SPRINKLER WINTERIZATION
TLC Lawn Care, Inc.

As a full service lawn care company we can handle all your outdoor needs.

TLC Lawn Care, Inc. provides irrigation winterization for properties in Overland Park, Leawood, Mission Hills, Kansas, and adjacent Missouri communities. A sprinkler shut down, or winterization, is the process of removing water from your irrigation system to prevent ice from expanding and shattering pipes, valves, and Backflow Preventers..

The Shut-Down Process

· Water Shut-Off: We will locate and close the main water valve supply, usually found at the water meter, in a basement, crawlspace, or heated utility room.

· The "Blow-Out": Our technician will use an industrial air compressor to attach to the system’s blow-out port, if equipped. If there isn’t a blow-out port, he will attach to the backflow device or a sprinkler head. Compressed air is forced through each zone individually until a fine mist or air escapes from the sprinkler heads.

· Drain the Backflow: The technician will open the test cocks/ports and turn the ball valve to a 45-degree angle. This "half-open" position ensures no water is trapped in the ball mechanism, which can split the heavy metal casing if the ball valve fails and water builds up and causes freeze damage.

· Insulate Exposed Pipes: If freezing temperatures are in the forecast before your winterization is scheduled, wrap any above-ground copper or PVC pipes and the backflow device to avoid freeze damage. We recommend wrapping a thick blanket around exposed pipes and/or backflow devices, covering the blanket with a trash bag, and securing all of that with a bungee cord or rope.

· Controller Settings: Turn the controller to "Off" after the shut-down is completed to conserve electricity.

· Repairs: If repairs are found to be needed during the shut-down, your technician will let you know about those. Repairs can be scheduled for an Off-Season Repair (at a discounted labor rate) or planned for the Start-Up in the spring.

Scheduling Winterization/Shut-Down: The best time to winterize your sprinkler system is “before we get freezing temperatures” but since we never know when that will happen, we recommend you schedule your shut-down in October. Contact our Scheduler to get a target date for your shut-down. Please note that these appointments are scheduled primarily based on geography for the best efficiency possible. It keeps our prices more affordable!

PRO TIPS:

Contact Us