Cold Weather Alert: Is Your Sprinkler System Ready for Winter?
Maile Sipraseuth
EDITED: Oct. 21, 2025 4:20 PM
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With colder temperatures setting in and frost appearing, homeowners are being reminded not to overlook an important task: winterizing their sprinkler systems.
It is important to winterize your sprinklers as soon as those cold months come in, otherwise you’ll see damages.
“Water as it freezes is extremely powerful. And its expansion into ice will break just about anything,” Owner of OLS Sprinklers, Steve Morales, said.
Morales said the blow-out method is one of the most effective ways to winterize your sprinklers. This method involves using compressed air to clear water from the sprinkler system’s pipes.
Another method is the “drain out” method, which he says customers like, but not as effective since it could be error-prone.
“What we found is that it’s not as good because some of the sprinklers that have gears in the bottom of them will get ice expansion in those gears and then their lifespan is shortened. It should last 12 or 15 years. Sometimes they’re a lot less if you allow them to ice over every winter,” Morales said.
While you may think it’s easier and cheaper to do it yourself, you should always consult with a professional or do extensive research prior to doing a blow-out to ensure accuracy and to avoid injuries.
“If you do it yourself, then the damages when you repair those sprinkler systems are several hundred could be thousands of dollars. But when it’s not done correctly, a lot of the basements in Idaho Falls end up with the water that that after the thaw occurs and the sprinkler systems now broken, sometimes the water will go down and flood a basement and then you’re really done some serious damage,” Morales said.
Original:
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– With colder temperatures setting in and frost appearing, homeowners are being reminded not to overlook an important task: winterizing their sprinkler systems.
Experts at The Home Depot highlight three common methods for winterizing sprinklers: The manual drain method, the automatic drain method, and the blow-out method.
Local company Ohana Sprinklers and Landscaping emphasizes the importance of the blow-out method. When water is left in the system and freezes, it can bend gears. The blow-out method helps prevent this, extending the lifespan of your sprinkler system.
The blow-out method involves using compressed air to clear water from the sprinkler system’s pipes. However, it can be dangerous if proper safety precautions aren’t followed. This is why extensive research or professional help is important.
The ideal time to start winterizing is between mid-September and the end of October.