24 Oct Insulate Your Irrigation Pipes to Prepare for Freezing Temperatures

With 350 days of sunshine per year, it’s easy to forget that the temperature in Tucson can sometimes dip below freezing. Though Tucson temperatures reach freezing only a dozen or so times each year, it’s still worth protecting your landscaping by making the appropriate preparations. Below we’ll explain how covering your irrigation pipes in winter can help you avoid damage to your yard.

Frozen Pipe Dangers

Water expands when it freezes. If you let the water in your irrigation pipes freeze, the pressure inside your pipes will build until they burst, causing a considerable leak. If you fail to turn off your main water shutoff valve in time, your yard could become flooded. In a typical installation you only need to insulate the pipes above ground that are exposed to the cold weather. Also, a burst pipe will lead to a higher-than-average water bill.     

Frost Blanket Installation

To prevent your irrigation pipes from freezing and bursting, you should place frost blankets on any water pipes that are above ground. Frost blankets come in many forms for insulating pipes. You can use a true frost blanket that is made of a heavy fabric, or you can use insulated tape that you wrap on the pipe. Foam insulation and fiberglass insulation that you wrap around the pipe works well also. 

Insulation Benefits

If you’ve ever had to repair your irrigation pipe, then you know how costly and stressful it can be. Watching the weather reports and installing frost blankets at the right time can help you avoid the expense and hassle of repairing broken pipes.

To learn more about keeping your irrigation system and landscaping in good shape, call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We provide a number of landscape maintenance services for home and business owners throughout Tucson. Visit our website to learn how we can improve your Tucson-area landscape.