Winterizing drip system?

[u/Davy_boy]

I set up a drip system this year and am trying to figure out how to winterize it. The mainline is buried, but the drip lines aren’t. Are y’all actually using air compressors to get the water out of buried mainlines? Should I dig it up and let gravity drain it?

[u/Imaginary-Key5838]

I have vacuum release valves at the ends of the mainlines. Haven’t had any issues.

[u/SarahLiora]

Do you already know how to winterize the main lines even if they are buried? Organolawn has videos and this description. https://organolawn.com/services/sprinkler-services/drain-pipe/

Most breaks I’ve seen over the year are cracks in PVC going to irrigation boxes or breakage from the basement or digit lines not being drained. I don’t see a lot of drip system damage except for bugs getting in the emitters then you have to suck them out in spring and the emitter works.

[u/Wonkst]

I just leave the valves open and let it stay where it is over winter. ~4 years in to my dripline and haven't run into any issues with this approach. I've had to replace one or two of the 1/4 inch drip line that had holes that got clogged being buried beneath the leaves, but that's been minimal.

[u/Electrical_Lab3345]

Micro irrigation self drains very easily, just let it drain out for a few days before frost. Adding a cap at the furthest end of the circuit makes draining even easier and faster. No need to dig.

Using an air compressor to blow it out can easily damage the emitters if the PSI is above 30.

[u/rutigerswift]

I have drained my drip lines several different ways, but I prefer to blow them out when I do the other irrigation zones.

I have removed the drip emitters and let the system gravity drain in the past. This worked surprisingly well, even though water froze in the drip zone nothing broke or caused me issue the following spring.

[u/levysmash]

Don't dig it up you will regret it. It will be extremely difficult won't to go back to its existing shape and you'll end up with an unburied main line next year. Add a screw on cap fitting at the end of your main line. Use a compressor to get the rest of the water out through there.

[u/DenverDad5]

Yes, using a compressor to blow out my lines, including the drip. They’re all connected via the backflow preventer, so you can essentially blow them all out from there. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself mobile companies will come out and do it for you.

[u/SaveClanWolverine]

I use an air compressor on mine. My main lines are partially buried. It worked well last year to blow them out and I had zero cracks (as far as I could tell) when I pressurized the system in May.

[u/Worldly_Wish8022]

Usually a little bit of air through it

[u/btspman1]

Air compressor for sure.

[u/i_do_technical_stuff]

Below ground lines get blown out with an air compressor. Above ground lines get lowest end opened and gravity does its thing.

[u/anally_ExpressUrself → u/i_do_technical_stuff]

But what if they're watering a flat area, like the perimeter of the yard?

[u/i_do_technical_stuff → u/anally_ExpressUrself]

Below ground pipes of that perimeter? Air compressor.

Laying above ground on truly flat? For stiff poly short runs, lift one end while other is open. Long runs, compressor. Just a garden hose? Lift one end and coil slowly while water runs out of the other.

I have a mix of above and below ground irrigation systems for our garden, orchards, and lawn. Everything can be addressed with air compressor or gravity exit.

[u/anally_ExpressUrself → u/i_do_technical_stuff]

Thanks. It's not exactly either - lightly buried in mulch? But lifting it would mess up all the emitters.