Fall service
Sprinkler Blowout Service in Eastern Iowa
We blow every zone dry from mid-October to the first hard freeze. Included the first year with every install.
A sprinkler blowout is the fall service that pushes compressed air through every zone of an in-ground irrigation system to clear out water before it freezes, cracks pipe, and splits valves over an Iowa winter.
Sprinkler winterization, done before the freeze
Winterization is the full fall shutdown, and the blowout is the part that matters most. Shutting the water off is not enough. Poly pipe, valves, and heads still hold water after the supply is closed, and when that water freezes it expands enough to crack fittings and split the manifold.
We run a trailer-mounted compressor at a controlled pressure, zone by zone, until each head spits air instead of water. Then we drain the backflow device and set the controller to off so nothing tries to run in January.
Who needs a blowout
Every in-ground sprinkler system in eastern Iowa, every fall. It doesn't matter who installed it. We blow out systems we put in and systems we didn't, and we flag anything that looked wrong while the zones were running so you can plan the repair for spring.
How the job goes
How a sprinkler blowout job goes
Every step below is how this service runs when we do it, no surprises on the invoice.
- 01
Get on the list
Call or send a quote request with your address and number of zones. We schedule blowouts in order from mid-October through the first hard freeze.
- 02
Blow out every zone
We connect a commercial compressor to the system and push air through every zone until each head runs dry. Water left in poly lines is what cracks them over winter.
- 03
Backflow drained
Both check valves on the backflow device are drained and left at a 45 degree angle so trapped water can't freeze and split the copper.
- 04
Controller set to off
We move the controller to the rain/off setting so it doesn't try to run a program mid-winter if the power blinks.
Ready for this specific job?
Start a sprinkler blowout quote
Address and the number of zones is enough to get you on the fall blowout schedule.
(319) 774-3750Common questions
Common questions about sprinkler blowout
These are the questions we actually get about this service, not a generic FAQ pasted onto every page.
- How much does it cost to blow out sprinklers?
- In Iowa, a professional sprinkler blowout for a typical residential yard usually runs $60 to $80, plus about $5 to $10 for each additional zone. Our blowout includes blowing out every zone, draining the backflow device and setting the controller to off. Call or text for a quote on your system.
- When should I blow out my sprinklers?
- Before the first hard freeze. We schedule blowouts from mid-October until the first hard freeze.
- What's the difference between a sprinkler blowout and winterization?
- A blowout is the step where compressed air clears the water from each zone. Winterization is the whole fall shutdown: the blowout, plus draining the backflow device and turning off the controller. Our fall visit includes all three.
- Can I blow out my sprinklers myself?
- You can, but it's easy to get this wrong. The compressor has to move enough air to clear each zone completely, and running a zone dry for too long can overheat parts. It's also easy to overlook the backflow device, which can crack in a freeze. A missed low spot or an undrained backflow device can mean repairs in the spring.
- When do I pay?
- When we come out. You're put on the schedule when you book, but you aren't billed until the work is done.
- Is the first blowout included with a new system?
- Yes. Every new DDM install includes the first winterization in October and the first spring start-up in April under the 1-year warranty.
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