Hear from Our Customers
When February hits and your neighbor’s dealing with flooded basements and four-figure repair bills, you’ll understand why proper winterization matters. Your system stays intact, your property stays dry, and your spring startup happens without drama.
Most homeowners don’t realize that water expands 9% when it freezes. That expansion splits pipes, cracks valves, and destroys sprinkler heads faster than you’d think possible. Professional winterization removes every drop of water from your system using specialized equipment designed specifically for this job.
You get peace of mind knowing your investment is protected, plus the convenience of reliable spring service when growing season returns. No emergency calls, no water damage cleanup, no scrambling to find replacement parts that should have lasted years longer.
We at Rolling Hills Property Services Inc have been protecting Suffolk County irrigation systems for years. We understand Long Island’s unique climate challenges, from unpredictable temperature swings to the salt air that affects coastal properties.
Our team knows exactly when to schedule winterization services in Islip Terrace – typically between mid-October and early November, before those first hard freezes hit. We’ve seen what happens when homeowners wait too long or try DIY approaches with inadequate equipment.
Every technician is licensed and insured, using commercial-grade compressors specifically designed for irrigation systems. We’re not a national franchise following generic procedures – we’re local professionals who understand Suffolk County’s 25-40 inches of annual snowfall and what it takes to keep systems running year after year.
Professional winterization starts with shutting off your main water supply and draining accessible water from the system. This preliminary step prevents additional water from entering during the blowout process.
Next, we connect our specialized high-pressure compressor to your system’s test ports. Working zone by zone, we use precisely controlled air pressure to force every drop of water out through the sprinkler heads. You’ll see water shooting from each head, followed by clear air – that’s how we know the zone is completely dry.
The final step involves shutting down and protecting your controller, plus checking any above-ground components like backflow preventers. Most residential systems take 30-45 minutes to winterize properly. When we’re finished, your system is ready for whatever winter throws at Suffolk County.
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Our winterization service covers every component of your irrigation system. We drain main lines, blow out all zones individually, protect above-ground valves and backflow preventers, and properly shut down electronic controllers to prevent moisture damage.
Islip Terrace properties face specific challenges during winter months. Temperature fluctuations between freezing and thawing create expansion and contraction cycles that stress system components. Salt air from nearby coastal areas can accelerate corrosion if systems aren’t properly prepared.
We time our services based on local weather patterns, not arbitrary calendar dates. When temperatures consistently approach 32°F – which typically happens in late October or early November in Suffolk County – that’s when winterization becomes critical. Waiting for the first hard freeze often means it’s already too late.
Schedule your winterization between mid-October and early November, before temperatures consistently reach 32°F. In Suffolk County, this timing prevents freeze damage while ensuring your system is protected before winter weather arrives.
Water only needs to reach 31°F to begin freezing, and Long Island’s unpredictable weather can bring sudden cold snaps. Early scheduling also guarantees availability – irrigation companies get booked solid once homeowners realize winter is coming.
We monitor local weather patterns and will contact you when conditions indicate it’s time for winterization. This proactive approach prevents the stress of last-minute scheduling during busy periods.
Frozen irrigation systems suffer immediate and expensive damage. Water expands 9% when it freezes, creating enough pressure to crack pipes, split valves, and destroy sprinkler heads throughout your system.
Repair costs typically range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on how many components fail. Underground pipe repairs require excavation, which adds labor costs and landscape restoration expenses. In severe cases, entire system replacement becomes necessary.
The worst part is that freeze damage often isn’t discovered until spring startup, when you’re trying to prepare your lawn for growing season. Emergency repairs during peak season cost more and may delay getting your system operational when you need it most.
DIY winterization is possible but risky without proper equipment and knowledge. Most homeowners lack the specialized high-pressure compressors needed to completely remove water from all system components.
Amateur attempts using shop compressors or other inadequate equipment often take 3+ hours and still leave water in the system. Incomplete winterization provides false confidence while your system remains vulnerable to freeze damage.
Professional winterization takes 30-45 minutes using equipment designed specifically for irrigation systems. The cost of professional service is minimal compared to potential repair bills from incomplete DIY winterization.
Professional winterization typically costs a fraction of what you’d pay for freeze damage repairs. Most residential systems can be winterized for less than the cost of replacing a single damaged valve or repairing burst underground pipes.
Pricing depends on system size, complexity, and accessibility factors. Systems with more zones or difficult-to-reach components may cost slightly more, but the investment protects thousands of dollars in potential damage.
Consider that burst pipe repairs often cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, plus the inconvenience of water damage cleanup and landscape restoration. Professional winterization is insurance against much larger expenses.
Our comprehensive winterization includes shutting off main water supply, draining accessible water, and using specialized compressors to blow out all zones individually. We also protect above-ground components and properly shut down electronic controllers.
Each zone gets individual attention to ensure complete water removal. We don’t consider a zone finished until only air comes from the sprinkler heads. Above-ground components like backflow preventers and valve boxes receive appropriate protection for winter conditions.
Controller shutdown prevents moisture damage to electronic components during Suffolk County’s humid winter months. We also perform a visual inspection to identify any issues that should be addressed before spring startup.
Properly winterized systems require minimal spring preparation. We typically schedule spring startups in April when consistent warm weather returns and growing season begins in Suffolk County.
Spring startup involves turning water back on, checking all zones for proper operation, and adjusting any sprinkler heads that may have shifted during winter. Systems that were professionally winterized rarely have significant issues during startup.
We’ll contact you when spring conditions indicate it’s time to reactivate your system. This timing ensures your lawn gets proper irrigation when it needs it most, without risking damage from late-season freezes that occasionally hit Long Island.
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