Fall is Blow-Out Season: Tips for Winterizing Your Sprinkler System

As colder weather steadily creeps in and fall fades to winter, it’s time to start putting things to bed for the season. We call this “blow-out season” because if any water freezes in your sprinkler pipes, it will expand, which can cause them to break or burst.

This is why it’s important to “blow out” any remaining water before things get too cold and start freezing. Smart maintenance during the fall can help prevent costly repairs down the road. So, if you want to prevent winter blowouts, follow these tips to winterize your sprinkler system this fall.

Winterizing Your Sprinkler System

Can you winterize your own sprinkler system? Yes, you can if you have access to some specialty equipment. That said, it’s important to be cautious and follow all instructions carefully to avoid hurting yourself or damaging your sprinkler system.

Manual Procedure

If you have a manual drain valve or drain cap, be sure to wear eye protection before completing this task, as these systems are pressurized and could cause injury if opened before the pressure is relieved.

  1. Turn off your sprinkler system’s mainline shutoff valve.
  2. Open one of the control valves (manually or electronically from the timer) to relieve pressure on the mainline.
  3. SLOWLY open the manual drain valve.
  4. Repeat this procedure for ALL manual drain valves on your sprinkler system mainline.