Reference
How often should you winterize a sprinkler system?
Blow out and winterize the sprinkler system once a year, before the ground freezes. That is the interval the HomeAlmanac app schedules for this job, adjusted for the systems your home actually has.
- How often
- Once a year
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time
- Fall
- Priority
- High
Why it matters
Water trapped in irrigation lines freezes and cracks pipes and heads, leading to expensive spring repairs.
How to do it
Shut off the supply and blow out the lines with compressed air (or hire a service). Drain backflow preventers and insulate exposed parts.
When to do it
Best done in fall, and the app schedules it for that season automatically.
HomeAlmanac schedules this one for you, works out the next due date each time you mark it done, and reminds you before it is late.
Build your free planQuick answers
- How often should you winterize a sprinkler system?
- Blow out and winterize the sprinkler system once a year, before the ground freezes.
- Why does it matter?
- Water trapped in irrigation lines freezes and cracks pipes and heads, leading to expensive spring repairs.
- What time of year should I do it?
- Best done in fall. Doing it late is usually worse than doing it early.