How to Protect Frozen Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler systems are exposed to cold weather in certain parts of the country, and can easily become frozen due to it having so many pipes. Once a sprinkler system becomes frozen, it is important that you thaw it out as soon as you can, before they become ruptured and the pipes burst.
- Remove any snow that has built up on the sprinkler heads. Use a deicer if ice has built up on them, and then remove the ice from the heads.
- Stop further damage to the pipes and valves by opening the water valve before you thaw them out. With the water valve open, pressure will not build up and damage the pipes.
- Wrap cloths around frozen pipes that you can see. Pour steaming hot water on the pipes that are frozen to help thaw out the water inside the pipe. You can also use a hair dryer to help thaw out the frozen pipes, if they do not thaw out completely after pouring hot water on them.
- Put a heater in the room where sprinkler pipes are located, and keep the temperature constantly above 32 degrees. This will thaw out any pipes that are still frozen, and stop any other pipes from freezing in the future.
- Put insulation sleeves on the sprinkler pipes to protect them from freezing. Place an insulation sleeve on each and every pipe that you have for the sprinkler system. These sleeves help the pipe retain heat, which will stop them from freezing again in the future.