Northern Climates:
Schedule between October and November, before consistent freezing temperatures arrive.
Freeze Protection & Winterization
Sprinkler Winterization & Blowout Services
Protect your irrigation system before freezing temperatures arrive. Pacific Lawn Sprinklers professionally removes trapped water from your system to help prevent cracked pipes, damaged valves, and costly spring repairs.
What Does It Mean to Winterize a Sprinkler System?
Sprinkler winterization, sometimes called a sprinkler blowout or seasonal shutdown, is a precise process that removes all water from pipes, valves, and heads before freezing temperatures arrive, most often performed as a full blowout using a commercial-grade air compressor. A Pacific Lawn Sprinklers technician completes the process, typically in one visit, so your system is protected before the first hard freeze.
This service is for any homeowner with an in-ground sprinkler system, whether you’re in a region with hard winters or one that just sees the occasional freeze. Northern climates need this every fall without exception, but even a single unexpected cold snap in a milder region can cause the same damage if a system’s never been winterized.
Skip it, and any water left behind freezes and expands, cracking pipes, splitting sprinkler heads, and damaging your backflow preventer, damage that often isn’t obvious until you try to start your system back up in spring. What would have been a routine fall appointment becomes an expensive repair, or in bad cases, a full system replacement.
How Pacific Lawn Sprinklers Handles Your Sprinkler Winterization
Since 1980, Pacific Lawn Sprinklers has completed more than 500,000 winterizations for residential and commercial properties. Our certified, licensed technicians know how different systems are built and use regulated, commercial-grade equipment calibrated to each one, not a one-size-fits-all setting.
Our winterizations work across all major irrigation brands and system types, from residential lawns to large commercial properties. Service availability may vary by location.
When to Winterize Sprinklers?
The best time to winterize is in the fall, before the first freeze. Scheduling early gives you time to prepare rather than rushing to find an appointment once freezing weather is already in the forecast.
Southern Climates:
Even warmer areas like Texas, Georgia, and the Carolinas can see damaging cold snaps. Winterization is generally recommended between November and December in these regions.
What Happens During Your Sprinkler Winterization?
Shut Down the Main Water Supply
We stop water from flowing into your system before beginning the blowout.
Complete a Full Sprinkler System Blowout
Using specialized, regulated compressed-air equipment, we remove water from irrigation lines, sprinkler heads, valves, and the backflow device, which is especially vulnerable to freeze damage, to help prevent freeze-related cracks and breaks. You’ll typically see a light mist at each head, the sign that a zone is fully cleared.
Cycle Through Every Zone
Each irrigation zone is blown out individually, including drip irrigation lines, filters, and the low points where water tends to collect.
Tag and Set the System to Rest
Once your sprinkler system blowout is complete, we place a bright yellow tag on the shut-off valve and set your control timer to “rest mode” for winter. This helps prevent accidental watering while the system is winterized.
Add Optional Freeze Protection
Need extra coverage? We offer backflow insulation covers, and freeze sensors.
What’s Included With Your Sprinkler Winterization
Every winterization covers all of the following:
- Shut down the main water supply
- Full system blowout with regulated compressed air
- Inspection of exposed pipes for wear or cracks
- Zone-by-zone clearing, including drip lines and low points
- Sprinkler head inspection for damage, clogs, or wear
- Valve tagging and controller set to rest mode
- Optional freeze protection add-ons available on request
Protect Your Irrigation System Year After Year
Winterization protects your system through the cold months, but spring start-up is what gets it running again when the season changes, and most homeowners need both every year. Ask your local Pacific Lawn Sprinklers team about a recurring maintenance agreement, so both are already on the calendar and you’re not scheduling from scratch twice a year. If your area requires annual backflow testing, that’s typically scheduled during your spring visit, not winterization.
Basic
- Spring Start-Up
- Winterization
Popular
- Spring Start-Up
- Winterization
- One Summer Inspection
Optimal
- Spring Start-Up
- Winterization
- Three Summer Inspections
Why Choose Pacific Lawn Sprinklers for Sprinkler Winterization?
A safe sprinkler blowout requires the right equipment, pressure, and irrigation expertise.
500,000+ Winterizations Completed
We’ve prepared irrigation systems for winter for more than four decades, across every system type and configuration.
We Know Why DIY Blowouts Fail
Home air compressors rarely deliver the exact pressure a system needs, too much damages pipes and heads, too little leaves water behind. Our technicians use regulated, calibrated equipment every time.
Fully Stocked Service Vans
If we identify an irrigation issue during winterization, our service vans carry parts and tools that allow us to address many problems without unnecessary delays. For issues requiring additional attention, Pacific Lawn Sprinklers also provides professional sprinkler system repair services to help keep your system operating properly.
Backed by the On Time or On Us Guarantee
We show up when we say we will, or your visit comes with a guarantee, so a packed fall schedule doesn’t mean waiting around.
What Does Sprinkler Winterization Cost?
The price of a sprinkler winterization varies based on the size of your system and its components, how many water supplies it has, and whether there are additional lines like a dock or outdoor sink connection. Standard winterization typically costs between $90 and $150, and increases with the number of zones or additional lines your system has.
10,000+ Reasons to Choose Pacific Lawn Sprinklers
More than 10,000 homeowners across our service areas have shared their experience with Pacific Lawn Sprinklers over 45 years of service. Here is what they are saying.
I wish I had know about Pacific Sprinklers years ago for my residential and commercial properties! Not only are they friendly professional and reasonable, they can fix everything perfectly and timely. They are THE BEST.
Common Sprinkler Winterization Questions
Do I need to winterize my irrigation system every year?
Yes. Systems in areas exposed to freezing temperatures should be winterized every year before cold weather arrives. Even warmer regions can see unexpected cold snaps capable of damaging water-filled components.
Can I winterize my sprinkler system myself?
DIY sprinkler blowouts risk damaging components or leaving water behind, since home compressors rarely provide the exact pressure a system needs. They also tend to miss what matters most, most DIY attempts only clear the main lines, leaving zones, drip lines, filters, and low points still holding water. Professional technicians use regulated equipment and clear the entire system, not just the easy parts.
Will my controller be set correctly after winterization?
Yes. We set your control timer to “rest mode” for winter so it doesn’t try to run a system that’s shut down, and reprogram it correctly again during your spring start-up.
Is winterization available for commercial properties?
Yes, many Pacific Lawn Sprinklers locations service commercial irrigation systems in addition to residential. Contact your local team to confirm availability and scheduling for your property.
Can I add a WiFi-enabled smart controller during my winterization?
Many homeowners choose to upgrade their controller when their system is already shut down for the season, since it’s convenient timing before reactivation in spring. Ask your local Pacific Lawn Sprinklers team about smart controller options during your visit.
How much does sprinkler winterization cost?
Pricing varies based on your system’s size, number of zones, and any additional lines. Your local Pacific Lawn Sprinklers team can provide a specific quote for your property.
How do I find sprinkler winterization or blowout near me?
Availability varies by location. Pacific Lawn Sprinklers operates through independently owned local teams across 10 states. Check Availability & Pricing to confirm coverage and schedule your sprinkler winterization.
Protect Your Sprinkler System Before Winter
Protect Your Sprinkler System Before Winter
Winter can turn a little trapped water into a cracked pipe or a damaged backflow preventer by spring. Schedule with technicians who clear the entire system, zones, drip lines, and low points included, not just the main lines.