Sprinkler System Drainage Procedures
Draining Procedures - For a self-draining sprinkler system. No compressor, no blowing out the sprinkler lines !!!
NOTE: If your sprinkler system is not designed with the traditional methods in the drawing below, this drainage procedure may not be applicable to your system. Also note that the sprinkler system design below only illustrates one typical example, and your system may be different.
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Directions for Draining Sprinkler System
- Turn off (A) main shut-off valve in basement or crawlspace that controls the flow of water to the sprinkler system.
- Go outside to Pressure Vacuum Breaker (some call it a backflow preventer) and turn (C&D) 2 ball valves 1/8 of a turn to the halfway position.
- Open (F) Petcocks and leave open. A small amount of water will drain our each petcock. Petcocks must remain open during cold weather to allow any moisture to escape.
- Open (E) Outlet Drain Valves (located in valve boxes with green lids or next to valve boxes with yellow caps) and leave open (open is counterclockwise).
- Go back to basement or crawlspace and open thumbscrew located on main shut-off valve, and drain small amount of water into cup or can. Close thumbscrew and system is drained for winter.
NOTE: If you live in climates where temperatures can drop well below freezing, you may want to consider putting some type of insulation around the valves in the Valve Pit and around the (D) Pressure Vacuum Breaker.
Directions for turning on Sprinkler System
Reverse order of draining (steps 4, 3, 2, and 1).
Mowing Proper mowing can mean the difference between a so-so lawn and a great one.
How high to mow?
Grass generally performs best when mowed at one of the higher settings on your mower -- especially in hot summer weather.
- Avoid scalping at all costs.
- Never cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades in a single mowing.
- If lawn growth gets ahead of you, mow it at a higher length, then lower blade and mow again a few days later.
Blade sharpness Keep mower blade sharp. Mowing with a dull blade tears the ends of grass blades, leaving ragged ends which later turn brown, giving the lawn a dried-out look. Such grass blade damage also encourages the spread of fungus disease.
How often to mow? Once a week is usually sufficient. In spring, when grass is growing more rapidly, mowing twice a week may sometimes be necessary to avoid removing more than 1/3 the length of the grass blades.
What about clippings? Ideally, clippings should be removed after mowing. However, they can be left on the lawn if they are not heavy enough to pile up on top of the grass. Heavy clippings can smother the grass. Using a mulching mower is recommended if you want to leave clippings on the lawn.
