Winterize Your Backflow In Eight Steps (or One)

The days are getting shorter, leaves are beginning to turn, football has kicked off and everything from coffee to car fresheners is pumpkin-spiced. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and we may not want to think about it, but winter’s chill will be here before you know it. Winterizing your backflow preventer is absolutely on the horizon.

We believe summer is the right time to think about winter when it comes to your backflow, because you don’t want to be out there in wind chills working on malfunctioning equipment or negotiating with frozen pipes and valves. 

With that in mind, here’s a quick and handy checklist for what to do to prepare your backflow for winter.

1. Turn off main water to backflow preventer
2. Turn sillcock valves to open, drain all water still in the line
3. Connect a high-volume air compressor and turn it on
4. Turn on faucets or, if needed, activate each irrigation system zone, until only air is coming out
5. Turn valves on either side of backflow to a 45 degree angle
6. Stop the air compressor and disconnect from the system
7. Remove backflow and store in a safe location
8. Apply petroleum jelly to union seals and wrap seals with plastic to prevent animals and debris from entering the lines

This process takes time and effort, both of which would otherwise be better spent doing just about anything else. But, hey, you do what you have to do to make sure things are properly handled, right?

There’s another effective option, though. It saves time, is cost-effective and hassle-free.

1. Buy a Safe-T-Cover insulated enclosure with a heater

Order your insulated enclosure before what’s left of summer slips away, and you’ll still have time to install before the snow flies. Click the link below to schedule a meeting with me now to find out which cover is right for you.