2022 Irrigation System Winterization Cost

Having an irrigation system in place is important, especially if you’re looking to keep your grass green during the dry seasons. However, it’s important that you choose the right one for your yard or whatever it is that you need an irrigation system for. Price is an important aspect of this. So, how much does an irrigation system cost?

The average cost of irrigation system winterization is $83, and it costs $115 to maintain the system during winter. It costs another $11 per sprinkler head to replace damaged sprinklers, $15 per valve, and $1.50 per square foot to replace PVC pipes. Homeowners spend an average of $250 on irrigation system repairs leading into the winter.

A skilled plumber must maintain your sprinkler system on a regular basis in order for it to function correctly. Winterizing in the autumn and activating them before spring is the most typical chores you’ll have to perform. Failure to winterize an irrigation system can cause damage just like over-irrigation is damaging to soil.

It is preferable to employ a professional to complete these chores for the finest results.

Winterizing your sprinkler system might cost anywhere between $50 and $120. This series covers households with one to six zones. Property with multiple zones may be more expensive. The average cost of keeping a sprinkler system in good working order is $80, ranging from $40 to $250.

Plumbers typically charge a fixed amount for this service, although they may also charge an hourly rate. Depending on the job, a plumber might cost anywhere from $45 to $200 per hour. You just pay for labor because this method may not require any new or replacement parts.

Sprinkler winterization is essential for homeowners who wish to avoid plumbing issues during the chilly winter months. Having your pipes repaired can cost between $150 and $350. When water freezes, it expands. Any water trapped in a sprinkler system puts strain on the pipes, which can lead to cracking and breaking.

It will cost around $80 to $85 to hire a professional to winterize your system. Because it works for virtually all systems, plumbers prefer to “blow out” the sprinkler. An air compressor is used to push the water out. If blowing out isn’t an option, they can manually or mechanically empty the valves if the system allows it.

Many homeowners choose to complete this task on their own. If your land does not have much of a slope, you will need to rent an air compressor for $30 to $60 a day to blast out all the water. Given the expense, it may be more convenient to hire a professional to complete this task correctly. Irrigation system and sprinkler system cost is worth the money if you maintain them properly.

The average cost of repairing a sprinkler system is $250, which includes the cost of replacing broken components such as sprinkler heads.

During the spring and summer, you may notice that one section of your lawn or garden appears to be drier than others. If that’s the case, you should check to see if the sprinkler head is clogged.

Dirt and debris may readily obstruct these components, causing them to become stuck in the ground. Your specialist can clean the heads and ensure that they function correctly.

Make sure to winterize your above-ground pool to avoid disaster and repairs.

Rental equipment may cost as much ($60 to $80 per day) as hiring a professional to blow out a sprinkler system (average of $80 to $85) to homeowners who need to blow them out.

When the controller shuts down, some systems are intended to automatically push out water, making the homeowner’s remaining job quick and easy. You’re better off hiring a specialist if you’re not sure what sort of system you have or if you don’t feel comfortable opening your valves.

Drain valves (if installed in your system; if they aren’t, adding them is simple) offer a second but riskier, winterizing alternative. Automatic drain valves are designed to self-drain anytime there is no system pressure, whereas manual drain valves must be opened by the homeowner.

Using drain valves carries the danger of water not draining entirely from the system. Any remaining water might freeze, causing significant system damage. To be safe, call a professional or rent/purchase an air compressor and blow out the system like the professionals do.

Some firms may give you a discount if you serve many yards in the same area or if you combine it with other services. When it comes to winterizing a sprinkler system, there are a few things to consider.

Request referrals from friends, neighbors, or the employees at local plant nurseries or home improvement shops to discover a landscaping or sprinkler business. Alternatively, look for specialists who have been accredited by the Irrigation Association.

Inquire about what is included in the company’s winterization service and if the price varies depending on the number of zones in the sprinkler system or any other elements that might impact the overall cost. Also, inquire about the compressor’s size and capacity (some firms utilize a big compressor on a trailer) as well as the crew’s expertise.

Winterizing sprinklers is very simple, but there are a few things to bear in mind before hiring someone to do it or doing it yourself. You will want to consider the amount of time that it would take both parties, as well as the typical costs and tools.

For example, a professional will have all the tools on hand that they could possibly need. If you don’t have these tools, then you will spend a fair amount of money to get them. Not to mention, professionals usually lump in maintenance as well.

