Winterizing your irrigation system is crucial to protect it from freeze damage during the winter, but when should you do this in Iowa? Ideally, you'll want to have it winterized at least one week before the first frost to ensure there's no remaining water in the lines that can freeze and crack them. Many professional companies offer irrigation winterization in October since that's around when temperatures start dropping and posing a risk of freezing. However, it's important to watch the weather to avoid doing it too early, otherwise your grass and plants can dry out. By properly timing your irrigation winterization, your system will be safe from damage, and your vegetation won't go without adequate hydration until dormancy.

Your irrigation system should be winterized at least one week before the first freeze.

Sprinkler head in Ankeny, IA, blowing out air from winterization.

The best time to winterize your irrigation system in Iowa is at least one week before the first expected freeze of the season. This timing ensures your system is properly protected from cold temperatures. After all, winterization involves blowing out the water from inside the pipes so it doesn't freeze over, which can cause them to crack or burst. If you don't do it in time, you risk this happening, leading to costly repairs come springtime. However, doing it at least a week before the first frost will give you peace of mind knowing your irrigation system is safely shut down in time for the winter.

Many Professional Companies Offer Irrigation Winterization in October

Irrigation winterization involves more than just turning off your system - it requires a specific process to ensure it's properly prepared for the winter months here in Iowa. Because of this, many professional companies offer irrigation winterization in October. This month provides ample time to get everything done before any potential frosts hit, plus pros know how to do it right to avoid causing unnecessary damage. That way, you don't risk waiting until the last minute and possibly missing the window to protect your irrigation system.

In addition to winterization, you'll want to schedule an irrigation startup service in the spring to bring your system back online!

Will your grass and plants be okay without water once you winterize your irrigation system?

While it's essential to winterize your irrigation system before the first frost, doing it too early can leave your lawn and plants without sufficient water. After all, they need consistent hydration up until they go dormant. If you shut down your irrigation system prematurely, your vegetation could dry out. To prevent this issue, you should monitor the weather closely. If you wait until about 1-2 weeks before the first frost to winterize your system, your grass and plants will be okay since they go dormant to preserve their resources.

Call us today to sign up for our irrigation winterization service!

At ETCH Outdoor Living, we understand the importance of protecting your irrigation system from freezing temperatures, which is why we offer our top-notch irrigation winterization service! Our team follows a thorough process to safely shut down your system for the winter, which involves turning off the main water supply, shutting down the controller, and blowing the water out of the lines. This service is available in October to ensure there's plenty of time to winterize it before the first freeze. With us, you can trust that we'll do whatever it takes to keep your irrigation system safe from damage so it works perfectly once it's brought online again the following growing season.

We proudly serve residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Ankeny, IA, and throughout the surrounding areas, such as Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Waukee. Call us today at (515) 654-5447 to sign up for our irrigation winterization service!