| Author |
Garden Gate:  Blowing out sprinklers?  |
|
|
Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 7:41:30 PM
|
We've always borrowed a friend's air compressor to blow out our sprinklers to winterize our yard. However, we are trying to do it ourselves this year. We bought an air compressor at Sears and it didn't do squat. So I'm wondering if anyone knows what psi we need to do this task. We have an avg-size home with about 30 sprinklers. We don't know what size tank we need. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 07:08:39 AM
|
What pressure did you use when you borrowed your friends compressor? If possible, use the same pressure (PSI) as that.
Dawn in IL |
 |
|
|
edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 8:48:44 PM
|
Jewel - the problem you are experiencing is that your air compressor doesn't put out enough volume of air to push the water out of your lines. When I service my client's systems I use a 150 - 185 CFM (cubic foot per minute) compressor set at 65 - 75 PSI to winterize regular spray/rotor systems. This is the type of compressor that you tow behind a truck. I put a ball valve on the hose to control the flow and I typically open it no more than quarter to half way. It's a common misconception among homeowners that pressure is what matters when flushing a sprinkler system and that this task can be done with a small home or workshop compressor. Think of the difference between drinking water through a stir stick vs a regular drink straw. Or,the amount of water that comes from a fire hose vs a garden hose. Remember that the pipes that feed your sprinklers are probably 3/4 - 1 1/4" diameter, so it takes alot of air to fill them up enough to push the water out. Hope this info helps!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
|
|
|
Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 9:10:50 PM
|
Marilyn, Thanks for the info! We ended up returning the air compressor to Sears because the gauge was broken. We bought a 20 gal one by Husky and it did the job, thankfully. Phew! Just in time since we're supposed to get snow soon.
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: Blowing out sprinklers? |
|
Blowing out sprinklers?
