Do I have to be home?

No—if the inside water is shut off and I can access the controller, you don’t have to be home.

Controller on or off after winterizing?

For city-water, it can stay ON. After shutoff and blowout there’s no pressure, and a scheduled zone opening can help gravity-drain. For pump/lake/well systems, I disable pump-start so the pump can’t run dry.

What PSI/CFM do you use?

I run 50–60 PSI with high CFM. Volume clears the lines safely—no need to exceed that range.

Why is the drain plug left off or partially threaded?

If the main shutoff is weeping, water drains via the plug instead of back into the system. If continuous dripping persists after 24–72 hours, call; otherwise we’ll address anything at spring start-up.

Sprinkler Winterization & Blowouts in Birmingham, MI

Call 313-349-1300 Text Me Schedule Online

I’ve winterized sprinklers in Birmingham for 30+ years—from tight lots near Downtown Birmingham and Shain Park to larger estates by the Bloomfield border. Older homes often mix copper/brass at the house with newer PVC or poly laterals. My method protects that mix: 50–60 PSI with high CFM, short passes per zone, and the drain plug left off or partially threaded so any weeping main shut-off drains out instead of back into the system.

Service focus: Downtown & Shain Park • Cranbrook • Quarton Lake • Vernon/Quarter streets • Corridors: Maple (15 Mile), Woodward, Adams, Southfield, Quarton • ZIP 48009

Pricing — Birmingham

City Water — Cash/Check/Zelle

8z $75 • 10z $85 • 12z $95 • 14z $105 • 16z $115 • 18z $125 • 20z $135 • 22z $145

City Water — Online Payment

8z $85 • 10z $95 • 12z $105 • 14z $115 • 16z $125 • 18z $135 • 20z $145 • 22z $155

Pump / Lake / Well — Cash/Check/Zelle

10z $125 • 12z $135 • 14z $145 • 16z $155 • 18z $165 • 20z $175 • 22z $185 • 24z $195

Pump / Lake / Well — Online Payment

10z $135 • 12z $145 • 14z $155 • 16z $165 • 18z $175 • 20z $185 • 22z $195

Add-on (when required): Pull & disconnect lake intake pipe: $125.

How I Winterize (Button View)

1 Shut off & inspect Supply, backflow, drains, zone order 2 Safe hookup Downstream of backflow; 50–60 PSI + high CFM 3 Short zone passes Farthest first; ~60–120s to fine mist 4 Backflow & drains Purge cocks; drain plug off/part-threaded 5 Controller City-water can stay ON; pump-start disabled 6 Paper report Leave Winterizing Report + text notes

Important: Winterization is not a full inspection. Air doesn’t reveal every issue the way water does, so some problems only show in spring under pressure. If you notice continuous weeping at the drain after 24–72 hours, call; otherwise I’ll see you at spring start-up.

What I Typically See in Birmingham

Mature landscapes & tight easements: beds packed along Maple (15 Mile), Woodward, Adams—valve boxes can be deep or hidden.
Mixed-age systems: brass/copper at the house + newer poly/PVC laterals off Cranbrook and Chesterfield.
High-end heads & rotors: short air cycles to avoid heat on seals while still clearing fully.

Nearby Areas

Bloomfield Hills • Troy • Berkley • See all service areas →