North Alabama has a relatively mild climate, but we do get hard freezes — and when water left in your irrigation system freezes and expands, it can crack pipes, burst fittings, and destroy expensive backflow preventers. Proper winterization protects your investment.
Does Alabama Really Need Irrigation Winterization?
Yes — especially for above-ground components like backflow preventers, which are almost always installed above grade and exposed to air temperatures. Even a single hard freeze can damage an unprotected backflow preventer, which can cost $300–$500 to replace.
Underground pipes below the frost line (generally 6+ inches in North Alabama) are safer, but the components at grade level are vulnerable.
When to Winterize
In the Hartselle and Decatur area, schedule winterization in October or early November — before our first hard freeze. We strongly recommend scheduling in advance, as our fall calendar fills quickly.
The Blow-Out Method
Proper irrigation winterization uses compressed air to blow all remaining water out of the system — every zone, every head. This requires a commercial compressor at the right CFM rating for your system size. This is not a job for a consumer air compressor from a hardware store.
Attempting to blow out your own system with an undersized compressor is one of the most common ways we see irrigation systems damaged.
Spring Startup
We also offer spring system startup — checking every zone, adjusting head coverage, testing controllers, and making any needed repairs before the season begins.
Contact Pro-Scapes to schedule your fall winterization or spring startup in Hartselle, Decatur, or anywhere in North Alabama.