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When February hits and temperatures drop below freezing for weeks, you’ll sleep easy knowing your irrigation lines won’t burst. No emergency calls to repair contractors. No flooded basements from broken pipes. No surprise bills that could have been avoided.
Your sprinkler system starts up smoothly in spring, ready for another season of keeping your lawn green. That’s what proper winterization does – it protects the investment you’ve already made in your property’s irrigation infrastructure.
The difference between a system that lasts 15 years versus one that needs constant repairs often comes down to how well it’s winterized each fall.
Rolling Hills Property Services has been winterizing irrigation systems across Suffolk County for years. We understand exactly what Patchogue winters do to unprotected sprinkler lines.
Every one of our technicians knows the specific challenges of Long Island’s freeze-thaw cycles and coastal weather patterns. We’ve seen what happens when systems aren’t properly blown out – and more importantly, we know how to prevent it.
Licensed, insured, and focused on doing the job right the first time. No shortcuts, no guesswork, just professional winterization that actually works.
First, we shut off your water supply to the irrigation system and drain the main lines. Then comes the critical part – using professional-grade compressed air equipment to blow out every zone of your system.
Each sprinkler head gets activated individually to ensure complete water removal. We work systematically through every zone, checking that no water remains trapped anywhere in the lines.
Finally, we inspect the system for any existing issues that could cause problems and provide you with a clear summary of what was done. The whole process typically takes 30-45 minutes depending on your system size. You get peace of mind, and your irrigation system gets proper protection for the winter months ahead.
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Every winterization includes complete water removal from all irrigation lines, professional compressed air blowout of every zone, and system inspection for potential issues. You’re not paying for basic service – you’re getting comprehensive protection.
In Patchogue’s climate, where temperatures can swing from 40 degrees to below freezing in a single day, thorough water removal is critical. Half-measures don’t work when dealing with Long Island’s unpredictable winter weather patterns.
The service also includes checking your backflow preventer, inspecting sprinkler heads for damage, and noting any repairs that should be addressed before spring startup. You get a complete picture of your system’s condition, not just a quick blowout.
Schedule your winterization service in late October or early November, before the first hard freeze hits Patchogue. Long Island’s weather can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to wait until temperatures are already dropping consistently below freezing.
The ideal timing is when nighttime temperatures start reaching the upper 30s regularly. This gives you a buffer before any potential freeze damage occurs. Most years, this window falls between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Don’t wait for the weather forecast to show freezing temperatures – by then, you’re cutting it too close and risking emergency scheduling conflicts when everyone else is trying to book last-minute service.
You can attempt it, but most homeowners don’t have access to the right equipment or experience to do it properly. Professional winterization requires high-volume compressed air equipment that generates enough pressure to completely clear all water from the lines.
A shop compressor or small portable unit typically doesn’t have sufficient capacity to fully blow out an entire irrigation system. Incomplete water removal means you’re still at risk for freeze damage – you’ve just reduced the risk, not eliminated it.
Professional technicians also know how to properly sequence the blowout process, which zones to clear first, and how to identify potential problems before they become expensive repairs. The cost difference between professional service and potential freeze damage repairs makes this an easy decision.
Any water left in irrigation lines can freeze and expand, cracking pipes, fittings, and sprinkler heads. In Patchogue’s climate, where temperatures regularly drop well below freezing, this damage is almost guaranteed if water remains in the system.
Frozen pipes can burst underground, creating leaks that you won’t discover until spring when you turn the system back on. By then, you’re looking at excavation work, pipe replacement, and potentially damaged landscaping from water leaks.
The repair costs typically run several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on how extensive the damage is. Professional winterization costs a fraction of what you’d spend on freeze damage repairs, making it one of the most cost-effective maintenance services you can invest in.
A properly winterized system should have no water coming out of any sprinkler heads when compressed air is applied to each zone. You should see air, not water, coming from every head during the blowout process.
Professional technicians will run each zone individually and continue the air flow until only dry air emerges from all heads in that zone. We’ll also check that the main water supply is completely shut off and that any drain valves are properly opened.
After service, you should receive confirmation of what was done and any issues that were identified. A reputable company will stand behind their winterization work and address any problems that arise from improper service.
No, leave your irrigation system in normal operating mode before the appointment. We need the system to be functional so we can run each zone during the winterization process.
We’ll handle shutting off the main water supply and any other system controls as part of the service. Having the system operational allows us to properly test each zone and ensure complete water removal from all areas.
If you’ve already shut down parts of your system or aren’t sure about its current status, just let us know when we arrive. We can assess the situation and adjust our process accordingly to ensure proper winterization.
Wait until the last frost date has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above freezing. In the Patchogue area, this is typically mid to late April, but can vary depending on the specific year’s weather patterns.
Before turning the system back on, have it professionally inspected and tested. Winter can cause issues even in properly winterized systems, and you want to catch any problems before they cause water waste or property damage.
A spring startup service includes slowly pressurizing the system, checking for leaks or damage, adjusting sprinkler heads, and programming your controller for the new season. This ensures your system runs efficiently and effectively from day one.
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