Lawn watering ends September 30.
Freeze damage does not have to.
DENVER WATER MANDATE
Watering of grass is prohibited after September 30, 2026 for Denver Water customers. Spray irrigation of lawns must stop. Trees, shrubs, and perennials may still be watered by hand or low-volume drip — not by spray heads.
Hi, I’m Dan — The Sprinkler Guy. For more than 30 years I’ve put Denver-metro systems to bed the right way: water off, backflow drained, lines purged with a commercial compressor, controller shut down. This year the calendar is not optional. If you are on Denver Water, lawn spray irrigation must stop after September 30. Whether you are in Denver, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, or nearby, leftover water in the pipes will still freeze. A $150 blowout now beats cracked valves and a wrecked backflow in March.
Season dates
- Winterization season: September 16 – October 30, 2026
- Denver Water lawn-watering cutoff: after September 30, 2026 (Denver Water customers)
- Appointments: 30 minutes, scheduled by email only
- No repairs during winterization visits
Why this year is different
Denver Water’s Board of Water Commissioners amended its Stage 1 drought resolution on August 26, 2026. Grass watering is prohibited after September 30. First-time violations get a warning; later violations can bring escalating fines. Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vegetables may still be watered by hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or by low-volume drip — not by spray heads.
That mandate ends the watering season on paper. It does not empty the water already sitting in your valves, lateral lines, and backflow preventer. Turning the controller off is not winterization. Water left in the system expands when it freezes and splits pipes, heads, and brass. That is the expensive spring surprise I see every year.
What your blowout includes
- Irrigation shutoff located and closed the right way
- Backflow preventer and exposed copper drained
- Each zone purged with a truck-towed, gas-powered commercial compressor — not a homeowner pancake tank
- Controller shut down for winter
- Quick visual check while the system is open; any concerns are reported to you
What this visit does not include
Winterization appointments are 30 minutes and reserved for shutdown only. No repairs are performed during this window — not heads, not valves, not wiring. If I see a problem I will tell you and we can schedule repair work separately after the blowout season (or at spring start-up). That is how we keep every customer’s slot on time.
Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Winterization / blowout — up to 10 zones | $150 |
| Each additional zone over 10 | $10 per zone |
Payment is due at the time of service. Please have the number of zones ready if you know it; I will confirm on site.
How to book — email only
Send one email to dan@thesprinklerguy.com with:
- Your name and service address
- Best callback number
- Number of zones (if you know it)
- Preferred date window between September 16 and October 30
- Gate codes, dog notes, crawl-space or stop-and-waste access, and anything else I should know
I will reply with a confirmed 30-minute appointment. Please do not hold a date in your head until you have the confirmation email. Cancellations must be by email.
Please have ready when I arrive
- Clear access to the backflow preventer and shutoff
- Unlocked gates and a path to the controller
- Someone on site, or prior written arrangement if I am working without you present
Service area
I work a 10-mile radius from central Denver, including Denver, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and parts of Golden. I do not travel to Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Castle Rock, southwest Littleton, or mountain properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just turn the water off myself?
You can close the irrigation shutoff. That does not remove water already in the lines, valves, and backflow. Frozen water expands. The blowout is what protects the system.
Why start September 16 if watering is allowed through September 30?
The first two weeks fill fast. Denver Water’s cutoff is September 30; the first hard freeze often lands in early-to-mid October. Starting mid-September lets us finish everyone before both the mandate and the cold.
I am not on Denver Water. Do I still need this?
Yes. The watering ban is a Denver Water rule. Freeze damage is a Front Range rule. If your pipes hold water, they can break.
Will you fix broken heads while you are here?
Not during winterization. These visits are 30 minutes and blowout-only so the schedule stays honest. I will note anything I see.
Do I need to be home?
Yes, unless we have made prior arrangements in writing and the appointment is confirmed.
Ready to book?
Done right today saves a fortune in the spring. Email dan@thesprinklerguy.com to lock your 30-minute slot between September 16 and October 30.
— Dan Stifflear, The Sprinkler Guy
dan@thesprinklerguy.com | (303) 646-2323
Copy this to book
Paste this into an email to dan@thesprinklerguy.com, fill in the blanks, and send:
Subject: 2026 Sprinkler Winterization
Name:
Service address:
Phone:
Number of zones (if known):
Preferred dates (between Sept 16 and Oct 30):
Access notes (gate code, dog, crawl space, stop-and-waste):I understand this is a 30-minute blowout/shutdown only and that no repairs will be performed at this visit.