# Winter Preparation and Spring Startup Guide
> Summary In this article, we'll walk you through the basics of winterizing your irrigation system and explain why it’s recommended for optimal ...
Source: https://support.rachio.com/en_us/winter-preparation-and-spring-startup-guide-ByAiDU1Kv
Last updated: 2026-04-13T19:58:13.712Z
# **Summary**
In this article, we'll walk you through the basics of winterizing your sprinkler system and find the best practices to winterize your Rachio Smart Hose Timer. Plus, you'll learn how to inspect and re-activate your irrigation system when spring arrives.
## **Contents**
1. [Winterize Your Sprinkler System](#section-1)
2. [Re-Enabling Rachio After Winter Season](#section-2)
3. [Smart Hose Timer Winterization](#section-3)
## Winterize Your Sprinkler System
**Video Guide**
Watch this video to see how a winterization blowout works seamlessly with Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controllers and Wireless Flow Meters.
**Step 1: Drain your pipes**
Before scheduling a blowout, check the following:
* Do you have any above-ground piping?
* Do you have an RP (Reduced Pressure) backflow or a PVB (Pressure Vacuum Breaker) backflow? These above-ground irrigation system pieces are especially vulnerable to freezing and can be costly to fix. Cracked pipes and broken backflow preventers are a pain that no homeowner wants to deal with.
If your system includes these components, **we recommend scheduling a sprinkler blowout with a Professional before your first freeze**. Check to see when your area typically experiences freezing temperatures using the map below:
Map Source: [The Weather Channel](https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/average-first-freeze-date-united-states)
Before the blowout, drain the external pipes that are subject to freeze first. To speed up the blowout process, share access to your Rachio controller with your irrigation professional. Find more information [here.](https://rachio.kustomer.help/en_us/how-to-share-a-rachio-device-Byu6vUkFD)
**Step 2: Blow out underground pipes**
Sprinkler blowouts are an affordable way to prevent costly springtime repairs. A **blowout** is the process of removing water from external pipes and underground lines. This is performed by opening each zone and blowing air through the lines.
Rachio recommends hiring an irrigation professional for a blowout if your sprinkler system needs winterizing. Without professional equipment and expertise, the process can be time-consuming and could even cause system damage.
**Step 3: Put your Rachio into Hibernation Mode**
After the blowout is completed. We recommend placing the controller in "Hibernation Mode" to pause all watering schedules for the colder months.
**1.** Open your Rachio and hit the "Settings" tab at the bottom right corner.
**2.** Toggle Hibernation Mode off.
## Re-Enabling Rachio After Winter Season
It’s been a long, hard winter for your yard. You need to check all of the physical parts of your sprinkler system - the backflow preventer and the sprinkler heads throughout the yard, and the settings of the app - Hibernation (formerly Standby) Mode, rain sensor, and schedules. Take a look at these simple steps that will show you how to properly spring-startup!
**1\. Checking for freeze damage, closing the air drains, and the water valves:** Check for visual freeze damage on the backflow preventer. Once you double-check the backflow device, make sure the drain plug and the air valves are closed tightly (marked by the red circles). Last but not least, double-check and close the water valves - those blue knobs in the picture below (not sure about the sprinkler system parts? Take a look at this article): 
**2\. Turn on the water:** Once the backflow preventer looks ok and all the drain, air, and water valves are closed, it's time to turn the water back on. To do so, **slowly** open the main water valve for the sprinkler system. By **slowly** opening the valve, you prevent the water pressure from breaking or damaging any parts of the sprinkler system. It is recommended to open that valve less than a quarter so you allow the pipes to be charged without any pressure. Once you can't hear the water flow anymore, it means the system is properly charged, and then you can open that valve completely.
**3\. Open the valves on the backflow preventer:** The water is on, and now it's time to open the valves on the backflow preventer. Be careful while opening the first valve at the bottom, if you open too quickly, the top part of the backflow device will spill water all over, so **slowly** open the valves and follow the same procedure as for the main water valve (open just a little bit so the pressure doesn't damage the system and only completely open the valves once you can't hear the water flow anymore). To open the valves, follow this order:
**4\. Testing the zones and checking for leaks/broken parts:** Before checking the zones, make sure your controller is online. Once the water charges the sprinkler system, it's time to open the Rachio app and quick run your zones to check if they're watering properly. If your controller was set to "Hibernation Mode," you can still perform manual quick runs from the app or the controller. Find manuals [here.](https://support.rachio.com/en_us/rachio-manuals-and-resources-rkCSP81Yw)
Once the controller activates the zone you prompted it to trigger, it's time to check the yard for leaks or damaged/broken sprinkler heads (If water pools in your landscape or you have large wet areas, you could have a leak in your system. A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen (or 1/32nd of an inch) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
**5\. Turning off Hibernation Mode and Checking Schedules:**
Your sprinkler system looks good, zones are running correctly, and there are no signs of leaks. After the colder months, your controller may still be in Hibernation Mode, which pauses all schedules. To resume watering and get your yard ready for summer, make sure Hibernation Mode is turned off. To check this:
**1.** Open the Rachio app and go to the Settings tab.
**2.** Toggle Hibernation Mode off.
## Smart Hose Timer Winterization
If you live in a cold climate, be sure to keep an eye on low overnight temperatures. If you expect temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to disconnect your Smart Hose Timer, drain any water from it, and store it indoors.
If you have a more permanent installation where you cannot disconnect the valve, we recommend using compressed air to blow out the line, as you would with in-ground irrigation.
Here are some other things to keep in mind as you winterize:
* If you have multiple valves, be sure to label them with their name/installed location before you store them for the winter. If you forget to label them, you can always compare the serial number on the valve with the Valve Settings information in your Rachio App.
* To avoid draining the batteries, remove them before storing the valve.
* Check to make sure that your gasket is still in place when you remove the valve, and clear any debris from the integrated mesh basket (pictured below):
## Do you still need help?
We have a chat support team ready to assist you! You can submit a support request by selecting the chat icon in the bottom right of this page and a member of the support team will contact you live.
**Summer Hours (April-September)**
7 am-5 pm (MST), 7 days a week.
**Winter Hours (October-March)**
8 am-5 pm (MST), Monday - Saturday. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
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