Frost protection and maintenance in irrigation systems

As common maintenance in all irrigation installations, whether sprinkler or drip, we can mention the following:

• In areas with risk of frost, the installation should be emptied due to possible freezing. The hydraulic valve chambers should also be emptied, all the water present in the filters should be removed, and the ball valves should be left slightly open to prevent them from cracking. In installations where butterfly valves are installed, it is also advisable to leave them slightly open. If there is a risk of freezing, the suction cups should be drained.
• In the case of polyethylene pipes, being a flexible material, it is capable of absorbing the increase in volume that water would undergo when changing from a liquid to a solid state.
• Frozen water pressure can cause breakage and leaks in the meters. It is advisable to check that the hut or cabinet where the meter is located is in good condition to avoid risks.
• In the case of automatic irrigation installations, it is advisable to drain the solenoids and remove them from the plot. In the case of very complex installations where it is not possible to collect them, the ideal would be to put them inside a box to protect them from low temperatures.
• In general, it is advisable to dismantle and collect all the elements that can be damaged in an installation, since in recent years the number of thefts in the field has also increased. If they cannot be disassembled, it is advisable to cover them with a thermal blanket or other insulating material.
• In cold areas we recommend using plastic sprinkler nozzles . These nozzles would break before the sprinkler in case of severe frost, so they would be replaced instead of the entire sprinkler.