What a proper winterization visit includes: a checklist to check any company's work
A proper winterization drains every zone, protects the backflow preventer and ends with a controller set to off. Here is how to check the work.
Short answer: a proper winterization visit shuts off the water, clears every zone, protects the backflow preventer, sets the controller to off, and leaves you with a note on anything the tech found. It should take a short visit, not a drive-by. Winterization is $95 to $120 on our price list, and you can use the checklist below to check any company's work, ours included.
Why a checklist at all
Winterization is the job where you cannot see whether it was done well. The yard looks the same before and after. The only proof comes in spring, when a split fitting floods a flower bed. By then the visit is long forgotten. So instead of trusting a sticker on the controller, ask for the steps and check a few of them yourself.
A crew that rushes will skip the steps you cannot see. A crew that cares will happily tell you what it did.
The checklist
- The water was shut off at the isolation valve. Ask which valve it was. You should be able to find it and see it closed.
- Every zone was cleared. Not most zones. If your system has eight zones, all eight need to be run through the process. Ask how many were done.
- The backflow preventer was protected. This is the exposed, expensive part. The test-cocks and handles should be left in the position that lets water drain, and insulation or a cover goes on if the unit sits above ground.
- The controller was set to off or rain mode, not left running a dry system. Look at the display.
- Rain sensor and wiring were looked at. Cracked sensors and chewed wire are easy to see while the system is quiet.
- Any problem was reported, not silently fixed or ignored. If a head is broken or a valve box is full of water, you should hear about it before the bill grows.
- You can see what was done. A written line or a text with the date and zones is enough.
What it should cost
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| Winterization | $95 – $120 |
| Spring start-up | $175 – $225 |
| Sprinkler repair found along the way | from $95 |
| Valve replacement, if one is found leaking | $275 – $1,200 |
A visit can cost more than the base price when repairs are found along the way, and those should show as separate lines. If you get a quote far below the base price, ask what is being left out. Skipping zones or the backflow preventer is how some quotes get that low.
Red flags
- A flat price with no zone count.
- No mention of the backflow preventer.
- A tech who does not need to enter the yard.
- Nobody can tell you when the first freeze usually arrives. The National Weather Service puts Atlanta's average first freeze at November 13, with the earliest on record on October 11, so the work should be done before then.
- No note afterward at all.
None of these proves the job was bad. Together, they tell you nobody was paying attention.
Spot-checking it yourself
You do not need tools. In the week after the visit, walk to the backflow preventer and look at it. Check that the controller display reads off or rain. Find the isolation valve and confirm it is shut. In March, when the system is turned on again, watch each zone for a minute for geysers and low spots. A problem you catch in the first run of spring is easy to trace to the shut-down.
When to call us
Call if your last company left no note, if you cannot find your isolation valve, or if you are not sure your backflow preventer was ever protected. We are licensed and insured, and our own crew does the visit, never a subcontractor. We find the cause of a problem instead of swapping parts until it stops, and we stop and tell you before doing anything we could not see. Details are on the irrigation page, and you can request a quote for a fall visit.
FAQ
What should a winterization visit include? Shutting off the water, clearing every zone, protecting the backflow preventer, and setting the controller to off or rain mode. A good tech also reports problems found.
How do I know my sprinkler system was winterized properly? Check that the isolation valve is closed, the controller reads off, and the backflow preventer has been drained and covered. Ask how many zones were done and whether anything was found.
How much should winterization cost? $95 to $120 on our price list. If repairs are found, they should be a separate line, so ask.
Is it too late to winterize in November? Not necessarily. Atlanta's average first freeze is November 13, so many years leave a window. But a freeze can come earlier, so sooner is safer.
Prices from our price list. Freeze dates from the National Weather Service, Peachtree City office. Updated October 2026.