When the warm season fades and the chill sets in, one of the most important things a property owner can do is prepare their irrigation system for winter. Here in southern Alberta, freezing temperatures can cause serious damage to unprotected pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads — often leading to expensive repairs come spring.

Why Winterization Matters

Even a small amount of water left in your irrigation lines can expand when frozen, cracking PVC pipes or damaging backflow preventers. Once thawed, those leaks can waste thousands of litres of water and drive up your bills.

Steps to Properly Winterize

• Shut Off the Water Supply: Turn off the irrigation system at the main valve to stop water flow to the sprinklers.
• Drain or Blow Out the Lines: Use compressed air (at safe PSI) to blow remaining water out of the system. This step is best left to professionals with the right equipment and safety gear.
• Protect the Backflow Preventer: Insulate or remove and store your backflow device to prevent damage from freezing.
• Set the Controller to “Off” or “Rain Mode”: This ensures your system doesn’t activate accidentally during the off-season.

TruBlue Tip 💧

Schedule your irrigation winterization service before the first hard frost. TruBlue Irrigation provides complete system blowouts and inspections to ensure your sprinklers are safe, secure, and ready for spring startup.