Vanden Bussche Irrigation

  Spring is near, which means it’s almost time to start thinking about charging up your irrigation system. The colder winter months can take a heavy toll on an irrigation system. It’s critical to perform routine start-up maintenance of your system components before the heavy watering season begins. De-winterizing your irrigation in the spring is just as important as winterizing! Whether you’re running a commercial, agricultural, golf, or residential irrigation system, the efficiency and performance depends on starting up your system with care. Protect your irrigation investment by following these expert recommendations.   When to Start Up Your Irrigation System Timing your irrigation start-up can be a gamble. If you open it up too soon, you run the risk of freezing the pipes you worked so hard to protect over the winter. This is an expensive mistake. If you wait too long, however, you shorten the window of time available to address any repairs or replacements your system requi...

  Why Winterize? Winterization is the process of eliminating all water from an irrigation system to prevent the potential damage of any of its components. In cold climates where freezing is inevitable, winterizing is critical. Water expands in volume approximately 9% as it transitions from liquid to solid, resulting in ruptured equipment within a closed system. However, with proper winterizing of your golf course irrigation system, you’ll be able to relax and keep warm over the cold months, knowing your equipment will be prepared to perform again in the spring. The time invested now in winterizing your system will pay off dividends when you next need it. Preparing to winterize a  golf course irrigation system  can feel overwhelming; the system covers a broad area, and there are many components requiring attention. Furthermore, an average golf course network of pipes can hold 22,000 to 27,000 gallons of water - a significant volume to drain! Golf course operators and comme...

  The Purpose of Winterizing Farm Irrigation Systems You may be done with harvesting the crops this season, but it’s not time to rest just yet. Left unprotected, your irrigation equipment will remain exposed to the risk of damage by the ice that forms within it. If your system is not blown out properly, you might end up with cracked or burst pipes, malfunctioning irrigation equipment and costly repair bills. As the temperature begins to drop, it’s time to protect your commercial irrigation system. This one final seasonal project will ensure that your equipment will be ready to serve you again in the spring. Whether you have a farm, fruit orchard, or vineyard, the same irrigation winterizing principles apply; you must remove excess water to prevent damage caused by ice. The blow-out method forces high-pressure air through all the pipes and equipment to remove remaining water. While similar to the steps required for winterizing a commercial or landscape irrigation system [insert li...