Sprinkler System Winterization
In Utah County and Salt Lake County
Offer Ends September 30th!
Early Winterization Special - $25 Off
- ⚡ Book early before the fall rush
- ⚡ High-pressure system blow-out
- ⚡ Protect pipes from freeze damage
- ⚡ Up to 8 valves included
Book OnlineWhat is a Winterization?
Why you should blow out your sprinkler system in Utah
In Utah County and Salt Lake County, winter temperatures can be unpredictable: some years we have warm winters, and some years they are unbearably cold. When winter weather gets bad, the pipes in your sprinkler system can burst, causing leaks and damage to your home. A professional sprinkler winterization is the best way to prevent this issue. We turn off your water supply and blow out all of your sprinkler lines with high-pressure air to remove as much water as possible. For a full homeowner walkthrough—timing, backflow, compressor size, and secondary water—read our Utah sprinkler winterization guide.
Some homeowners choose to winterize their sprinkler systems themselves either by turning them off and allowing them to drain or blowing them out with a small air compressor. Hiring a professional is more convenient, more thorough, and will give you peace of mind compared to doing it yourself.
When to Blow Out Sprinklers
When should I turn off my sprinkler system for winter?
Lawn sprinkler systems need to be winterized before the first hard freeze of the year! Above-ground system components like backflow preventers are especially at risk of cracking and freezing once temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The "frost line" (how deep freezing temperatures penetrate into the ground) differs from state to state. In northern Utah, freezing temperatures can penetrate as deep at 30 inches, which means sprinkler lines are at risk. In some areas of the country, homeowners with lawn sprinkler systems may choose to skip winterization all together, since temperatures rarely get below freezing. However, in northern Utah, it is a non-negotiable step in system maintenance. We recommend most homeowners winterize in late September; see when to winterize sprinklers in Utah and our complete winterization guide for timing, process, and why waiting for the first freeze forecast is risky.
Steps to Winterize a Sprinkler System
- Shut off the water — For most homeowners, the main shutoff valve for a sprinkler system is either in their basement or in the yard near the home's water meter. Some valves are self-draining (stop and waste valves) while others are not. It is important to know which type you have. In pressurized irrigation (secondary water) cities like Spanish Fork, Pleasant Grove, Alpine, and Bluffdale, the city will shut off the water as well, but it is good to shut it off at your own system for safety. Most cities shut off secondary water on October 15. We recommend winterizing your system between October 1-31.
- Winterize the backflow preventer — For lawn irrigation systems running on culinary water, backflow preventers are generally required by local building codes. These come in various shapes and sizes and can be above ground or below ground. The purpose of a backflow preventer is to prevent contaminated water in the irrigation system from flowing back into the drinking water supply. Each backflow preventer is different in winterization steps, so it is best to find an online manufacturer guide for your specific model. Most follow a few main steps: shut off the water supply, shut off the outlet valve, open drains and test cocks, blow out the pipes, and set valves to half-open for winter. Important note: systems running on secondary water (pressurized irrigation) do not need backflow prevention, so this step can be skipped depending on your city.
- Blow out pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads — Blow out each sprinkler station, one at a time, by hooking an air compressor into the main line and running a sprinkler cycle for about 5 minutes per station. An air compressor can attach through a spigot or winterization port. Some systems have automatic drains, but many contractors advise against relying on these because they can fail. On most residential systems, a small 30-gallon air compressor is sufficient. Backflow preventer outlet valves should be closed during this process to avoid damaging internal components.
- Set controller to off position — Some controllers, such as Rachio controllers, call this "hibernation mode." This stops electrical signals from flowing to the valves. However, if you forgot to turn the controller off, it is okay. Just make sure the water is turned off! Turning off the sprinkler system from the controller does not prevent freeze damage—the water supply itself needs to be turned off.
- Keep the water off until it gets warm again — There is no reason to water your lawn between October and March. Utah landscapes generally use cool-season grass like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. To avoid freeze damage or wasting water, don't turn on your sprinklers until it warms up again. The best time to turn your sprinklers on in Utah is in April.
Cost to Blow out Sprinklers in Utah
Price of Sprinkler Winterization
If you do it yourself, a sprinkler blow out takes 1-2 hours and costs only as much as the air compressor you use, whether you buy or rent. Keep in mind that smaller air compressors are less thorough and slower for blowing out your sprinkler lines.
If you hire a professional, expect to pay professional rates! If you are looking for a company that will do a thorough job, provide excellent customer service, and send only qualified technicians to your property, call Storm Sprinklers today. In 2026, we charge $149 for an irrigation blow-out (up to 8 zones). Storm Shield maintenance plan members receive winterization as part of their plan, along with a spring tune-up. Systems with more than 8 zones add $15 per additional zone. For scheduling convenience, 5-year warranty protection, and a ton of other benefits, most of our customers prefer Storm Shield memberships.
Included
Storm Shield Members
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We service landscape irrigation systems in Utah County and Salt Lake County. Select your city from the list below to see local pricing, availability, and service details.
Sprinkler System Maintenance Plans
Storm Shield Lawn Sprinkler Maintenance Plan
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This winterization is included in Storm Shield Essential
Prices starting at $399/year
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- Fall System Winterization
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I winterize my system myself?
