My controller is a Rainbird, but the controller is not involved with winterizing or spring start-up anyway. All it does is "tell" the electric valves when to open and close. Basically, winterizing is done by pumping compressed air into the system instead of water. I use my own 7-1/2 HP compressor that has a 60 gallon air tank, so I have to do it one zone at a time because it takes a couple of tanks of air to do each zone. The pros use the big construction sized compressors so they can do the whole system with one big blow, but either way works. I remove my backflow preventor and put it where it won't freeze if there is a bit of water left inside. Then I connect my air hose with an attachment That fits the sprinkler side where the backflow valve was. Then I open each zone's control valve manually, and close it when the blow is completed. In the spring, I just replace the backflow valve, and turn the water back on. I can understand the need most folks have to hire the lines blown in the fall, I did too until I got my compressor, but paying to turn the water back on in the spring is a waste of money.