, it should be as simple as switching it to “off” or a similar setting to avoid accidental activation while the system is dry.
2. Drain the Backflow Preventer – The backflow preventer, also known as the vacuum breaker, is often located on an outside wall near the foundation. Open the test cocks and turn both shutoff valves to a 45-degree angle. If your unit has a drain plug, remove that as well to allow trapped water to escape and prevent internal components from freezing and breaking.
3. Blow Out the Sprinkler Lines – Connect a high-volume air compressor to the system’s blow-out port, then manually run each irrigation zone until you see mostly air coming out of the sprinkler heads. You may need a professional to help with this step.

Winterising your outdoor plumbing and sprinkler systems is an essential practice for any homeowner. By dedicating a little time and effort before December, you can safeguard your home against the cold elements and avoid unwanted repairs. Remember that a proactive approach is always better than a reactive one, and by acting now, you can enjoy the relaxed feeling of having taken care of your home’s outdoor plumbing needs before the temperatures drop!

DAVID CRUZ: David Cruz has worked in the plumbing industry for over fifteen years. David has worked on countless domestic and commercial projects as a plumbing expert and gas-safe engineer. David also works closely with MyJobQuote to provide expert plumbing knowledge to homeowners, tradespeople and news outlets.