Winter Freeze Protection & Repair
Sprinkler system winterization in Oklahoma City protects the most freeze-exposed plumbing on your property: the backflow preventer standing in the yard and the water-filled lines running just under the turf. We shut the system off at the right valve, drain or blow out each zone, protect the backflow assembly, and repair anything the last freeze cracked, so the system starts clean in spring.
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(405) 309-1873A sprinkler system holds water in places nothing else in your plumbing does: an exposed brass assembly in the yard and plastic pipe a few inches below the grass. Winterizing it means getting that water out. Our service covers:
Leaks here add up fast. EPA WaterSense says an irrigation system with a leak just 1/32 of an inch in diameter can waste about 6,300 gallons a month.
The backflow preventer is the brass assembly, usually standing in a flower bed near the house, that keeps fertilizer and lawn water from flowing back into your drinking water. It is also the part of a sprinkler system most likely to break in a freeze. It sits in the open air, it holds water in its body and test cocks, and its bonnet, poppet and springs are not built to survive ice.
Freeze protection starts with draining it. We close the supply, open the test cocks, and let the assembly empty. Then we add an insulated cover or wrap. Oklahoma City Utilities specifically recommends frost wrap or insulated foam for backflow devices that sit above ground. If the system cannot be shut down before a cold snap, insulation and an emptied assembly are the best protection you can get.
When a backflow preventer does freeze, the damage ranges from a cracked bonnet to a split body. We rebuild what can be rebuilt and replace what cannot, then make sure the assembly is tested so you know it works. Our backflow testing service covers testing and certification.
Freeze season is here in Oklahoma City.
Frozen pipes, burst pipes, split hose bibs and sprinkler backflow damage. We answer 24/7 when the temperature drops. See our winter plumbing services.
| Method | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Manual drain valves | Systems built with drains at the low points | Only works if the drains are there and you open every one |
| Automatic drain valves | Systems that drain each time pressure drops | Valves clog and stick, so they need checking |
| Compressed-air blowout | Systems without drains, or with low spots that trap water | Pressure must be controlled to avoid damaging pipe and heads |
| Shutoff only, no drain | A stopgap when a freeze is hours away | Water stays in the lines and the backflow preventer |
Sprinklers still on and a freeze coming?
Shut the irrigation valve, drain the backflow preventer, and call us to finish the winterization.
We price the visit after we see the system. The number of zones, the type of backflow preventer, how easy the shutoff is to find and operate, whether the system has drain valves, and any cracked parts that need repair all play a part. A frozen backflow preventer that needs replacing costs more than a seasonal shutdown, which is the best argument for winterizing on time.
Oklahoma City Utilities advises turning sprinklers off during freezing temperatures and, before winter, turning off water to outdoor systems, draining valves and blowing out irrigation lines if needed. A system that runs on a cold morning sprays water that freezes on sidewalks and streets, and the lines and backflow assembly stay full and vulnerable.
Neglect costs water in every season. EPA WaterSense estimates that a household with an automatic irrigation system that is not properly maintained can waste up to 25,000 gallons a year. The city also suggests checking your valve boxes, backflow device and outdoor fixtures for leaks if your bill climbs.
In spring, we open the supply slowly, close the test cocks and drains, check the backflow preventer for leaks, and run each zone to spot broken heads. Oklahoma City's mandatory odd/even watering schedule is permanently in effect, so we can set your controller to match your address. While we are there, we check the outdoor faucets too, and our hose bib repair service can upgrade any that froze. For the rest of the house, see plumbing winterization. To learn more about our company, meet our team.
Local, licensed and insured
Licensed
The backflow preventer on your sprinkler system is a plumbing device that protects your drinking water, and it ties into your home's water line. We are licensed plumbers, so we can winterize the irrigation, rebuild or replace a cracked backflow assembly, and repair the supply line feeding it, all on one visit. You do not need one company for the lawn and another for the pipes.
Since 1985
Our plumbing experience goes back to 1985, and we have seen what a hard Oklahoma freeze does to irrigation parts left full of water: split brass, popped bonnets and cracked valve bodies. That experience shapes how we drain each assembly, which test cocks we open, and which parts we insulate, so your system does not become a spring repair bill.
24/7
If a backflow preventer splits during a freeze and starts spraying across the yard, you need someone now. We answer 24/7, including nights and weekends, and we can talk you through closing the irrigation shutoff by phone. Customers rate us 4.9 stars across 88 Google reviews, and in spring we come back to restart the system and check it for leaks.
Google reviews
These guys were great! A breath of fresh air from the usual contractor/service. They cared about fixing the problem not how much they can charge. I had a same day service need, leak in between floors, the day before a trip. They came out same day and presented multiple solutions as well as keen explanations.
Mr. Robert has amazing customer service and work ethic. He fixed our toilet very quickly and explained everything that he was doing, and even showed us the finished product. Awesome work!
After having issues with my bathroom and kitchen plumbing for a few days, I contacted Plumber Oklahoma City, OK Plumbing & Repair this morning. He told me he was very busy, but would work to schedule our repair in with his team.
Service area
We serve every part of Oklahoma City plus these surrounding towns.
Straight answers
Before the first hard freeze, usually in late October or November. Oklahoma City Utilities recommends turning off and winterizing sprinkler systems before winter weather strikes, as part of annual maintenance. If an early arctic front is coming and the system is still on, shut it off at the irrigation valve and drain the backflow preventer, then call to finish the job.
No. Turning off the controller stops the schedule, but the pipes, valves and backflow preventer stay full of water and under pressure. Oklahoma City Utilities advises turning the system off at the valve near the curb, not just at the controller. That valve is usually in its own vault, separate from the water meter vault. Then the system still needs to be drained.
It depends on the system. Lines with manual or automatic drain valves at the low points can often be drained without air. Systems without drains, or with low spots that trap water, are safer blown out with compressed air at a controlled pressure. We look at how your system was built and tell you which method it needs.
Often, yes. A cracked bonnet, a popped poppet or worn seals can usually be fixed with a repair kit. A split brass body or cracked valve housing means the assembly has to be replaced. Either way, a repaired testable assembly should be tested afterward to confirm it is protecting your water, and we can arrange that test.
In many Oklahoma City yards it sits in a small vault near the curb, separate from the water meter box. In other homes it is a valve inside the garage or basement, or on the line just before the backflow preventer. If you cannot find it, call us. We will locate it and show you how to close it.
Talk to a real plumber, any hour
Day, night or weekend, call and talk to a licensed Master Plumber about what is going on.
Call (405) 309-1873