Of course you can! Whether you choose to do this yourself depends on a few factors: 1) Time. Do you have an hour or two to devote to this project? 2) Capacity. Do you own an air compressor and attachments to fit it to your sprinkler system? 3) Warranty. Are you interested in our 5-year warranty from Storm Sprinklers on either a repair or new installation? Our warranties are conditional on active Storm Shield maintenance plan enrollment, which includes winterization with our company. If you are not concerned about these potential obstacles, we recommend winterizing your sprinklers on your own to save money!
How does freezing water damage irrigation systems?
When water freezes, it expands in size by 9%. When a pipe is full of water and the water freezes, pipes crack. This is true for all types of pipe: metal, PVC, drip tube, polyethylene, and copper. This also includes fixtures such as filters, valves, sprinkler heads, and backflow preventers. By blowing out the sprinkler system with pressurized air, we ensure no damage to the system when freezing temperatures come.
When should I blow out my lawn sprinkler system?
The best time to blow out your landscape irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads is in October. For specific information on sprinkler shutoff timing in your city, go to our comprehensive scheduling guide. While some prefer to wait until the last minute and keep watering until November, prices are higher and spots are fewer in November. It is even okay to winterize your sprinklers in September! Our when-to-winterize guide explains why late September is safest, and the complete winterization guide covers the full blowout process.
What areas do you service?
We service all of Utah County and Salt Lake County, from Santaquin to Salt Lake City. This includes areas like Provo, Spanish Fork, Mapleton, Lehi, Bluffdale, Sandy, Draper, Cottonwood Heights, Kearns, Riverton, and Saratoga Springs, as well as many others. We are a locally owned and operated business dedicated to improving Utah homeowners' experiences with local sprinkler companies.
What happens if I don't winterize my system?
When you fail to winterize your sprinkler system in northern Utah, underground sprinkler pipes and fittings that are full of water will freeze and crack, causing leaks in the spring. In the worst of cases, this can compromise irrigation lines for hundreds of feet, leading to massive repair costs in the spring. Failure to winterize is one of the most common causes of expensive repairs we see in the spring, especially on backflow preventers.
What other tips do you have for sprinkler blow outs?
Drip irrigation tubes are common in garden beds, but since these have a controlled flow rate at each emitter, the fastest way to winterize a drip tube is to find one end of it and remove the cap or kink to completely open up air flow. With the right fittings, you can even hook the air compressor up to a sprinkler head and blow backwards through the sprinkler valve into other lines—though backwards flow through a valve can choke the air flow. The goal of winterization is to get as much water as you can out of the pipes, but you don't have to get it all, because water only expands 9% in volume when it freezes. Rotary nozzles like MP rotators take longer to winterize. Smart sprinkler controllers from brands like Rachio, Hunter, B-Hyve, and Rainbird make winterizations easy because you don't have to go back and forth from the timer to the lawn.
Hi. Austin from Storm Sprinklers came out to my home for an issue that I was having with one of my sprinkler system stations not coming on. He arrived at the time he had committed to and promptly diagnosed the problem and fixed it in just a few minutes. He asked if there were any other issues or concerns to which I replied, no other issues. I did ask what was involved in doing a system winterizatio service. He gave me a good explanation and then quoted me a very reasonable price for the service. I told him that I would consider it and let him know. My system has positive drains however I may have Storm Sprnklers do the service because of Austin’s excellent explanation and that I am very happy with the results of his past work for me. I heartily offer my full recommendation of Storm Sprinklers for anyone needing help with their sprinkler system!
Ben came by to look at our system and the issues we have been having since last summer. He made several recommendations that we were impressed with his knowledge and taking the time to explain the issues in detail. We had him replace a few heads, a filter and he adjusted / checked the remaining heads and adjusted our controller programming!
We look forward to having him back in the fall to winterize our system!
Austin did a great job winterizing our sprinklers!
Luis did a great job! He changed inefficient sprinklers to drip irrigation on our trees, installed a new sprinkler where there was a dead spot in the lawn, tested and adjusted ALL the sprinklers for maximum efficiency, including existing sprinklers. He also taught us a few things about adjusting sprinklers that we didn’t know beforehand. Thank you, Luis! We’ll have you back in the Fall to winterize our sprinklers.
I discovered a large leak in an older part of my sprinkler system where pipes and tubing used were not standard sizes. Austin was able to find the necessary parts to perform a fantasic repair job, and the cost was exactly what I expected. I have an appointment in a couple weeks for Storm Sprinklers to winterize my system, and I told him I look forward to next season when they can make some changes to some of my zones.
Austin and his team provided amazing service! They not only did a spectacular job installing our system but when winterizing walked me through step by step how to keep maintain the system. Absolutely amazing team!
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Easy Scheduling
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Ready to book your blow out service and protect your irrigation system? Your appointment is only a few clicks away. We offer online booking and we have AI agents to answer after-hours phone calls, so you can get on the schedule in just a couple of minutes, no matter your preferred method of booking. Looking for a more human booking experience? We've got that too: call during normal business hours and our friendly staff will leave you on cloud nine. Scheduling a sprinkler winterization has never been so easy. Don't wait: spots fill fast and we only have a limited number of spots available for the winter! Call now to be placed on our schedule.
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