How do I winterize my sprinkling system?

Question

I have 6 zones

Answer 1

Shut off the water supply (there should be a valve somewhere where the system connects to the water supply for your house), run the sprinkler system, and cut it off when there's no more water in it. Leave the valve off until you're ready to use it again (after winter).

Answer 2

Unless you have a self draining system, after you shut the water supply off, you will need to connect a compressed air source to the system and cycle through all of the zones to completely blow any remaining water out of the lines. Water that pools in the low spots may freeze and burst your lines, or, if it collects at your head, may ruin the gear drives in the heads.

Answer 3

I hire a landscape contractor for $40.00 to come out--and this is what he does;

1. turn off your sprinkler control box (electrical)

2. attach high power air compressor to the anti-back flow valve and begin opening each sprinkler valve-manually.

3. once all the water has blown out, the turn valves off for the winter...

4. THEN the contractor will sucker you in for a SUMMERIZATION! They have to come out, turn the water valve BACK-ON at the street which  takes a 6-8 foot special wrench to reach the cut-off valve and turn the sprinkler manifold & valve back ON

its quite the racket!