The fall sprinkler winterizing ritual in my old subdivision in Boise, Idaho, saved all participants money. Generally, the neighbors would talk over the fence and agree on a day to rent a compressor to blow out sprinklers. We’d all chip in to rent the machine, and then we would drag it from house to house on the agreed-upon day and take care of everyone’s system.

One of the participants was a building contractor, so his expertise was useful if there were problem systems. Also, there was enough collective experience among the group to make sure a newcomer’s system was properly taken care of. Generally, by the time you had blown out your sprinkler a couple of times, you had the hang of it and could figure out what needed to be done.

Winter is coming to Central Oregon, and your sprinkler system needs to be prepared for freezing weather.

Ignore this preparation at your own peril.

Freezing water expands, and a system with water in it during a hard freeze will end up with burst pipes and ruined valves. When the system is turned on in the spring, major repairs may need to be made.

But during these times when everybody wants to save money, should you consider doing it yourself? What could it cost, and what are some of the cautions?

Doing it yourself

There are several considerations involved before deciding to do the blowout process, says Jim Schuma, a contractor who does sprinkler blowouts for Ross Plumbing in Bend. Otherwise, you will be paying for mistakes in the spring when the system gets turned on and the leaks become apparent.

The best advice, Schuma says, is to get the contractor or homeowner to show you all the controls and valves of the sprinkler system as soon as you buy or rent the property. If the house is on a hill, the water drains naturally and there may be no need for a blowout. But that is something a professional would need to decide.

It is possible to blow out the sprinkler yourself, Schuma said, but know what you’re getting into.

To start with, you need the right compressor for the job, he said, and that would be one of those larger, high-volume compressors that is pulled on a trailer. A smaller compressor, such as those used to power a compressed-air hammer or other power tool, may not be the best choice, he advises.

Those compressors have a high pounds-per-square-inch capacity, but low volume, he said, which typically makes them hard to use or unsuitable for some blowouts.

“A smaller compressor may shoot a tiny bead of air through the filled pipe, and you will see the heads pop up in the zone and blow air,” Schuma said. “But there may still be a lot of water in that pipe. You can successfully blow out a zone with a smaller compressor, but you may have to repeat the blowout five or six times to get all the water.”

The larger compressor has enough volume to clear a zone, he added, because it usually requires a sustained burst of air to completely clear a line.

Hiring a pro

A professionally done blowout will cost between $45 and $65, Schuma said, compared to the cost of renting a high-capacity compressor for about $100 for a half day.

Beware of unlicensed scam artists who show up with a compressor and the offer of a cheap blowout, Schuma cautions. To be legal in Bend, he said, the person doing a blowout must be either a licensed journeyman plumber or a licensed landscaping contractor.

“Part of the deal should be that the person who did the blowout comes back in the spring to turn the system back on,” Schuma said. “That way, if there was any damage done during the winter because of an improper blowout, or any repairs that need to be done, the contractor will take care of them.”

Too often, he said, scam artists can make a mistake or do something wrong in the fall as they attempt to winterize the system, and the homeowner is left holding the bag.

In the long run, Shuma said, the best bet might be to pay a professional to do the work. A licensed technician will take about half an hour to winterize a standard residential system, he said, and the homeowner can be assured the job will be done properly.

“I can understand people wanting to save money,” Shuma said. “But on some jobs, the best choice might be to hire a professional to do the work.”