REDUCE THE RISK OF FREEZE DAMAGE

If your system has been started up in the spring and we get a “later than normal” freeze or drop in temperatures, or if you do not get your system winterized before the cold temperatures arrive, doing some of the things below may help reduce the risk of freeze damage to your backflow device. (Keep in mind, we cannot control Mother Nature, these steps are not a guarantee against freeze damage, they will only greatly reduce the risk).

Please follow these steps if you are concerned about possible freeze damage:

• Turn off the main water that supplies your irrigation system. This can be found in your basement. (If Perficut handles your shut down service, it will probably have an old tag from the previous winterization saying “DO NOT TOUCH!”)
   
• Locate your backflow device. Most devices are outside the house, some are in the basement. Most devices look like or look similar to the diagram above.
   
• Open all 4 test cocks with a straight edge screw driver.
   
• Run your controller. (Just a few minutes through each cycle is sufficient. **Yes, you are doing this with the water off and the test cocks open - it will not hurt your system.)
   
• Wrap backflow device and exposed pipe with a blanket and duct tape. This helps insulate the parts from being totally exposed to the elements.
   
• Once the cold weather threat passes, you may unwrap the backflow.
   
• Remember to tighten the test cocks.
   
• Turn the water back on in the basement.
   
• Try running the system. If you see water spraying out of the backflow or the pipe coming out of the house, it probably means the system still sustained some amount of freeze damage. In this case, please call our office so we can send one of our certified technicians to assess the damages.

Perficut is not responsible for repairs related to freeze damages, and our warranty on installed parts does not cover freeze damage.