How to Remove a Lawn Sprinkler for Winterization

When cold weather arrives, it's time to winterize your sprinkler system. Freezing water left inside a sprinkler system can expand and crack many components of your sprinkler system. It's important to remove as much water as possible through the winterization process. Removing your sprinkler heads minimizes the chance that water will remain trapped under the heads, and it will give you a chance to inspect your sprinklers before next season.

Law flags or pencils
Hand shovel
Gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Run the sprinklers briefly to determine the location of each sprinkler head. Stick a lawn flag or pencil next to each sprinkler head.
- 2
  Remove the dirt in the area immediately surrounding each sprinkler. Remove at least 6 inches of dirt from around the base of the sprinklers, leaving enough room to get your hand around each sprinkler.
- 3
  Twist each sprinkler head counterclockwise until it pulls free from the PVC riser below. Try not to get any dirt inside the riser openings once they are exposed.
- 4
  Collect all of the sprinkler heads and store them for the winter in a dry location. The holes for the sprinklers can be left uncovered for the season, or you can place a plug inside each riser and fill the holes with dirt. Just remember to place marking flags at the location of each hole so you can uncover them again in the spring.

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