3 Ways to Winterize Your Irrigation System for Texas Weather

Introduction: Chilly, frigid cold snaps have a way of sneaking their way into October, even when the afternoons still feel warm. An irrigation system that hums along perfectly fine in summer can struggle when temperatures dip at night. Dedicating a little attention now keeps pipes, valves, and your backflow preventer safe, so you avoid surprise repairs and start spring with a system that turns on without any hassle.

Shut Off Your Irrigation System Completely

Why You Should Shut Off Your Irrigation System

Cold nights in Frisco TX don’t have to be extremely hot or cold to make a serious impact. Water left sitting in lateral lines, sprinkler heads, and the backflow preventer will expand as it freezes, which is what cracks housings and splits fittings. A simple shutoff reduces the water volume in the system, relieving pressure on vulnerable parts, especially the irrigation valve assemblies and above-ground components that feel the wind first.

There’s also the matter of water waste. Running sprinklers when turf and beds don’t need them can over-saturate the soil, creating soggy, compacted patches that struggle later. Controllers sometimes misread seasonal changes, too. Shutting the system down, or setting it to an idle mode gives you control while protecting the hardware that does the heavy lifting.

How Do You Shut It Off?

Start at the source. Locate the main irrigation shutoff, which is typically just ahead of the backflow preventer or in a protected box near the meter. Closing this isolation point stops the supply of water from feeding the network. Then set the controller to “off,” “stop,” or “rain” mode so it doesn’t try to open any irrigation valve during a cold snap. The combination of a closed supply and an idle controller keeps the system quiet and safe.

If there’s a master valve in the manifold, confirm it stays closed by running a quick test on the controller while the water is shut off. You should hear nothing and see no pressure build. This quick double-check prevents stray programs or faulty wiring from accidentally cycling zones as the nights get colder (especially in places like Flower Mound TX).

Insulate Your Exposed Pipes and Irrigation Components

Wrap Up Your Pipes, Backflow Preventers, and Valves

Above-ground plumbing needs a coat for fall. Foam pipe sleeves and closed-cell insulation wrap provide the first layer of protection around exposed PVC or copper runs. After that, a weather-rated tape or zip sleeve helps seal seams, keeping cold air from sneaking in. Focus extra attention on the backflow preventer body and the unions, since metal parts radiate heat away faster than plastic.

Valve boxes help, but lids and edges sometimes gap. Tuck insulation around the top of the box to reduce drafts and protect the solenoids. Gentle coverage matters more than bulky padding. The aim is to maintain steady temperatures around the equipment and avoid using a heavy wrap that collects water. Dry, snug, and shielded from wind is the sweet spot for fall weather insulation.

Double Check Above-Ground Elements like PVBs

Pressure vacuum breakers sit tall and proud, which means they catch the brunt of cold air. Inspect the bonnet for hairline cracks, look at the test cocks, and make sure the rubber caps seal cleanly. A fitted backflow preventer cover that cinches at the bottom adds a protective air pocket around the assembly. Keep it off the ground slightly so moisture doesn’t wick up into the cover and linger.

If you have shutoff valves before and after the PVB, confirm they turn freely and seat well. Quarter-turn handles should line up firmly, and packing nuts should not seep. A small drip now can freeze and wedge a valve open later. Give everything a quick wipe, listen for hissing, and note any loose hardware so it can be tightened before the first real cold night settles in.

Drain and Protect your Above-Ground Irrigation Assemblies

Make Sure to Drain Any Water That is Trapped in Components

After the shutoff, some water lingers in the highest spots of the system. Backflow preventers, unions, and the top of vertical runs can hold pockets that freeze first. That trapped water is what breaks housings and fractures plastic threads. With the supply closed, opening test cocks on the backflow preventer and carefully loosening a union allows air in so gravity can do its job and let residual water find its way out.

Sprinkler heads also hide a little water inside their risers. Briefly pulling a few heads up by hand, then letting them retract, helps purge the last drops. The goal is not to empty every inch of pipe, since underground laterals are often below the frost line, but to free the water that sits where wind and night air bite hardest.

How to Successfully Drain Water to Protect Your Irrigation

There are a few safe, low-tech moves that work well in the fall. Crack the test ports on the backflow preventer, open manual drain points if your system has them, and let each zone rest with valves closed so air can equalize. If you use compressed air for a blowout, keep the pressure low and steady, and follow manufacturer guidance for each irrigation valve and zone type, especially for drip lines that prefer gentle handling.

Work slowly, one zone at a time, and stop when you see a light mist. That’s usually enough for areas like McKinney TX, with brief cold spells. Overdoing it can lift heads too high or stress fittings. When you finish, close the test cocks, re-seat unions, and cover the backflow preventer. The controller should remain idle to prevent anything from recharging the lines while the nights stay cool.

Conclusion

October is the calm before winter really bites, which makes it the perfect window to winterize. If workdays are stacked and weekends are already full, handing this off is not only reasonable but also smart. A careful shutoff, proper insulation, and a clean drain of the backflow preventer and irrigation valve assemblies can be done neatly in a single visit. For a system that wakes up happy in spring, schedule service with Aeroscape Landscaping and let a trained set of eyes handle the details. Reach out to get on the calendar, ask a quick question, or line up full winterization so the first cold snap is uneventful and your irrigation is ready for next season.