Time to winterize your lawn sprinkler system

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WICHITA, Kan. -- The cold weather is upon us. If you have a sprinkler system, you'll need to take steps to protect it from freezing.

Sean Nolte with Law Sprinkler Systems is in west Wichita to blow out the irrigation system at Dan O'Connell's house.

It's something O'Connell has had done every year. The last thing he wants if is for the water in the system to freeze potentially splitting one of the underground pvc pipes. For him it's peace of mind in case we have one of those bitterly cold winters.

"It was kind of lucky on that," said O'Connell. "Because I called last week and this was the first chance I could get in."

O'Connell has his own well so he doesn't have what's called a back flow. But those who are on city water have the device which prevents fertilizer and other contaminants from getting into the city water lines. Nolte says it's important to cover up the back flow to prevent it from freezing.

"I just have a blanket and a trash bag here," said Nolte. "And all I'm going to do is cover the back flow valve up with a blanket." He adds, "Put a trash bag over the top of it and it's going to buy you some time."

Nolte says if the water freezes and cracks the back flow you're looking at an expensive repair. The same is true if one of your underground irrigation pipes cracks.

It only costs about $50 to $65 to have your irrigation system blown out before winter. The experts say you may get by without having it done. but the one winter we have a long period of very cold weather, you may wish you had it done in the fall.

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Time to winterize your lawn sprinkler system