Anytime overnight temperature dip to about the -2 degrees Celsius threshold or lower, you’re at risk of a hard ground freeze. While it can be difficult to predict when the weather no longer poses a risk of getting that cold, late April or early May is generally a good bet.
When can I turn on my underground sprinklers?
To keep your irrigation investment safe, monitor the weather and wait until temperatures consistently remain above freezing through the night. Typically, the best time to start up your sprinkler system is between the middle of April and the middle of May.
Is it too early to turn on your sprinkler system?
Waiting until after the last freeze — typically around May 5 — to turn on your system. While leaks or breaks can occur on exposed pipes and backflow devices above ground, damage can occur underground, as well. When temperatures drop below 30 degrees, water sitting in the pipes can freeze and expand, cracking the pipe.
When should you turn on underground sprinklers in spring?
However, a good rule of thumb is to target late April or early May as the time to get your sprinklers up and running. Beyond the risk of ground freezes, leftover frozen water from the winter could also be trapped in your irrigation system.
When should I turn my sprinklers on after winter?
The right answer is “whenever it stops getting freezing at night.” Your irrigation system won’t know when your lawn is ready to be watered. It’ll turn on whenever you (or whoever you hired) turns it back on.
How cold is too cold for underground sprinklers?
32 degrees Fahrenheit
While you may be eager to get your lawn back to its pristine green state, it is important to remember that temperatures at and below 32 degrees Fahrenheit put your sprinkler system at risk of freezing.
How cold is too cold for sprinklers?
32 degrees
However, if the temperatures do dip down into the 20’s, or temperatures remain below 32 degrees for an extended period of time, your irrigation system can be damaged.
How do I start my sprinkler system in the spring?
Slowly open the main shutoff valve to let water into the sprinkler system. For a ball valve, turn the lever handle one-quarter turn until the handle is parallel to the pipe; this is the fully open position. For an in-ground shutoff valve, use a sprinkler valve key to turn the valve counterclockwise until it stops.
How do I turn on my sprinkler system after winter?
Steps to turn on sprinkler system after wintering
- Find system’s main shut-off valve.
- Find the vacuum breaker.
- Close the vacuum breaker test valves.
- Open the vacuum breaker’s shut-off valves.
- Reinstall main valve bleeder cap (as needed).
- Slowly open the main valve.
- Test the system.
- Recheck the vacuum breaker and valves.
What to do before turning on sprinklers?
Dewinterizing Your Sprinkler System
- Check Your Lawn for Frozen Ground. Before you take the first step toward dewinterizing, you need to make sure your lawn agrees that winter is over.
- Turn on Your Control Panel.
- Clean Your Sprinkler Heads.
- Slowly Open the Main Valve.
- Check Your Irrigation Zones.
Is it too early to water lawn spring?
Watering Your Lawn in the Spring
Typically, you should wait until the days become consistently hot and dry to start watering. You can even wait for your lawn to start showing signs of stress before you start watering; it will recover quickly once you treat it to a good soak.
When should I turn my sprinklers back on?
Opening your sprinkler system for the season will depend on the weather conditions and your individual watering needs. As a general rule, the system should not be opened until the threat of frost is passed. If you are an early planter, we recommend waiting to open your system until after April 15.
Is it better to run your sprinklers in the morning or the evening?
Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it’s cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate.
What happens if I don’t winterize my sprinkler system?
If you forget to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes and sprinkler heads. When water freezes, it expands causing the parts of your system to burst and destroying your sprinkler system.
How long does it take to winterize sprinkler system?
It takes about five minutes to winterize each zone, so the length of your winterization appointment depends on how large your sprinkler system is. If you have eight zones, your lawn sprinkler winterization appointment will take about 40 minutes.
How long does it take pipes to freeze at 32 degrees?
Pipes can freeze at 32 degrees or below, but it will take a sustained period of time for this to happen. In other words, a pipe needs to be at freezing temperatures for at least half a day before homeowners have to worry about any freezing occurring.
Can underground water pipes freeze?
Even buried, underground water pipes are subject to freezing. Problems usually arise when soil in new water line trenches has not fully settled, or when earthwork or construction above the pipeline removes too much soil or replaces soil with materials like concrete that conduct heat away more easily.
Can you water grass at 30 degrees?
As long as you don’t water when frost is present, it’s OK to water grass when it’s cold as long as it’s above 40 degrees since it won’t freeze the ground or roots. What is this? Regular frost, however, or watering when frost is present, can damage the cells of the grass blades or roots from the freeze.
Will pipes freeze at 31 degrees?
As a general rule of thumb, in order for your home’s water pipes to freeze, the outside temperature needs to be below 20 degrees, for a total of at least six consecutive hours.
At what temp do sprinklers burst?
The hot air is pushed toward the ceiling, walls, or other spots where the sprinkler heads are located. When the air around them reaches a certain temperature – typically 135° F, 155° F, or 250° F (57° C, 68° C, or 121° C) – the liquid inside the bulb expands until the pressure causes the glass to break.
At what temperature should you stop watering grass?
The colder weather does not evaporate moisture from the lawn as quickly as it does in the warmer weather. Most lawn experts recommend watering your grass until the soil or ground temperature reaches the 40-degree Fahrenheit mark. It is true, less water is required and needed when the temperature drops.