ᐅ Making an Irrigation System Winter-Ready – Is a Compressor Enough?

Hello,
In our small garden, due to low water pressure, I installed three separate PE pipe lines with pop-up sprinklers for basic irrigation. The first line ends after about 10m (33 feet) at a larger pop-up sprinkler. The other two lines each run about 8m (26 feet) and connect from a smaller pop-up sprinkler to a larger pop-up sprinkler, so in these cases, two sprinklers are connected in series.
All lines (PE pipes) are connected via a 1.5m (5 feet) long garden hose, which in turn are connected to a 4-way manifold attached to the outdoor garden tap (external water faucet). This setup allows me to easily disconnect each hose and theoretically blow air through them.

I have now heard that irrigation systems need to be winterized. For all three lines, I installed a drain valve roughly in the middle. However, since I’ve read that these valves can sometimes fail or break quickly, I’m wondering how to ensure that no frost damage occurs during winter to the PE pipes and sprinklers.

Earlier today, I read online that some people apparently use a bicycle pump to empty such short lines, although it’s unclear to me which adapters they use for that. Of course, air compressors are commonly used. However, if possible, I’d prefer not to buy a compressor just for this purpose. Others mention they never drain their systems before winter.

I am therefore interested in how you make your irrigation systems winter-proof (or if you don’t), and whether you have found ways and means to do this without an air compressor.

Since my garden slopes slightly, I installed a drainage valve at the lowest point. It is also accessible and can be unscrewed if needed, allowing any remaining water to drain out. If your garden is flat, I would suggest building a small sump pit. A small mash barrel buried in the ground is sufficient for this, with the bottom cut out. At the lower part of it, simply insert the irrigation pipe and install a small valve (such as a ball valve). You just open this before winter so the water can drain.

Connect the compressor and let it run for a while. When it gets really cold, you’ll be on the safe side.

I forgot to drain the pipes last winter, but nothing happened. There are eight branched pop-up sprinklers and about 25 meters (80 feet) of drip hose. I assume that since I usually stop automatic watering by the end of August, the water is gone anyway by the time frost arrives at the end of October / beginning of November.

I wouldn't necessarily rely on that. The system is supposed to be sealed, so nothing should evaporate. Also, it depends on how deep the ground freezes in winter and whether the frost actually reaches the pipes. The pipes can usually withstand some frost, but I wouldn’t take any chances.

Traumfaenger schrieb:

I forgot to drain the pipes last winter, but nothing happened. There are eight branched pop-up sprinklers and about 25 meters (82 feet) of drip hoses. I guess that since I usually stop automatic watering by the end of August, the water is gone by the frost period at the end of October / beginning of November anyway.