5 Tips to Winterize Your Irrigation System in North Carolina

You’ve spent the spring and summer helping your lawn thrive, and now colder weather comes knocking. As an experienced gardener in North Carolina, I’ve learned that prepping your irrigation system for winter time is one of the smartest moves you can make. If you imagined NC winters are too mild to worry about irrigation damage, think again. Don't let a sudden drop in temperature catch you off guard...that pipe burst in spring isn’t worth the risk. Let’s walk through how to winterize irrigation systems in NC and keep your landscape safe and ready.

Why Winterizing Your Irrigation System in NC Is a Must

North Carolina might not be known for harsh winters, but the weather here sure keeps us guessing. We’ve adopted the northern practice of blowing all water out of systems by late fall, not just removing the backflow preventer. It makes a world of difference in preventing costly damages down the road.

Freezing water expands enough to crack pipes, ruin valves, and wreck pumps, but wait, there are solutions to avoid unwanted surprises and preserve the health of your irrigation system and connected components.

5 Practical and Easy to Follow Tips

1. Shut Off and Drain the Water Supply

Start by shutting off the main irrigation water supply and draining the system. Whether you use manual drains, automatic drains, or the ideal method of a blow-out via air compressor, removing water prevents freezing damage.

2. Use the Blow-Out Method (When Possible)

The most reliable way is to blow out your system with compressed air. Hook the compressor after the backflow preventer, then move zone by zone until each sprinkler head emits only air and no water. This ensures all water has been removed from the system.

3. Insulate Above-Ground Components

Once drained, cover any exposed pipes, valves, and especially the backflow preventer with foam insulation or tape. Just remember not to block vents and drains!

4. Winterize the Backflow Preventer Carefully

Turn off water, open test cocks to drain, then close valves slightly (about a quarter turn) to leave a bit of airflow. This prevents trapped moisture from freezing or shifting the assembly.

5. Lock Down the Controller

Switch your controller to “rain” or “off” mode so it stays idle all winter without losing your settings. You can also choose to shut it off at the breaker if you prefer, but be prepared to reprogram it if needed. 

Recap of the 5 Tips at a Glance

• Tip 1: Shut off water and drain the system

• Tip 2: Use air compressor blow-out method when available

• Tip 3: Insulate above-ground parts like pipes and backflow preventer

• Tip 4: Drain and partially close backflow preventer valves

• Tip 5: Set the controller to rain/off mode or shut off power

Prepare for winter with small and simple steps that protect your investment. You can do it yourself, or schedule a professional system shutdown in November with Ponti Landscapes experts.

By: Lucio S.