How Much Does It Cost to Winterize a Sprinkler System?

If you have an inground sprinkler system ¹ and live in an area where temperatures regularly drop below freezing, it is a good idea to winterize your system each fall. Winterizing removes any water from the system so that when the ground freezes, your system is protected against expanding ice, cracks, and other damage.

Winterizing is a fairly quick and simple process that does not take long to carry out. The average cost to winterize a sprinkler system ranges between $60-$100, with the average homeowner spending around $80 on blowing the system with compressed air and setting the controls.

Sprinkler Winterization Cost

Sprinkler Winterization Cost by Number of Zones

Sprinkler systems ¹ are broken down into zones that cover certain areas of the yard. To ensure proper coverage, each zone has the type of sprinkler heads needed for that particular type of watering (grass, shrubs, trees, etc.) as well as the size of the area. The larger the yard, the more zones you will have. Winterization costs vary according to the number of zones you have.

Sprinkler Winterization by Type of Sprinkler System

There are two types of sprinkler systems ¹ that need to be winterized–the slow drip and the underground system. While the underground system is constructed, unsurprisingly, with its pipes under the ground, a slow drip system has its pipes above ground. In the latter system, water is slowly dripped into the soil avoiding runoff and evaporation.

In both cases, the idea is to make sure that all water is drained from the pipes and any parts that can be removed are put away and stored safely. Batteries should be removed from the timer. Any open-ended piping should be plugged to keep out rodents that may build nests over the winter months and cause a problem come spring. Water valves should be shut off and exposed piping covered with insulation. Winterizing should always be done before the first freeze. Winterization is a great time to do any necessary maintenance as well, including cleaning and minor repairs. Many companies will sell you a package to winterize, tune-up, and complete spring reactivation for around $150-$200.

Cost to Winterize Sprinkler System

Most lawn care and irrigation specialists charge a flat rate for winterizing a system, between $50 and $150. This rate is good for up to 6 zones. If your lawn has more than that, specialists typically charge an additional $8 per zone. The irrigation system ¹ winterization cost is mild compared to expensive repairs that you may incur without it.

This cost includes sprinkler blowout using compressed air and giving the system a cursory inspection to make sure it is working properly. This is the method recommended even for systems that have manual or automatic draining included.

It is often recommended that you have a professional inspect your system prior to winterization so that any needed repairs can be caught and made. Winterization inspections start at around $40.

Winterization Methods

The goal of winterizing is to completely clear the system of any water. There are technically three methods for doing this, but most professionals agree that only blowing the system is effective. Some systems have an automatic drainage setting, which allows water to drain from any high points once it is opened. The issue with this setting is that any low spots in the system may still contain some water, which can freeze and cause damage. Manual systems also operate similarly. You open specific valves to let the water drain from the highest points in the system, but again, water may still collect and freeze in low areas.

Cost to Blow Out Sprinklers

Blowing the system is one of the only ways to guarantee that you have cleared all standing water. During this process, all valves are opened and between 50 and 80 pounds per square inch (psi) of compressed air is blown through the system, pushing any water out of the openings and clearing them.

After this point, all the water valves are shut off to prevent new water from entering the system as well as the controls that operate the flow. Once winter is over and the risk of freezing has passed, opening the valves and turning on the controls reactivate the system.

If you live in a warm climate that does not experience a ground freeze, there is no need to winterize your system. You may still want to have it blown out and inspected once a year anyway to make sure it is in good working order.

When to Winterize your Sprinkler System

The reason that winterization is so important is that during an extended cold spell, which is a minimum of three days below 32º Fahrenheit, the ground your sprinklers are set in will freeze. This means any water trapped inside the pipes or sprinkler heads will also freeze. When water freezes, it expands. Over time, this causes cracks in your system, which can lead 2 to leaks, burst heads, and expensive repairs.

So, the best time to winterize your system is before the first extended cold snap of the year. For most people, this means sometime during the late fall but varies depending on your climate. If your area frequently sees early frosts, it is a good idea to winterize early, while climates that do not see a freeze until later in the year can often wait a few weeks longer.

Sprinkler System Activation

Sprinkler system activation occurs at the end of the winter. It involves turning the system back on and doing a tune-up to make sure everything is working properly. Cost for activation is generally about $40-$150. The water is turned back on slowly so that pipes do not burst from a water surge. There will also be a cleaning and inspection of all moving parts and each zone, which will be included in the activation price. The heads will be straightened and raised, the electrical system tested, pressure checks done, and the timer will be reset for the correct watering schedule. Any broken or worn parts will be replaced and the sprinkler lines will be cleared of any debris or rodent nesting, which could result in an additional cost of $50-$200.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Self-draining Systems

When installing a sprinkler system ¹, it is possible to have a self-draining system installed. This system allows the water in the pipes to drain naturally down a slope. However, it is still possible for water to collect in the low-lying areas, which could still freeze. It is recommended, therefore, that you have your self-draining system inspected if you choose not to have it blown out. This is a cost of $40 on average

Additional Considerations and Costs

• If you choose to DIY the winterization, you can rent a small air compressor to do the job at a cost of roughly $20 an hour from most hardware stores.
• To get your system ready in the spring, most simply need to be turned on and have the water supply valve opened. If your system requires more than this to get going, such as tuning the heads, inspecting the pipes, and setting the controls most companies complete this for around $75.
• Some companies offer a package for winterization and getting it ready again in the spring for a flat rate of around $100 to $125.
• If your system is damaged and needs to be replaced, this can cost between $2,500 and $8,000, depending on how large the system is. Repairs to an existing system run around $1,200 on average.
• If your area sees a drought before freezing, it is usually recommended to water the grass before freezing to strengthen it and prevent damage to the roots. If this is the case, you may wish to winterize after the first day or two of low temperatures to give your grass the best chance of survival. Otherwise, manually watering the lawn and draining the outside spigot afterward may help.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Irrigation system: (Also known as Sprinkler system) Set of equipment used to irrigate lawns