Read this article to find the latest information about When Should I Blow Out My Sprinkler System In Colorado, all carefully summarized by us.
As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your home. One important task on that list is blowing out your sprinkler system. If you don’t, the water left in your pipes can freeze and expand, causing them to burst. This can lead to costly repairs, so it’s important to get this done before the first hard freeze.
But when is the best time to blow out your sprinkler system? The answer depends on a few factors, including the weather in your area and the type of sprinkler system you have. Here are some guidelines to help you decide when to blow out your sprinklers:
Average First Hard Freeze Dates in Colorado
– Denver: October 7-13
– Colorado Springs: October 9-15
– Pueblo: October 4-10
– Grand Junction: October 3-9
– Fort Collins: September 28-October 4
If you live in an area that typically experiences its first hard freeze in mid-to-late October, you should aim to blow out your sprinkler system by mid-September. This will give you plenty of time to get the job done before the ground freezes. With minimal underground sprinkler lines freezing, it is typically recommended to blow out lines after most of the leaves have fallen from trees. Timing is impactful due to the insulating effects that leaves offer the ground after falling.
While it’s the case for most homeowners, if you have a newer home, be sure to check your manufacturer’s warranty and ask your sprinklers installer for any recommendations for your system and local conditions.
Tips and Expert Advice
Once you blow out your system, consider leaving the outdoor spigots open with empty garden hoses still attached for the winter months. Be sure they’re well above the ground to prevent freezing overflow and actually freezing the outdoor faucet bib or causing a break internally underground.
Normally, it’s good practice to shut off indoor water supply valves and drain the remainder into exterior plumbing before the cold Colorado winter months hit, but having the hose bib valves open allows excess produced condensation to escape.
As our mountains gain snowpack and melting is anticipated for Spring, do not shut off your plumbing water supply from the inside and leave your exterior hose bibs open for the remainder of the winter and into Spring. This will help prevent extreme pressure from building inside underground waterlines as the water pressure can spike by 10 times its normal running pressure when combined with the thawing ground above the piping. If this pressure is pushed back into the remainder of the water system in your home, water heaters can malfunction (as a result of increased temperature and pressure) and plumbing fixtures will blow out or “weep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best way to blow out my sprinkler system?
A: There are a few different ways to blow out your sprinkler system. You can use an air compressor hat meets the compressor maintenance needs of your system or hire a professional to do it for you. If you decide to do it yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Q: How often should I blow out my sprinkler system?
A: You should blow out your sprinkler system once a year, before the first hard freeze.
Q: What happens if I don’t blow out my sprinkler system?
A: If you don’t blow out your sprinkler system, the water left in your pipes can freeze and expand it causing them to burst or split when thawed. This can lead to costly repairs.
Conclusion
Blowing out your sprinkler system each fall protects it from freezing and eventual cracking or rupture during cold Colorado conditions. Ridding it of water and minimizing nonessential processes in open settings like empty hoses set above ground for any moisture they gather during melting snow months. These tips will also maximize the longevity of your sprinkler system from season to season. Did this help you determine when and how to blow out your sprinkler system in Colorado?}
Image: watersolutionsco.com
An article about When Should I Blow Out My Sprinkler System In Colorado has been read by you. Thank you for visiting our website, and we hope this article is beneficial.
