Guide · Mainline tubing
How to winterize drip irrigation
Winterize drip irrigation the way Rain Bird's guide does: shut off, drain at low points, store the head parts indoors, caps back loosely. No compressor step.
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Short answer
Shut the water off, open the line ends at the low points to drain, bring the filter, regulator and backflow device indoors, and put the end caps back on loosely. That is Rain Bird's drip procedure, and it has no compressed-air step. If you also have in-ground sprinklers, Rain Bird refers blowouts to a local irrigation specialist.
Why winterize at all
Rain Bird warns that a single night below 32°F can split thin-walled drip tubing, because water expands when it freezes.[1] Draining the lines and storing the head parts indoors is how its guide avoids that.
Rain Bird's four steps
- Shut off and confirm. Fully shut off the water supply, set any hose-end timer to off, and check a few emitters to confirm the water has stopped.[1]
- Drain. Open the flush caps at low points or, if there are none, remove the figure-8 end caps, then allow several hours for the water to drain.[1] Rain Bird also suggests gently lifting tubing sections so trapped water runs toward the drain points.
- Bring the head parts indoors. Unscrew filters, pressure regulators and backflow preventers, clean them, and store them indoors in a dry place.[1] Rain Bird suggests photographing a complex setup before you take it apart, and coiling removable above-ground tubing for storage.
- Caps back on, loosely. Put the figure-8 end caps back on loosely; they only protect the line and do not need to hold pressure.[1]
Compressed air: not in the drip guide
Rain Bird's drip winterizing guide uses draining, part removal and loose end caps, and contains no compressed-air blowout step for drip tubing.[1] Rain Bird's general sprinkler winterizing page lists compressed-air blowout among the methods for in-ground sprinklers, and recommends contacting a local irrigation specialist because of possible safety risks.[2]
University of Maine Extension's drip guide says to winterize by removing the filter and pressure regulator and opening the figure-8 line ends to drain, and to use only low-pressure air or blowing into the tube if water remains.[3] It gives no pressure figure, and neither do we.
Backflow devices
Rain Bird's winterizing instructions warn not to block the air vents and drain outlets on backflow preventers.[2] If you leave a device in place, keep those openings clear. For what protection your faucet needs, ask your water utility; the backflow guide explains the terms.
Yearly care
DIG's troubleshooting checklist says drip systems need maintenance every year, preferably twice a year.[4] Mister Landscaper recommends checking its systems every 1 to 2 weeks and notes that lawn equipment, foot traffic and animals can damage them.[5] That interval is its advice for its own system.
Spring start-up
University of Maine Extension says to flush in spring like a new system.[3] We could not read Rain Bird's spring start-up procedure, so we do not give one here. Reattach the head parts in your kit maker's order; see the faucet head assembly guide.
What goes where
| Part | Winter | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply and timer | Off | Rain Bird |
| Tubing | Drained; above-ground tubing coiled if removable | Rain Bird |
| Flush caps and figure-8 ends | Opened to drain, then back on loosely | Rain Bird |
| Filter, regulator, backflow device | Unscrewed, cleaned, stored dry indoors | Rain Bird |
| Backflow vents and drains | Never blocked | Rain Bird |
If a line split anyway
Cut out the damaged section and join it with a coupling whose maker lists your tubing's OD. The split tubing repair guide covers the steps. Orbit lists its 67466 coupling for .620 to .710 in OD,[6] and Raindrip lists its S5600UB Smart Loc coupling for .520 x .620, .600 x .700 and .620 x .710 in tubing.[7]
Picks that fit2 products
Orbit 67466: one coupling for .620-.710 in OD. Raindrip S5600UB: one coupling for .520 x .620, .600 x .700 or .620 x .710 in tubing.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Choose the Orbit 67466 for the widest stated OD range
Orbit 67466 1/2 in universal drip coupling (0.620‑0.710 in OD)
Choose the Raindrip Smart Loc S5600UB when you know your ID x OD pair
Raindrip Smart Loc S5600UB universal coupling (0.620, 0.700 and 0.710 in OD)
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Questions
Do I need to winterize drip irrigation?
Where it freezes, yes. Rain Bird warns that a single night below 32°F can split thin-walled drip tubing, and its guide drains the lines and stores the head parts indoors.[1]
Should I blow out drip lines with a compressor?
Rain Bird's drip guide does not; it drains the lines instead. For sprinkler-system blowouts, Rain Bird recommends a local irrigation specialist. University of Maine Extension allows only low-pressure air or blowing into the tube if water remains.[1][2][3]
Can drip tubing stay in the ground over winter?
Drained, yes, in Rain Bird's guide: the end caps go back on loosely, removable above-ground tubing is coiled and stored, and Rain Bird suggests stakes to mark buried parts in snowy areas.[1]
What do I bring indoors for the winter?
The filter, pressure regulator and backflow preventer. Rain Bird says to unscrew them, clean them and store them indoors in a dry place.[1]