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How To Winterize Sprinkler System
If you have a sprinkler system, perhaps you want to pocket the extra money and winterize your system yourself. You may be asking if this is something you can do safely and correctly. Yes, you absolutely can if you know how to do it.
Step to Winterize Sprinkler System
Without proper preparation, freezing temperatures can damage your sprinkler system. Here are some sprinkler tips on how to plan your irrigation system for winter conditions. If you live in a freezing area, it is very important you winterize your system before the temperatures are below freezing. For detailed instructions on how to plan your irrigation system for the winter months, please read below.
1. Insulate your assets:
Shut down the irrigation system’s water supply. It is necessary to protect the key shut-off valve for your irrigation system from freezing. To shield it from harsh winter conditions and keep it from freezing, make sure that it is covered with insulation (foam insulation tape or plastic bag). You can consider installing one as a preventive investment if you don’t have a key shut-off valve. Any tubing above ground must also be insulated. It’s fine to use self-adhesive foam insulating tape and foam insulating tubing that are commonly found in home supply stores.
2. Stay in control:
If you have an automatic system, the controller (timer) must be off. Most controllers have a mode that just shuts off the valves’ signals. The controller keeps the time. The programming information is not lost (start times, run times of the valve, etc.) and the clock continues to run throughout the winter. The only change is that the valves are not activated. If your controller is responsible for triggering a pump, the wires attached to the MV (Master Valve) and specific terminals should be disconnected as a precaution. This will prevent the possibility of accidentally activating the pump, which could result in overheating damage and cost you unnecessary money. An alternative to using the rain mode is to shut down the controller’s energy. If you do, the time and possibly all of your other settings will need to be reprogrammed in the summer.
3. Drain the pipes:
You now have to remove the water from the pipes and sprinklers to stop it from freezing, expanding, and damaging the pipe. There are several ways you can drain your pipes: a manual drain valve, an automatic drain valve, or the blow-out method of compressed air. Because potential safety risks may exist, however, we suggest that you contact your local irrigation specialist like Planet Green. Many sprinkler companies offer this year’s sprinkler winterization services.
4. Protect valves and backflow prevention devices:
If they are above ground, insulate backflow prevention devices and valves. For this, you can also use isolation tape. Stop blocking the air vents and leaking outlets for the best backflow prevention.
If you don’t feel you can Winterize Sprinkler System correctly, there is no shame in hiring a sprinkler specialist. If saving time is what you are more interested in then definitely call a local sprinkler company to winterize for you.
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Couples Counseling Improves with 5 Love Languages
I’m sure you’ve heard of the 5 languages of passion. If not, this is a book that breaks down the most loved ways we feel. Generally we all feel pretty good, but generally there is a force that allows us to feel very loved. When you get the complete experience of getting the one love language that really talks to you, it feels like fireworks in your mind going off and Couples Counseling makes sense.
The 5 Love Languages are:
- Words of affirmation
- Physical touch
- Quality Time
- Acts of service
- Gifts
I see people talking a bit with their languages of love. I would hear something like how come you never write me poems or send me flowers? Then the other would say something like I tried to write your poems before but you never seemed to like them in the past. Another would say you never buy me jewelry, and the other would say because you don’t wear jewelry.
Have you been watching what happened there? The other partner begins mentioning different love languages that they follow, not the one that their partner primarily asks for. So, reading this is a challenge for you. Think hard about what seems to call for the most from your partner and be glad to receive it. Do you have a sense of the culture of their love? Okay, good.
Now, a bigger question–ask yourself why you are struggling to give them the language of love. Aren’t you feeling great when you put words into feelings? Is physical contact the last thing on the list after a long day of hundreds of obligations? Is it that quality time just doesn’t mean to you that much so that you don’t have to plan things? Is it that in a long time you feel that you are in a gap and have not felt loved?
It’s quite understandable that we’re not all made to bring what they need easily to our partners. However, I think we can make those excuses for ourselves and not push ourselves to reflect on the needs of our partner. When you gave yourself an out and are shocked when your partner blows up again about not getting their language of love, try this. Do a self-inventory analysis of why the need for your partner is a problem for you. Then share this information with your partner. This may be difficult to do if you haven’t done an exercise like this before, but it will most certainly help make your relationship stronger and better. I think we’re afraid we’re not going to be able to give our partner what they need so much that we’re just silent on the subject. Then they don’t think we AT ALL care about it or we’re really conscious of their need. It can be a long way to help bridge the gap by expressing your awareness and explaining your thinking process. If you are not able to heal your relationship with this article, then seek a professional’s help with Couples Counseling from Mosaic Tree Counseling.