Getting your sprinkler system ready for winter takes more than turning it off. Water left inside can freeze, expand and damage pipes, valves and other components.

Tony Hockemeyer, with Castle Rock Lawn and Sprinkler, walked News5 through the process, starting inside before moving outside to clear water from each sprinkler zone.

What can homeowners do themselves?

Start by locating the shutoff for your irrigation water supply. If you know how to operate it, shutting that supply off is a first step, but it does not remove the water already in the system.

Learn More in the Video Player Below

The shutoff may be in a basement, crawlspace, or underground valve box. Do not force a valve that will not turn.

If freezing weather is approaching before a professional can arrive, Hockemeyer says homeowners familiar with their system can use its drain points to release some water.

That can buy time, but it is not a complete winterization. Drain locations and procedures vary by system, so homeowners who are unsure should have a professional identify them.

Hockemeyer also cautions that a leaking shutoff valve can allow a drained line to refill during winter.

What should you leave to a professional?

Hockemeyer recommends having a professional handle the sprinkler blowout, which uses compressed air to push remaining water out of the lines.

Tony first cleared the supply line between the indoor shutoff and the outdoor backflow assembly. Then he worked through the sprinkler zones individually.

Basically, the zones are going to turn on one at a time. And we're going to evacuate all the water, he said.

The equipment needs to match the system. Hockemeyer cautions that an undersized garage compressor can produce mist at the sprinkler heads while leaving water behind.

How long does it take?

Hockemeyer says many residential systems in the area take about 30 to 45 minutes to winterize, though larger systems or those with drip irrigation can take longer.

For homeowners, turning off the water is a start. Clearing what remains helps keep winter weather from turning into a repair bill come spring.

Before a business opens its doors or an airline adds a flight, theres work happening behind the scenes. This years UCCS Economic Forum aims to help people understand those efforts and what they mean for the regions future.

The 30th annual event takes place Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Ent Center for the Arts. It brings together business, government and industry leaders to explain local economic conditions and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

News5 reporter Jaylen Lee has more on what the happens at the forum in the video below:

UCCS Economic Forum offers a look at the forces shaping the Pikes Peak region

Director Bill Craighead said the forum provides a local perspective people may not get from national economic headlines.

What actually goes into bringing a business to Colorado Springs? What are the trade-offs involved and what are some of the challenges that they are facing? What are some of the opportunities that they see? Craighead said.

The opening session will feature representatives from Colorado Springs, Fountain, El Paso County and the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC discussing their work attracting and retaining businesses.

Attendees will then choose one of three panel discussions:

Travel and tourism: Industry leaders will discuss changes and challenges facing a sector long connected to Colorado Springs identity, including air service and hospitality. Defense: Craighead said uncertainty following the Space Command announcement helped prompt a discussion about the regions aerospace and defense industry and where it is headed. Nonprofits: The panel will explore changes affecting nonprofit organizations, including opportunities to secure grant funding.

Craighead will close the program with an update on the local economy and how it compares with state and national trends. Attendees will also receive an annual report with regional economic data.

Beyond the numbers, Craighead hopes people leave with a better understanding of community leaders and the work they do.

Understanding them as people and understanding where theyre coming from and what theyre trying to accomplish, I think is really, is really beneficial to all of us, he said.

The main program runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with a welcome reception from noon to 1 p.m. and a happy hour from 4 to 5 p.m.

Tickets cost $65. You can register online, or you can walk up and purchase one when you arrive.

Register for the UCCS Economic Forum here.