Shutting Down Outdoor Lines for a Yakima Winter
In Yakima the first freeze usually arrives around the end of September. That's earlier than many people expect, and outdoor lines left full are the first to split.
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Watch the forecast from mid-September and plan to shut down outdoor water before the first night below freezing. It's better to lose a week of watering than to replace a split valve.
Hoses and hose bibs
Disconnect every hose, drain it and store it. If your outdoor taps have their own shut-off valves inside, close them and open the outdoor tap to let it drain.
Irrigation supply
Close the irrigation supply valve, then drain the system or have it blown out as its design requires. Leave drain valves open over winter if the system calls for it, and note which valves you opened so spring start-up is quick.
Backflow assembly
The backflow assembly holds water and can crack in a freeze. Drain it or insulate it according to its maker's instructions, or ask a plumber to do it.
Outbuildings and hydrants
Shops, barns and yard hydrants need attention too. Drain lines that won't be used, and protect any that must stay in service with insulation or heat.
Spring start-up
Open valves slowly after the last frost, usually around mid-May, and check for leaks. See outdoor and irrigation plumbing.
Why it matters here
Yakima's dry climate means many households water outdoors from spring right into September, so lines are still full when the first frost arrives. A split in a hose bib or a backflow assembly often isn't noticed until the water goes back on in May, when it can spray inside a wall or flood a yard. Draining early avoids both.
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