How to Winterize a Sprinkler System in Fort Worth

Winterizing a sprinkler system in North Texas is different from winterizing one up north. Fort Worth does not stay frozen for months, and the ground rarely freezes deep enough to reach buried pipe. Most systems do not need to be blown out with compressed air the way systems in colder climates do. But hard freezes do happen here, sometimes with little warning, and they can crack backflow preventers, exposed pipe and valves. This article explains what winterizing means for a Fort Worth system and how to do it.

What Is Actually at Risk

• The backflow preventer. It sits above ground and holds water. It is the part most likely to crack.
• Exposed pipe where the supply line rises out of the ground to the backflow preventer.
• Above-ground valves on some older systems.
• Drip filters and pressure regulators that sit above ground.
• Shallow pipe and heads in areas with thin soil cover, during long freezes.
• Sidewalks and streets, if the system runs during freezing weather and creates ice.

Buried pipe and valves are usually protected by the soil during short cold spells.

Two Approaches

Approach 1: Keep the system ready, protect it before freezes

Many Fort Worth homeowners leave the system on through winter, since dormant lawns sometimes need occasional water during dry stretches. They reduce run times, make sure the freeze sensor works and protect the backflow preventer each time a hard freeze is forecast.

Approach 2: Shut down for the winter

Others shut the system off for the coldest part of the year, typically from late fall until early spring. They close the irrigation isolation valve, drain the backflow preventer, insulate it and set the controller to off. They water by hand if the lawn and plants need it during dry spells. Hand watering is allowed at any time under Fort Worth’s rules.

Either approach works. The key is doing it before the first hard freeze.

Step-by-Step Shutdown Checklist

1. Set the controller to off, or to rain-off mode, so it does not try to run zones with no water.
2. Close the irrigation isolation valve. It is usually between the water meter and the backflow preventer.
3. Close the backflow preventer’s shutoff valves.
4. Open the test cocks on the backflow preventer slowly to drain trapped water.
5. Leave the ball valves partly open if the manufacturer recommends it, so water is not trapped inside.
6. Insulate the backflow preventer and exposed pipe with an insulated cover or pipe insulation.
7. Drain above-ground drip filters and regulators, if you have them.
8. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets.

Our guide to protecting your backflow preventer from freezing goes into more detail on the backflow steps.

Should I Blow Out the Lines?

Blowing out lines with compressed air is standard in cold climates where the ground freezes deeply. In Fort Worth, most homeowners do not need it. Done wrong, it can damage pipe, heads and valves, and it is not recommended as a do-it-yourself task. If your system has pipe that runs above ground or very shallow in exposed areas, talk to a technician about whether draining those sections makes sense.

Keeping the System On Through Winter

If you leave the system on:

• Lower run times sharply. Dormant warm-season grass needs very little water. Our article on winter lawn watering explains how much.
• Stick to your assigned days. Fort Worth’s twice-a-week schedule applies year-round.
• Check the freeze sensor. It should stop the system when temperatures drop near freezing. See our article on rain and freeze sensors.
• Protect the backflow preventer before every hard freeze.
• Skip watering when rain has been recent.

Controller Care

If you shut the system down, set the controller to off instead of unplugging it, so it keeps its program and clock. If you unplug it, check that the backup battery is good so the program is saved.

When to Turn It Back On

Wait until the risk of hard freezes has passed, which in Fort Worth is usually in March, though late cold snaps can happen. Our guide on turning your system back on in spring walks through a safe startup.

After an Unexpected Freeze

If a freeze hits before you have winterized, check the backflow preventer and exposed pipe once temperatures are above freezing. Turn the water on slowly and look for leaks. Our guide to freeze damage after a hard freeze covers what to look for.

Commercial and HOA Properties

Commercial irrigation systems in Fort Worth have rain and freeze sensors that must be inspected and tested every year along with the backflow test. Property managers should plan winter preparation alongside that schedule.

Fall Tasks That Make Winter Easier

A few jobs in late fall make winter shutdown and spring startup smoother. Find the isolation valve and make sure it turns freely; valves that sit for months can seize. Put a new battery in the controller. Replace cracked valve box lids so boxes do not fill with leaves and cold air. Buy an insulated backflow cover before the first freeze warning, when stores tend to run out. Fix any leaks you found over the summer, since a leaking system is harder to drain and protect. Write down your current controller program in case it gets reset over winter.

When to Call a Technician

If you would rather have a technician handle winter shutdown and spring startup, or you are not sure where your isolation valve is, our sprinkler repair service can help.