How to Blow Out Sprinklers
Winterizing your sprinkler system is an important task in order to protect your pipes and sprinklers from getting damaged during the cold months. Water can linger throughout your irrigation system, and when water freezes, it can damage everything from pipes to sprinkler heads to other key components.
While there are plenty of companies that offer Littleton sprinkler repair, and they are more than capable of helping you with this winterization process, many people opt to perform this task on their own. With a few simple tools and an air compressor, you can make sure your irrigation system is blown out properly, giving you the peace of mind that no damage will happen during those chilly winter months.
Shut Down the System
Because there is still water in the system, it’s important not to introduce any more. The first step is turning off the water supply to the irrigation system, followed by opening the hose bib to let the remaining water drain out.
Once the water is shut off and drained, make sure to turn off the timer or control switch that runs the system. This will help eliminate any electrical faults that could occur with your system offline. If your system has what’s commonly known as ‘rain mode,’ it can be turned to that to make sure your settings remain intact.
Hook Up the Compressor
Make sure the air compressor is shut off before connecting it to the irrigation system. Using a flexible hose, connect the compressor to the irrigation system. You may need a coupler to get the proper connection, because you want to ensure a solid connection to get the best results. Having a hose that doesn’t have any leaks or cracks will also ensure you’re getting the proper air pressure to fully eliminate all of the water from inside the irrigation system.
Once the hose is hooked up, activate the air compressor. Your compressor should have a volume of around 35-50 cubic feet per minute (cfm), to make sure that it’s strong enough to blow through the long distance of your irrigation system. Make sure to blow out only one zone at a time, and it helps to blow out the zone farthest from the mainline first. This will help to ensure that each zone will be adequately blown out.
Remove the Equipment
Once each zone has been properly blown out – make sure to allow the compressor to work for at least 2-3 minutes in each zone – it’s time to complete the winterizing process. You’ll know that the process is complete when there is no more water blowing from the sprinkler heads. Don’t overdo it, because continued exposure to the pressurized air may put stress on the system.
Turn off the air compressor and disconnect the hose from the mainline. Also be sure to make sure any lingering air pressure is released from the line to avoid pockets of air. Make sure the water remains shut off, and you’ve completed the process of a sprinkler blowout. For more information on this process, or with any other sprinkler questions, reach out to the experts at Omni Landscape & Sprinkler today.
Related Content: How Does A Sprinkler System Work?