Hi, Bob here!
Every year, I hear the same thing from homeowners:
“We thought our sprinkler system was fine… until we turned it on in the spring.”
The truth is, if your sprinkler system isn’t properly winterized in the fall, the problems don’t show up until months later. By then, the damage is already done — and the repairs can get expensive.
Here are the five most common issues I see come springtime after a poor winterization.
- Cracked or Burst Pipes
When water is left inside your lines and freezes, it expands. That pressure can crack PVC or poly pipes underground. The worst part? You usually don’t notice until you fire up the system in spring — and water starts pooling in your yard.
Why it matters: Fixing underground pipes often requires digging up sections of your lawn. It’s messy, time-consuming, and can cost hundreds of dollars.
- Damaged Backflow Preventers
Your backflow preventer is one of the most vulnerable (and expensive) parts of your system. If water sits inside during a freeze, it can crack the brass body or the delicate internal parts.
Why it matters: A replacement backflow preventer often runs $600–$1,000. Because it’s a safety device, it must be fixed before you can legally run your sprinklers.
- Broken Sprinkler Heads
Even if the lines are clear, water can remain inside the sprinkler heads themselves. When that freezes, the plastic casings crack. Come spring, you’ll notice heads that won’t pop up, are leaking, or spraying water in strange directions.
Why it matters: Replacing multiple broken heads adds up quickly, especially if they’re specialty rotors or hard-to-find models.
- Stuck Valves and Zones
Valves that weren’t fully drained can freeze solid, damaging seals or making them stick open or closed. In spring, that can mean an entire zone that won’t run — or one that won’t shut off.
Why it matters: Stuck valves waste water, flood your lawn, and often require professional replacement.
- A Delayed Green-Up in Spring
Even if nothing breaks, a poorly winterized system may not run reliably when you need it most. That means your lawn doesn’t get watered early in the season — leaving it patchy and stressed by the time repairs are finished.
Why it matters: Reviving a lawn that’s already struggling costs more time, money, and effort than simply protecting your sprinkler system in the first place.
Final Thoughts from Bob
Winterization isn’t just about getting through the cold months — it’s about giving your lawn a head start for spring. Skipping steps (or skipping the service altogether) almost always leads to headaches and costly surprises down the road.
That’s why I tell folks: take an hour in the fall to do it right, and you’ll save yourself weeks of frustration in the spring.
If you haven’t scheduled your winterization yet — or had problems last spring — let’s get you on the calendar this year. You’ll sleep easier all winter knowing your sprinklers are safe and ready for spring.