With winter fast approaching, it’s essential to prepare the irrigation systems and equipment you manage for the cold months ahead. A few proactive steps now can help extend the life of your equipment, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure a smoother transition when spring arrives.
Below are key areas to consider as you prepare your equipment for winter.
Properly winterizing your customers irrigation systems can make the difference between an easy or hard start to the spring season. Irrigation systems not properly prepared could cause hundreds of dollars of repairs from damaged lines. The time needed to winterize depends on the property's size and the system’s age. Smaller properties typically take about 30 minutes, while larger ones can require 45 minutes to an hour. For properties with older systems, plan for about an hour to complete the process.
When winterizing the system, check for any issues and ensure all valves are leak-free. If there is significant damage found, it is best to fix the line immediately before continuing. A careful review now helps you prevent further damage, unexpected costs, and ensures a happy customer.
Before starting, make sure you’re wearing the right eye protection, since serious eye injuries can occur. It is advised for you to drain water out of all the pipelines, even for one’s further underground. Even though some lines might be low enough to resist freezing conditions, it's best to stay on the safe side to ensure upper parts, such as the pump manifold, are empty.
After all the water is drained, continue by using an air compressor to blow out any leftover water. Use caution with air pressure, keeping it under 80 PSI for PVC and 50 for flexible polyethylene, to avoid any damage such as melting of the rubber seals.
Always inspect your sprayers and spreaders before putting them in storage. Check for any damage before cleaning so you know exactly what repairs or maintenance are needed. Oil all metal parts to prevent rust, or you can even store them in vegetable oil for added protection.
Before cleaning and winterizing your sprayer, check the owner’s manual to make sure you’re using materials that won’t cause damage or void the warranty. To start the cleaning process, parts such as filters and nozzles can be hand washed with soap and water.
Next remove pressure gauges, storing them upright. When cleaning the sprayer itself, an air hose will help to clear out as much moisture as possible. Using anti-freeze to pump through the system is also advised, but again, refer to the owner’s manual to avoid damage and warranty issues. Running a proper amount of anti-freeze through the system for about one minute should help protect the system when it's not being used. Before using the sprayer again, make sure to run the system until all anti-freeze is removed.
When cleaning out your spreader, it is important to inspect all areas where leftover fertilizer particles may be present. It is possible for fertilizer to absorb water, resulting in rust. Avoid high-pressure water, which can create a corrosive environment. Using low-pressure water and air should do the trick to remove leftover particles. Aside from being part of your winter maintenance routine, adopting these practices year-round could help keep equipment clean and protected for long-term use.
Replacing parts in the winter gives you a chance to test everything and ensure it runs smoothly when spring arrives. Some things to think about are spark plugs, blades, and filters.
Check the spark plugs for any damage or wear. Make sure the gap between the electrodes matches the manufacturer’s recommended setting. If you notice damage, significant wear, or a gap that's off, go ahead and replace the plug.
For blades, it is recommended to take this time to check and sharpen them before the busier season commences. This will save you the hassle of replacing a blade that might take a couple of weeks to arrive.
As for filters, depending on the type of filter used it might need to be replaced or cleaned. When doing this also make sure to wipe down the cooling fins.
Before storing your equipment, it is important to take leftover fuel seriously. Residual fuel that sits over the winter could cause problems such as corrosion, freezing, or clogging of lines. If you have a small amount of fuel left, it is best to remove and dispose of it properly. If you still have a significant amount left over, you can use a fuel stabilizer to help until the equipment is used again. Stabilizers help resist the thickening of fuel via oxidation. Thickened fuel can result in clogged lines and damaged equipment. How long they last can depend on the product being used, with some lasting around two years. It is best to check the product details and decide which one will work best for you and your needs.
Oil should also be taken seriously before storing your equipment. Throughout the season, oil can accumulate water and other particles that can cause negative effects. By doing a complete oil change you will clean out any unnecessary particle accumulation. This should help avoid problems that may result in damaging the equipment.
Remember, proper maintenance could help you reduce the costs associated with damages and time spent during the busier season. This can result in less hassle for you and your customers. As you inspect and clean your equipment, make sure to get the proper replacement parts you need by visiting your local landscape equipment dealer.
