Winterization rates

Rates for 2009 are the same as last year!  $60 for the first 6 zones, and $3 per zone thereafter. Systems with mains larger than 1 1/4" shall be charged by the hour, with a $120 minimum.

Preparation

To prepare for us to blow out your system, don't do anything! Let us do everything! We have a very specific procedure we follow, to insure every system gets blown out properly and thoroughly. Our service techs are required to check the shut off valve. So if it is in the basement, they will need to have access in order for us to adequately serve you and hold to our warranty. If you need to drain your backflow because of an impending freeze, before we arrive for the winterization, follow our directives listed under the heading "Backflow Information." Thank You!

Shutoff valves

We require the drain near the sprinkler shutoff valve to remain in the open position after winterization. This is to insure the system does not accidentally fill over the winter, in the event a shutoff valve fails. You are responsible for checking the drain a day or so after winterization, to see if it is leaking. If the drain continues to leak beyond 24 hours, this means your shutoff valve has failed. Please call us. DO NOT CLOSE THE DRAIN!

Backflow-Preventer ball valves

All ball valves and drain cocks outdoors are to remain at 45 degree angles each time the system is deactivated. This means the valve is not fully on and not all the way off, but in between. If ball valves are left in the open or closed position in any weather approaching freezing temperatures (32 degrees), the valve can collect condensation behind the ball, freeze and crack. This means if you reactivate your system in the spring and there is a freeze later on, you must remember to turn the ball valve handles to the 45 degree position again. We rotate ball valves during the blowout to remove any condensation. Because of our insistence that the lowest drain remain in the open position after winterization, it is virtually impossible for the system to be damaged due to freeze. Water Ketch can NOT be responsible for any cracked ball valve reported after March 1st of each year.

WARRANTY

Water Ketch shall warranty all copper pipe, backflow preventers, mainlines, and electric valves against freeze damage—within the constraints of the above said agreement in regards to shutoff valves and drains. We reserve the right to verify shutoff valve integrity.   Polyethylene pipe can not be warranted because low quality pipe will tend toward stress cracks from causes inherent in low quality material and manufacturing, and/or long term pressure damage, rather than from freeze expansion alone.   Because air is introduced before or at the backflow, it is impossible for poppets to be damaged due to freeze after the blowout. However, poppets are susceptible to "accumulative" freeze and / or surge damage— this occurs any time a system is left on or un-drained during a freeze, or turned on full blast instead of slowly.   NOTE: We use a large volume of air with our compressor but at a low pressure of 50 PSI, which is much lower than the average system operates at.

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