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Sprinkler blowout cost per zone for fall winterization
A fall sprinkler blowout costs $125 for a 6-zone system at TriState Water Works in Cincinnati and $185 for 10 zones: the $125 visit covers up to 6 zones, plus $15 for each zone after that. Pure Irrigation's 2026 special in Utah County and Salt Lake County is $125 per system with every zone included. Ask whether the price covers every zone, and what a broken head found during the visit costs to fix.
What do published prices include?
| Job, size or area | Published price | Included work and extras | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 winterization special; Utah counties | $125 per system | All sprinkler zones included in the service area. | Pure Irrigation: Utah service prices · Checked |
| One-time winterization, 1–6 zones; Cincinnati | $125 per system | One-time winterization of up to six zones; annual-plan visits priced separately. | TriState Water Works: Cincinnati pricing plans · Checked |
| Each zone beyond six; Cincinnati | $15 per additional zone | Added to the $125 one-time base visit. | TriState Water Works: Cincinnati pricing plans · Checked |
Prices are in US dollars. Each row keeps the provider's unit and service area.
When should I blow out my sprinklers?
Before the first hard freeze, once you no longer need to water. Water left in the pipes, valves and backflow preventer expands as it freezes and can crack them, which means a spring repair bill on top of the blowout. Book a date when the forecast starts showing nights near freezing, and if a cold snap arrives first, shut off the water to the system until the crew comes.
Compressed air is used because the lines are buried at different depths, and water stays trapped in the low spots after the supply is shut off. A compressor hooked to the system pushes it out one zone at a time, until the heads spit only mist. Some systems are built with drain valves at their low points and are drained instead; ask the technician which kind yours is.
What counts as a sprinkler zone?
A zone is one section of the yard watered by one valve at a time. The controller numbers them as stations, so the stations in use are your zone count. At TriState's one-time rate, up to 6 zones cost $125, 8 zones $155 and 12 zones $215, because the $15 applies only to zones past 6.
Count before you call, and check the bill against the count. A 10-zone bill of $275 means the extra-zone charge went on all 10 zones; at TriState's rate it should be $185. Drip lines on their own valve are zones too. Pure's $125 special covers every zone on one system, so a second system is a second charge.
What does a sprinkler blowout include?
The technician shuts off the water to the system, connects a compressor and runs each zone until the heads blow only mist, then clears the backflow preventer and switches the controller off. A broken head or leaking valve found along the way is a repair with its own price, and turning the system back on in spring is a separate visit.
TriState's $125 is its one-time rate, and visits under its annual plan are priced separately; if you also want a spring startup, ask for both prices and compare. Before the visit, leave the gate open, flag heads hidden in the beds, and make sure the technician can reach the shutoff valve and the controller. If either is indoors, someone has to be home.
What should I ask before booking a sprinkler blowout?
Send this: Please quote a fall blowout for my sprinkler system at [address]. The controller shows [number] zones, and the water shutoff is [in the basement / in a box by the curb]. What is the total, and does it cover every zone? If you find a broken head or a leak, will you tell me the price before fixing it? What dates do you have before the first freeze?
When the job is done, ask for a short note of the zones blown out and anything leaking, and keep it for the spring startup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I blow out my own sprinklers?
Yes, with a compressor that moves enough air to clear a whole zone and a regulator set low enough for your pipes and heads; too much pressure can crack fittings. Shut off the water first, open one zone at a time, stop once it blows only mist, and keep your face away from the heads and the backflow preventer.
Do drip irrigation lines need a blowout too?
Yes, drip lines hold water like any other zone. They are cleared at low pressure, and some have end caps or flush valves the technician opens to let the water out. Count drip zones in your total; at TriState each one past 6 is $15.
When should I turn my sprinklers back on in spring?
After the last hard freeze, once the ground has thawed. Open the main valve slowly so the pipes fill without a pressure spike, then run each zone and walk it, looking for broken heads, geysers and wet spots.
Sources
- Pure Irrigation: Utah service prices · Checked
Utah County and Salt Lake County sprinkler winterization: the 2026 special includes every zone for $125 per system.
- TriState Water Works: Cincinnati pricing plans · Checked
Cincinnati one-time sprinkler winterization starts at $125 for up to six zones, then $15 for each additional zone.
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