The Sprinkler Company Inc. / Controllers and equipment
PVC and Polyethylene Irrigation Pipes in Winter
PVC and polyethylene irrigation pipes both need suitable winter preparation. Pipe material is one clue about the system, but it does not tell the technician everything about the valves, accessories or buried branches.
Check PVC and polyethylene irrigation pipes from records
A visible piece of pipe may not represent the whole installation. Look for drawings and note where you know materials have changed. Hunter warns that freezing water can damage both PVC and polyethylene. Flexible pipe is therefore not a guarantee that the system can be left without winter preparation.
Reference: Hunter: Winterizing Your Irrigation System
Mention repairs and mixed components
Tell the contractor about replaced sections, added zones and fittings you cannot identify. Even a system built with one main pipe type may contain components with different requirements. Choosing a service setting from pipe colour alone overlooks those other parts and may overlook later repair work.
Save the details that can be verified
Ask the technician to note useful material information when it is known. Keep observations separate from assumptions about buried pipe. Those records help next season's planning, but they are not a complete installation drawing or a promise that every part is protected from cold-weather damage.
Questions and answers
Common questions
Does flexible pipe mean closing is unnecessary?
No. Do not use that assumption as a seasonal plan.
Can I identify every component from colour?
No. Model information and the actual installation matter.
Request irrigation closing
Call us with your address, known zone count and any access questions. We can discuss the work and confirm an available appointment.
Equipment references: Hunter: Winterizing Your Irrigation System
Use the instructions for the installed equipment. This guide does not replace an on-site assessment.
The Sprinkler Company Inc.