How much does a sprinkler blow-out cost?
Updated
Short answer
A sprinkler blow-out costs $50 to $150 from an irrigation company and takes 30 to 60 minutes. Doing it yourself costs $0 to $50, which is a day's rental of a compressor big enough for the job, or nothing if you own one that is. It's once a year before the first hard freeze, and it's a pro-recommended job, because the compressor has to move a lot of air at low pressure, and too much pressure cracks the fittings it's supposed to protect. For the price, most people book it.
Cost breakdown
| Item | DIY | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $0 to $50 | included |
| Tools you may need to buy | none | included |
| Labor | your time | $50 to $150 |
| Total | $0 to $50 | $50 to $150 |
The DIY column is the compressor rental, plus a blow-out adapter to connect it to the system, which is a small one-time purchase. The pro column is a technician with a tow-behind compressor, who blows out each zone, drains the backflow preventer and shuts the system down for the winter.
What drives the cost
- The number of zones. Most companies price by the zone count, so a large system costs more than a small one.
- Timing. Early in the season the price is at the low end and the schedule is open. After the first frost warning, everyone calls at once and the price climbs.
- A plan. A blow-out bought as part of a season plan with the spring start-up costs less than one booked on its own.
- The compressor. The DIY figure assumes a rental that can deliver enough air volume. A small pancake compressor from the garage can't clear a zone and leaves water in the lines.
- Repairs found. A backflow preventer that's leaking or a valve that won't close is a repair on top of the blow-out, and better found in fall than in spring.
DIY vs. pro
For $50 to $150, this is the one to hire. How often to winterize sprinklers is once a year before the first hard freeze, and the technician's compressor moves the volume of air the job needs at a pressure the pipes can take. In a climate that doesn't freeze, skip it entirely.
The DIY version is for someone with access to a large compressor and a comfort with the pressure. The rule is low pressure and plenty of volume, one zone at a time, until the heads spit mist rather than water, and no longer than that, since dry air spinning a rotor head wears it out. If the compressor in the garage is the small kind, the rental at $0 to $50 is close to the pro price, and the pro brings the experience.
FAQ
How much does a sprinkler blow-out cost?
$50 to $150 from an irrigation company, priced by the zone count, and less as part of a season plan.
Can I blow out my own sprinklers?
With a compressor that moves enough air, yes. The small pancake compressor in most garages can't. A rental is $0 to $50 and brings the cost close to hiring it.
What happens if I don't winterize my sprinklers?
Water left in the lines freezes and cracks pipes, fittings and the backflow preventer, and the spring repair costs far more than the blow-out.
When should sprinklers be blown out?
Once a year, before the first hard freeze. Book early, since prices rise and schedules fill once the frost warnings start.