Winterization Newsletter

If you have a sprinkler system emergency, please call us at 797-3384.

The cold weather can cause many sprinkler system backflow devices to fail and burst. Instead of hiring us to winterize your system, save your money and use our quick two to five minute process. It will take you through the steps to winterize your system yourself. Saving you $80.

If you would rather not winterize your system yourself, and would like more information on our Hot Rock Winterization Package, please call us at 797-3384.

For the do-it-yourselfers, let’s get started.

The tools you will need are:
• Your hands
• Flat head screw driver
• Shut off key

Step 1. Identify your sprinkler system/backflow device.
Using the photographs to your right, determine if you have an RPA, PVB, or AVB system. For those of you that have an AVB system, good news, you do not have to winterize. (You should go watch the Chicago Bears play and have a pizza) For those of you who have an RPA or PVB system, please continue to step 2.

If you did not recognize your system in step 1, you may need urgent assistance. Please call us immediately.

Step 2. Shut off the system timer.
Go to your sprinkler system control box and turn the dial to the ‘off’ or ‘rain’ position.

Step 3. Remove water pressure from the system/backflow device.
Removing the pressure in the RPA and PVB systems is basically the same. Our goal is to allow air into the system, in order to, let the pressurized water drain from the unit above ground. Any pressurized water left in the above ground system becomes a vulnerability. By opening a system of valves, we will be able to sucessfully remove unwanted water that is remaining in the system.

• Locate the shut-off valve, unscrew the cap, and using your shut-off key, turn the shut-off valve clockwise to shut off the water to the sprinkler system. Take special care to not over tighten.

• Returning to your backflow device, locate each of the hand turnable valves (see letters A below) and each of the flat head turnable test valves (see letters B below). PVB systems have two test valves. RPA systems have 4.

• First turn the hand turnable valves to a 45 degreee angle. (see photo below)

• Using a flat head screw driver, slowly turn all test valves to a 45 degree angle. You will notice as you open the test valves, and allow air into the system, the water left in the system is released through the drain and test valves. (see letters B and C below)