Startups and winterization
Blow it out before the freeze. Turn it on right in spring.
Water left in a line freezes, expands and splits pipe, valves and the backflow device. A blowout pushes it out with compressed air, zone by zone, so your system wakes up in spring the way you left it. Then in spring we turn it back on and check every zone.

What we do
- 01
Real compressor, real volume
We run a tow-behind compressor sized for the job, not a shop compressor that leaves water sitting in the low spots.
- 02
Every zone, cleared
We cycle each zone until it runs dry, then go around again. No water left to freeze.
- 03
Backflow and valves drained
The parts above ground freeze first. We drain and protect them.
- 04
Controller set for winter
Switched off or to rain mode so nothing tries to run in January.
- 05
Spring startup
Water back on slowly, every zone run and checked, broken heads found before the lawn shows it.
- 06
Schedule set for the season
We set the controller for spring and show you when to change it for summer.
Right now · Oct in western Montana
Blowout season. Book before the ground freezes.
Water left in the lines splits pipe and cracks the backflow. We clear every zone with a real compressor.
Get on the blowout list

How it goes
- 1
Get on the list
Call, text or send the form. We work the list town by town so we reach everyone before the freeze.
- 2
We come out
Tell us where the controller and the shutoff are. We clear every zone and let you know when it is done.
- 3
Spring turn-on
We bring it back in spring and catch anything winter did.
Straight answers
Questions we get
When should I blow out my sprinklers in western Montana?
Before the first hard freeze, which in most of the Missoula, Mission and Bitterroot valleys falls between late September and the end of October. Earlier is safer. A few cold nights will not ruin a system; a hard freeze with water in the lines can.
What happens if I skip the blowout?
Water left in the lines and valves freezes and expands. That splits pipe, cracks fittings and breaks the backflow device, and you find out in spring when the yard floods.
When do spring startups happen?
Once the ground thaws and the hard frosts are behind us, usually April into May in our valleys. We work the list in order.
Estimates
Tell us about your yard.
Send this and it goes straight to our phones. We call you back, come out, walk the yard and give you a clear price before any work starts.
- Call or text
- (406) 450-0496
- Hours
- 7 am to 7 pmuntil the ground freezes
More from Lawn Dogs
- Sprinkler InstallationNew underground systems, laid out for your yard and your water.
- Sprinkler RepairBroken heads, leaks, dead zones and controllers that will not behave.
- Landscaping and XeriscapingGrading, sod, beds, trees and low-water yards.
- Hardscaping and PaversPatios, walkways, retaining walls and fire pits.
