Blowing out a sprinkler system??

Cool Texan · 11-16-2006, 01:20 PM

A neighbor dropped by our house yesterday and told my wife that he was having a guy come by soon to "blow out his sprinkler system", and that he could do other houses while he was there....only $25.

Problem is, neither of us have any clue what the guy is talking about. Am i supposed to be doing something special with my sprinklers, other than turning them off??

1bigfish · 11-16-2006, 01:25 PM

Well you are supposed to drain your sprinkler system during the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing up and breaking. However I don't know if I would go thru all the trouble of having them blown out. I just drained the pipes every winter and never had a problem.

greenbuttskunk · 11-16-2006, 01:29 PM

Jeff,
you sure are. It's important to blow out all the residual water from the lines.
A good freeze and you will have problems. I forgot to do it last year and I had a valve bust during last winters below freezing weather. Water was spraying everywhere. you can also crack a sprinler line, anywhere in the system, making fixing it a real chore. Pay the 25 and have it thoughly blown out so everything is bled dry. If possible ask them if they guarantee that it's all free of water in case of a freeze. you'll be glad you spent the dough, peace of mind is valuable.

Reel_Big_Fish · 11-16-2006, 01:32 PM

Here is a link (http://www.greentouchirrigation.com/...er_System.html) with information on winterizing a sprinkler system.

Cool Texan · 11-16-2006, 01:47 PM

Thanks all. We'll get it done.

StickFish · 11-16-2006, 02:32 PM

Guess I'm lucky that the lowest point in my sprinker system is the drain valve - aren't they all done this way?

Turn off the water to the system
Go to the highest elevation control box, open drain
Go to the lowest elevation control box, open drain
Next day close bottom drain - or not

Thumper · 11-16-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbuttskunk

Jeff,
you sure are. It's important to blow out all the residual water from the lines.
A good freeze and you will have problems. I forgot to do it last year and I had a valve bust during last winters below freezing weather. Water was spraying everywhere. you can also crack a sprinler line, anywhere in the system, making fixing it a real chore. Pay the 25 and have it thoughly blown out so everything is bled dry. If possible ask them if they guarantee that it's all free of water in case of a freeze. you'll be glad you spent the dough, peace of mind is valuable.

Brad --- Is the sprinkler blow-out guy your brother in law? (smilie smilie!!!)I've owned sprinkler systems all my life and never drained or blown them out. What am I missing???

lor · 11-16-2006, 08:14 PM

I think alot of it depends on how your yard is sloped.
From my valve box to the lowest sprinkler head is about 4 feet.
Eventhough the installer gave me a fitting to blow it out.
I don't bother because everytime I turn off the water it drains very well.
I went thru the freeze of 2002 without incident and figure I not.
Plus the sprinkler hasn't been on since late september so any water should have evaporated by now.

wthr4d · 11-17-2006, 07:16 AM

You dont need to have them "blown out" if you can be sure that there is no water left in your valve boxes or pipes over the winter. you DO NEED to drain the system very well every year about this time.

to blow them out yourself all you need is the fitting (bought at any irrigation supply place) and an air compressor.

good luck

paul