How to Winterize a Sprinkler Organisation

Sprinkler systems demand to take all the water diddled out of them before the winter freeze. If you have an air compressor yous can do the task yourself and save the service fee.

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Complication

Intermediate

Introduction

Save big bucks by blowing out the sprinkler system yourself.

Tools Required

Winterizing your irrigation system will keep it running better and longer. Take these steps to gear up your sprinklers for the common cold flavor. Your m will thank you when you can however water the lawn next spring.

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Project step-past-step (5)

Step one

Compressor Set-Up

With a basic quick-connect coupling, y'all can use your air compressor to clear water from your sprinkler organization for the winter. Simply, there are many different means to connect to your organisation.  But be aware that even the largest home compressor isn't powerful plenty to accident out the entire system at one time. Just you can probably blow information technology out zone by zone, which is how I exercise information technology.

If yous're into number crunching and you take the original irrigation layout showing the gallons per minute (GPM) of each sprinkler caput, separate the total GPM of each zone by 7.5. That'll give you the cubic feet per minute (CFM) you demand to accident it out. Otherwise, just rent a 10-CFM compressor and hose from your local tool rental center.

Set the compressor air force per unit area regulator to a maximum of lxxx psi for rigid PVC pipe systems, or 50 psi for flexible black polyethylene pipe. At present, each system is unlike, simply I've had no problems running my compressor at full volume through my black polyethylene pipe. Then turn off the water supply.

Step 2

Follow the Hookup Process

Shut off both valves on the backflow preventer. This is an of import step as the air compressor can damage the backflow preventer. Then remove the plug on the accident-out port, spiral in a quick-connect hose adapter, and connect your compressor's air hose to the unit of measurement. On mine, I built a quick-connect adapter that hooks up to the blow out port. I like that I can close off the valve while the compressor builds up force per unit area between bravado out each zone.

winterize sprinkler system

Pace three

Accident Out the Line

Connect the other end of the air hose to the compressor and blow out the line. The heads should popular upward and spit out water. Disconnect the hose every bit soon as they run dry. Yous'll notice the sprinkler heads spitting and misting. Don't overdo the blowout—without water cooling the plastic gears, they can melt. One time yous're done move on to the next zone and allow the heads to absurd. Then go back and blow out each zone a second time. I usually do information technology at to the lowest degree 3 times, or until in that location is no more water coming out of the heads.

Stride four

Turn Your Valves to 45 Degrees

When yous're completely finished blowing out all of your zones, turn all of the valves on your backflow preventer to 45 degrees. Practise this on the small test cock valves also. They're usually small enough for a small flathead screwdriver.

Step 5

Shut Off Your Controller

When you're all finished blowing out each of your sprinkler zones, plough off your main controller for the winter. On mine, I switch it to standby mode.

Originally Published: October 29, 2021