Depending on the number of irrigation zones in the system, the local cost of living, and the month the job is done, hiring a landscaping or sprinkler firm to blow out a sprinkler system can cost $30-$160 or more. A normal sprinkler system will cost $55-$85.

Lewis Landscape Services in Beaverton, OR, for example, costs $60 for a typical winterization before December 1; after that, it’s a normal service call ($120). Winterizing a standard-sized system costs $75-$85, according to Horizon Landscape Company in Wycoff, NJ.

Winterizing home systems with 1″ diameter supply pipes and seven zones or less costs $75 at TriState Water Works in Cincinnati, OH; extra zones cost $8.50 apiece.

A winterized system will require a spring start-up and tune-up. For $100-$200 or more, several businesses offer package offers that include both winterization and de-winterization services; some even include a summer inspection to ensure that the system is working correctly during peak demand.

Although some experts advise against it, it is feasible to winterize sprinklers on your own. The cost of renting an air compressor ranges from $25 to $75. A household air compressor costs between $100 and $500, but it may not be powerful enough to remove all of the water; a commercial-grade compressor costs $1,000 or more.

Winterizing a sprinkler system generally involves shutting off the main water supply, draining the backflow preventer, draining or using an air compressor to remove all water from each sprinkler zone, removing fertilizer and rust-blocker injection systems, and turning off the timing system.

Most home air compressors aren’t powerful enough to blow out a whole sprinkler system at once (most experts prefer a commercial-grade compressor with a capacity of at least 50 cubic feet per minute). Still, it can be done zone by zone for do-it-yourselfers.

Each zone should be blasted out at least twice, with some time in between (plastic gears can melt if allowed to get too hot). Do-it-yourself instructions may be found in Family Handyman magazine.

Cold temperatures can cause water in sprinkler systems to freeze and expand, breaking pipes, sprinkler heads, and fittings in cold areas. To avoid this costly damage, the system must be winterized by draining all of the water from the pipes.

In severely cold areas, this is usually accomplished by using an air compressor to blast away the water, although in slightly warmer climes, specific sprinkler systems may be constructed for manual or automated drainage.

Even when paying for a professional service when winterizing your irrigation system, you will pay far less than the cost to fix any major damages from freezing. Therefore, it’s better just to winterize your sprinkler system than to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix freeze damage.

Depending on the minimum service call price of the irrigation specialist or landscaper, activating your system for spring and summer irrigation will cost $50 to $150. Landscapers usually charge a fixed fee for this service. Starting your system entails more than just turning on the water.

Before gradually restoring water pressure, the technician or landscaper should examine the backflow preventer. If you turn on the water too quickly, you risk damaging sensitive heads and valves. Then, before turning on the controllers, they should inspect the whole system, zone by zone, for leaks or damage.

In the event of damage, an hourly charge is frequently set to repair all of the damage or to split it down into parts. Replacement of a new head is dependent on which head is in need of replacement.

Homeowners will pay $20 to $25 per month on average to utilize their sprinkler system. Irrigation accounts for roughly 30% of a property’s total water use in the United States, with the average American household using 90 gallons per day.

Remember that your bill will differ depending on where you’re at. For example, if you live in Arizona and you’re trying to keep a green lawn, good luck! You will most likely need to use your sprinkler system every single day, year-round.

However, if you’re in Wyoming, there will be about six months out of the year where you won’t need to run the irrigation system. Keep your location in mind when budgeting.

Related Questions

When should the irrigation system be winterized?

As a general guideline, winterize your system at least a week before the first predicted freeze. During that time, your lawn will survive without frequent watering since the plants are preparing for the dry winter season.In areas with unpredictable cold snaps, it’s wise to winterize your irrigation system at least three weeks before the temperatures begin to plummet. This is to save your system from any potential freezing.

What is irrigation winterization?

The blow-out method of removing all the water from all the irrigation components is used throughout the winterization process. If this does not occur, the water will freeze, causing damage to your system’s subterranean pipes, pumps, sprinkler heads, valves, and other components.

How much pressure does a sprinkler system need?

For most home sprinkler heads, the optimal working pressure is between 30 and 50 pounds per square inch (PSI). With the right water pressure, each head will work as it was intended, resulting in even spray patterns and economical water consumption.