How Much Does Winterizing Your Sprinkler System Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $56 - $132
The cost to winterize a sprinkler system is $90 on average, but it can cost between $56 and $132.
The cost to winterize a sprinkler system ranges between $56 and $132, with an average cost of $90. Winterizing your sprinkler system is an important part of preparing your home for cold weather and setting it up for success in the spring. Let’s review the cost of winterizing your sprinkler system to help you budget for this maintenance task.
- Average
- $90
- Low end
- $40
- high end
- $336
Sprinkler System Winterization Cost Factors
Several factors can impact the cost of winterizing your sprinkler system. Here are the main variables that play into your budget.
Number of Zones
The typical sprinkler winterization cost of $56 and $132 assumes that you have an irrigation system with three or four zones. You may have more or less depending on the size of your yard. The more zones you have, the more you’ll pay to prepare your sprinklers for freezing temperatures.
Here’s a breakdown of the average cost to winterize a sprinkler system based on the number of zones you have:
| Number of Zones | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | $50–$75 |
| 3–4 | $80–$100 |
| 5–6 | $100–$130 |
| 7–8 | $150–$250 |
Type of System
The cost to winterize a sprinkler system depends in part on how a service tech drains the water from your type of sprinkler system.
| Type of Sprinkler System | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Manual Drain Valve | $75–$150 |
| Automatic Drain Valve | $90–$175 |
| Blowout Draining | $100–$250 |
Manual Drain Valve
The average cost to winterize a manual drain sprinkler system is $75 to $150. You drain these types of sprinkler systems by turning off your water main and then opening a drain value to release the trapped water.
Depending on the terrain of your property, water may drain away from the highest points of your yard but sit in lower ones. This presents a problem as any water remaining in the pipes is subject to freezing, which can damage your irrigation system.
Automatic Drain Valve
The average cost to winterize an automatic drain sprinkler is $90 to $175. These systems automatically drain as soon as you shut off your main water supply. However, like manual drain sprinklers, these systems are prone to trapping water in low spots.
Blowout Draining
The average cost for a sprinkler system blowout is $100 to $250. A sprinkler pro can perform this service on any kind of lawn sprinkler system, and because it uses high-pressure air to force water out of the pipes, it eliminates the problem of water sitting in low spots.
Even if you have a manual or automatic drain sprinkler, a service tech may suggest the blowout process if they feel that the elevation of your property won’t allow for proper draining.
Labor
Typically charging a flat rate of $75 to $150, hiring a local landscaping company is your best bet for winterization of your lawn sprinkler system. These professionals have all the skills and tools necessary to drain and winterize your sprinkler, no matter which style you have.
However, you also have the option to pay a nearby plumber a flat fee of $40 to $200 if you have a trusted pro in mind or local landscaping companies are too busy to fit you in. Plumbers tend to be slightly more expensive due to their advanced training and experience.
Time Frame
The time of year that you winterize your irrigation system affects how much you’ll pay. Many landscaping companies in colder climates focus on winterization at the end of fall. During this time, these pros may offer reduced rates as they’re already traveling around your area to complete these services.
If you wait a few weeks longer to winterize your sprinklers, perhaps so that you can offer your grass one last watering before deep freezes set in, your landscape company may charge you for a higher-priced service call.
Service Agreements
Many sprinkler winterization companies offer service contracts that cover irrigation system winterization, springtime activation, and sometimes summer inspections. Bundling these services often results in greater savings than if you were to schedule each individually.
Cost to Winterize a Sprinkler System Yourself
The cost to winterize a sprinkler system yourself can range from nothing but your time to about $30 to $60. If your land slopes enough to allow for complete drainage of a manual or automatic drain irrigation system, you may be able to complete winterization at no cost.
If your land is relatively flat, it will be safer to use the blowout method to force water out of your sprinkler system. To do this, you’ll need to rent an industrial air compressor, which typically costs $30 to $60 per day.
Take note that winterizing a sprinkler system yourself comes with risk. The water in your sprinkler system is pressurized, so you have to be careful when opening valves to keep from damaging your system or hurting yourself.
Keep in mind that an air compressor is a powerful piece of equipment that’s also capable of hurting you or your sprinkler pipes if you use it incorrectly. It’s vital that you carefully review your sprinkler system’s user manual to determine how much compressed air it can withstand.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Assuming that you can winterize your irrigation system in one day, you may come out slightly ahead by paying for an air compressor rental rather than hiring a local pro.
However, when you consider the amount of time it will take you to do the job, the learning curve that comes with using an air compressor, and the risk that you don’t completely drain your irrigation system, it really makes sense to pay the extra money to hire a local sprinkler winterization professional to perform the work instead.
Common Sprinkler Winterization Add-Ons
As you plan your sprinkler system winterization project, it’s a good idea to plan for the spring startup of your sprinkler system as well. Incorporating additional services into a comprehensive service contract can reduce your overall expenses. Your professional service provider may offer bundled deals during the winter, covering a range of services for the upcoming spring and summer seasons:
Lawn care costs: $50–$210 per visit
Lawn aeration costs: $100–$350
Sod replacement costs: $1,100–$3,000
Grass seeding costs: $0.10–$0.35 per square foot
Landscaping costs: $1,300–$6,100
How to Save Money on Winterizing a Sprinkler System
If you’d rather not take the risks with DIY winterization but still want to save some money, consider the following tips.
Winterize Your Sprinkler System Early
As the end of fall approaches, start contacting local sprinkler winterization companies to learn about their rates. Remember that many offer discount pricing if you complete winterization by a certain date (typically a few weeks before the first anticipated hard freeze).
Pay for a Winterization and Activation Package
Seeing as you’ll need to pay a technician to return to your property to activate your sprinklers in the spring, look into purchasing a service bundle that includes both winterization and activation. In return for your purchase of a service contract, many companies will offer steep discounts.
When to Winterize Your Sprinkler System
The ideal time to winterize your sprinkler system typically falls in mid-to-late fall or early winter before the first hard frost hits your region. It's crucial to act before freezing temperatures settle in to prevent costly damage to the system.
When to Activate Your Sprinkler System
Activating your sprinkler system should coincide with the arrival of the growing season in your region. The ideal time to activate your sprinkler system typically falls in the early spring, once the threat of freezing temperatures has passed and your lawn and plants are beginning to emerge from dormancy. It's crucial to wait until the risk of frost is minimal, as turning on your sprinklers prematurely can lead to damage if water freezes in the system.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You only need to winterize your sprinkler system if you live in a region of the country that sees freezing temperatures. If you live in warmer climates, such as Florida or in the Southwest, you don’t have to worry about winterization because you don’t experience frigid weather.
You should winterize your sprinkler system before your area’s first deep freeze. For many places, this translates to the end of fall. However, depending on your particular locale, it could be sooner or later.
The best time to activate your sprinkler system is after the last deep freeze of the season. When exactly this occurs will differ depending on where you live, so you should monitor local weather conditions or seek the advice of a nearby landscape company that specializes in winterizing sprinkler systems.
The average cost to activate a sprinkler system is $40 to $150. This includes restoring water to the system, inspecting it to make sure there’s no damage, and ensuring your timers and schedules are properly set.