Johgee UK Guides
Winterise a UK Garden Irrigation System: Full Checklist
Winterising is an inventory, not one action
A garden irrigation system can include an outside tap, timer, manifold, filters, regulators, exposed supply pipe, drip laterals, sprinklers, pumps and stored-water equipment. Each component has its own drainage and storage limits.
The safe objective is to remove or drain vulnerable water-holding components, leave property plumbing protected, preserve a record of the working layout and make spring recommissioning controlled and testable.
For an urgent first-frost response limited to a removable timer, use the first-frost alert checklist. This page covers the complete system.
Build the winter inventory
Photograph the system while it still works. List:
- water source and isolation point;
- outside tap and adaptors;
- timer or valve controller;
- manifold and outlet labels;
- pressure regulators and filters;
- main pipe and branches;
- drip line, micro-tube, soaker hose or sprinklers;
- flush and drain points;
- pumps, non-return valves and stored-water vessels;
- indoor gateway, transformer or controller;
- buried components and manufacturer documents.
Record the current schedules, measured output at reference emitters and known repairs. This baseline makes spring leaks and weak delivery easier to diagnose.
Read component instructions before shutdown
Gather current manuals for every water-holding or powered component. Note storage temperature, approved drainage method, valve position, battery guidance and whether compressed air is permitted.
Do not apply one manufacturer's process to another device. Outdoor, waterproof or weather-resistant descriptions do not automatically establish freeze tolerance.
Where household pipework, buried valves or electrical equipment is involved, use a competent installer. This editorial checklist does not replace plumbing or electrical instructions.
Step 1: finish the last inspection
Run each zone briefly while conditions are above freezing. Confirm its valve, final outlet and current fault state. Photograph leaks or weak areas before shutdown.
This is not a final heavy watering prescription. Apply water only where plants require it and restrictions permit. The purpose is to distinguish pre-existing faults from winter damage later.
Step 2: isolate the supply
Close the outside tap or dedicated irrigation isolator. Verify closure. Release downstream pressure through the documented manual control or drain point.
Know the location of the property's internal stop valve. If the outside tap itself or supply pipe appears damaged, stop and obtain suitable plumbing help.
Step 3: remove the timer or manifold
Support connected lines, disconnect outlets and remove vulnerable tap-mounted equipment according to its manual. Keep adaptors and washers in labelled bags rather than leaving them loose in a shed.
Open and orient valves as directed to release trapped water. Do not force a collar, drill a drainage hole or dismantle a sealed valve body.
Inspect for cross-threading, flattened seals, mineral deposits and cracks. Record whether a part is fit for spring reuse.
Step 4: service filters and regulators
Remove and clean filter elements according to their instructions. Let housings drain and dry. Inspect transparent bowls for stress or clouding, and keep O-rings clean and correctly stored.
Drain removable regulators where instructed. Do not assume a regulator has emptied because downstream pipe is open; internal chambers can retain water.
Step 5: drain exposed distribution lines
Open flush ends and low points provided by the design. Allow surface pipe, laterals and hoses to drain to a safe location. Lift obvious sags where water collects, without stretching fittings.
Coil removable hose loosely after it drains. Cap or bag clean ends for storage so debris and insects do not enter. Label each coil by zone.
Buried irrigation needs a system-specific method. Do not improvise with high-pressure compressed air unless the design and manufacturer explicitly permit it and competent equipment is used.
Step 6: handle emitters and sprinklers
Flush before final disconnection while the system can still operate safely. Remove and store vulnerable sprinkler heads or micro-components where their instructions require it.
Do not poke blocked emitters with an arbitrary metal object; clean or replace them using the documented method. Keep a count of parts removed from each zone.
Step 7: pumps and water butts
Disconnect electrical power before servicing a pump. Close, drain and store it according to its manual, including filter, non-return valve and pressure vessel where present. Never run a pump dry merely to “empty it” unless the manufacturer specifically instructs that procedure.
Manage water-butt level, outlet and overflow according to the vessel and site. A full butt, connected pump and exposed rigid fitting can each have different winter requirements. Keep runoff away from foundations and paths.
Step 8: protect the outside tap
Inspect the tap and exposed supply. Fit suitable insulation or a tap cover as part of the property's plumbing plan. A cover around the tap does not make an attached water timer frost-proof.
Do not conceal an existing leak beneath insulation. Repair faults before covering, and keep the internal stop valve accessible.
Step 9: batteries, gateway and records
Follow each device's battery-storage instructions. Inspect compartments for moisture or corrosion. Store removed batteries separately from the controller.
An indoor gateway may remain powered if the current manual supports that, but label it and preserve account details needed for spring. Do not delete pairings simply because the outdoor unit is stored.
Create a winter record containing:
- photographs and zone map;
- removed-component inventory;
- seal or fitting replacements required;
- storage location;
- shutdown date and forecast context;
- current app and hardware version;
- spring checklist and target date.
Spring recommissioning
Wait for suitable conditions and follow current manuals. Before connecting fine emitters:
- inspect the tap, controller, housings and seals;
- replace known damaged parts;
- reconnect one component at a time;
- open the supply slowly;
- use a dry tissue at every joint;
- flush lines;
- compare near and far output;
- exercise local and automatic valve closure;
- set new conservative schedules based on current plants.
Do not treat a successful app connection as a hydraulic test. Observe water reaching the intended root area and the valve physically closing.
Johgee system boundary
For a Johgee installation, record the four outlet labels and gateway position before removal. Consult the current product specification and the manual supplied with the actual unit for batteries, draining and storage.
The controller's outdoor operating description does not establish that it can remain water-filled through frost. The full system may also include third-party filters, regulators and pipe with separate requirements.
Field evidence from our garden
