Sprinkler and Hose Bib Shut-Down

Pick your date

Watch the forecast from mid-October. The first snow often comes in late October or early November; shut down before the first night well below freezing.

Close the supply

Close the valve that feeds the sprinkler system. If your outdoor water comes from a separate irrigation supply, check when it shuts off for the season in your area.

Drain or blow out

Drain the lines through their drain valves, or have them blown out with compressed air if the system is designed for it.

Protect the backflow

Drain the backflow assembly or protect it as its maker recommends. A cracked backflow body is a common spring repair.

Hose bibs

Disconnect every hose. Close inside shut-offs to outdoor taps if you have them and open the taps to drain.

In spring

After the last frost, open valves slowly and check for leaks. See irrigation and sprinkler lines.

Keep notes

Write down which valves you closed and opened, and where the drain valves are. In spring, those notes make start-up quick and help you avoid opening the system with a drain still open or a valve still shut.

Outbuildings

Sheds, shops and barns with water need shutting down too. Drain lines that won't be used over winter, and protect any that must stay in service with insulation or heat.

Frost-free hose bibs

Frost-free hose bibs have a valve deep inside the wall, but they only drain if the hose is off. A connected hose holds water in the valve, which can freeze and split it. That leak often shows up in the basement the first time the tap is used in spring.

More plumbing guides

• A Snow-Season Plumbing Checklist for Ogden Homes
• Shutting Off Your Water in an Emergency
• When to Replace a Water Heater
• Tracking Down a Hidden Leak
• Checking a Utah Plumber Before You Hire