Sprinkler Winterization Guide for Bend, Oregon

Sprinkler winterization is the most important irrigation task of the year in Bend. Our hard freezes — which can hit as early as October 1st — will crack pipes, fittings, and backflow preventers if water is left in your system. Here's everything you need to know about protecting your irrigation system for winter.

When to Winterize Your Sprinklers in Bend

We recommend scheduling your sprinkler blowout before October 15th — the average first hard freeze date in Bend. Don't wait until a freeze is forecast; we fill up fast and can't always accommodate last-minute requests.

The earliest we've seen a hard freeze in Bend is September 28th. If you have a fall trip planned, schedule your blowout before you leave — don't risk it.

What Happens During a Sprinkler Blowout

A professional blowout uses a commercial air compressor (50–100 CFM) to force all water out of your irrigation lines. We connect to your system at the backflow preventer and blow out each zone individually.

The process takes 20–45 minutes for a typical residential system. We run each zone 2–3 times to ensure all water is expelled.

What Freeze Damage Looks Like

If your system wasn't properly winterized and you're seeing problems in spring, look for: wet spots in the lawn when the system isn't running, zones that won't pressurize, visible cracks in PVC pipe or fittings, or a backflow preventer that's cracked or leaking.

Freeze damage repair costs typically run $500–$2,000 depending on the extent of damage. A $140/tech hour blowout service is the best insurance you can buy.