Winterizing irrigation systems is an important step to protect them from damage caused by freezing temperatures. There are three basic methods for draining leftover water from your sprinkler or irrigation system: manual drain, automatic drain, and blow-out. The method you use depends on the type of irrigation you have in place. If you’re not sure, or don’t feel comfortable winterizing yourself, contact us for help.

Here are the general steps for each method:

Manual Drain Method:

Some irrigation systems are equipped with manual drainage. These systems allow you to empty excess water from the system by simply opening a valve. If you have manual drain irrigation, follow these steps:

  • Shut off the water supply to the system.
  • Look for the manual valves at the ends and low points of the piping.
  • Open all the valves and drain the water from the system.
  • Make sure you also drain the backflow device.
  • Some sprinklers are equipped with check valves. These devices allow water to only flow one way. If you’ve got check valves on your system, try raising the sprinkler heads. This should let water drain out of those mechanisms.
  • Once you’ve drained the entire system, close all the valves.

Automatic Drain Method

An automatic drain system has valves that automatically drain water from the pipes. This happens only when the water pressure falls below a certain number of pounds per square inch. To activate an automatic drain function, follow these steps:

  • Turn off the water supply.
  • Briefly run one of the sprinkler heads to relieve the water pressure in the system.
  • Automatic draining should begin, clearing the pipes of excess water.
  • You may still need to drain the water between the shut-off valve and the backflow device.
  • If the sprinkler heads are equipped with check valves, empty them separately.

Blow-Out Method

The final way of draining an irrigation system is known as the blow-out method. To drain the pipes, you force compressed air through the irrigation system. This discharges excess water through the sprinkler heads. It works if you have the proper irrigation system to handle the pressure. The blow-out method is potentially hazardous.