Sprinkler winterization: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering sprinkler winterization

Winterization is a seasonal job that protects the system through the cold months, and most damage is avoided by doing it on time and doing it thoroughly. Your value is in clearing every line safely, checking the backflow and valves, and leaving the customer with a clear note.

What customers ask

  • When do I need to winterize, and how do I know it is the right time?
  • Will you blow out the lines without breaking anything?
  • Do you drain the backflow device?
  • What do I need to do with the controller?
  • Can you book the spring startup at the same time?
  • What happens if a line freezes after you leave?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask about the system's age, the number of zones and the backflow location, and set the window for the visit before the first hard freeze.
  • Check each zone for leaks, stuck valves and damaged heads while you run it, and note anything that needs repair before the air goes in.
  • Put the zones, the backflow handling, the controller setting, the repairs found and the spring startup in the written quote.
  • Show the customer the shutoff and the drain points on site, and explain what each one does.
  • Leave a written note with the date of the blowout, the zones done, the controller setting and the steps to restart in spring.
  • Offer the spring startup in the same visit or as a booked follow-up, and explain what the startup checks.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of backflow devices drained or insulated, with the protection method shown
  • The number of zones and system sizes you winterize
  • Your air pressure method and the equipment you use, described in plain terms
  • The seasons and windows you book, so customers know when to call

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Send a reminder before the winter window with the booking date and what the customer should do
  • Offer a spring startup and test, with the zone checks listed in the quote
  • Suggest a repair plan if the check found broken heads or old valves, and let the customer decide when to do it

Licenses and permits

Sprinkler winterization may fall under irrigation contractor rules in some areas, and backflow devices may have their own certification and testing rules. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local water utility before you take the work, and confirm each rule that applies.

Questions

Do I need a license to winterize sprinklers?

In some areas winterization for pay falls under irrigation contractor rules, and backflow work may need its own certification. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your water utility before you offer the service.

What pressure should I use to blow out lines?

Use the pressure that the system manufacturer and the equipment instructions specify, and keep it low enough to avoid damaging the pipes and heads. Explain your method to the customer, and note the zones you cleared.

How do I handle a line that freezes after I leave?

Explain what was done, check the zones with the customer in spring, and document the state of the system when you left. Fix the damage under the terms in the quote, and say clearly what the warranty covers.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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