air compressor pressure

[braves57]

Does anyone know the answer to this?

I am trying to blow out my sprinkler system. I have the PSI on 120. It doesn't seem to be getting enough air pressure. I have a 3/8 inch hose that I am running the air through. Could it be that the air hose diameter is too small to get enough pressure through???

[18 inch Crappie]

You need more CFM not PSI

[setterguy]

That is correct. You are simply not putting enough air through the system.

[eurolarva]

most of the cheaper compressors will be regulated at 120 psi however only have like 65 to 85 when it is free running. This should be enough to blow out your sprinklers. Just do one zone at a time. When you are done you will see vapor coming out of the heads. This is not enough water to do damage to the sprinkler system.

[Powerstroke]

PSI is the pressure of the air in the line, but you need more volume of air, which is the CFM. Think like a garden hose. You can turn the pressure all the way up, but it will still take forever to fill a swimming pool because a garden hose just can't move water fast enough.

[FishingIdiot]

So what kind of compressor do you need to blow out the lines? Will my lines to my outside faucets need to be done, also?

By the way, is it hard to do or easy to mess up?

[eurolarva]

It is real easy to do. Your sprinkler system is a sealed system so it does not require a massive amount of air pressure. If your pump will maintain about 40 psi free running that is enough to get the job done. Is your sprinkler on a pump or does it run off of house water? You will need to make a fitting that will hook your compressor to a garden hose which is probably 3/4 inch pipe thread. Does your sprinkler system have zones? If so you will want to have a zone selected and on before you hook the compressor up. Best to make your fitting have a quick disconnect fitting on it. If your compressor is large enough and say has 120 to 140 PSI and you plug this into your sprinkler system without having a zone on you can burst the pipe or cause a fitting to blow which is not a good thing. So switch a zone on then plug the compressor in and just let it run till only a little water vapor is coming out then switch to the next zone till it is done. That is all you need to do.

[FishingIdiot]

Thanks for the reply.

I don't have any air compressor yet. It sounds like you might not know what pressure it "really has" by looking at how it's rated. I don't know it my sprinkler has a pump or not (I know that sounds dum) - it sounds like its chugging/pumping when I turn them on or whe it switches zones. Yes, there are 5 zones.

So when you say you have a zone selected, I assume the water is turned off while the controller is on?

[setterguy]

Basically if your house water is on a well, you have a pump. You could have a booster pump for your sprinkler system, but it is not the norm. Or you could have a sand point specifically for your sprinkler system. Yes, turn the timer on, then turn on your compressor. Cycle through the zones until you just have the "mist" coming through. Then switch to the next zone, ect.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Setter -

Are you jammed with blowouts right now??

Just wondering, every once in a while I get someone stopping me looking to get a system shut down.

If you're looking for more, I'll pass the number along....

[setterguy]

well we only have about 600 left.. Feel free to pass the number along, I appreciate it.

[Shack]

I used to blow system out with a smaller up right Campbell Hausefeld compressor (35-40 gallon)! I removed top plastic cover and adjusted reg. from max of 120 psi, to around 145 psi. This seemed to help, because it helps to have more pressure in tank! Now, this is the tricky part, make sure your tank is rated for adjusting higher max PSI of the cut off of air pump. I went over a little bit, but nothing happened in the 4 years I ran that comp. for shop and sprinklers. Now I have a large industrial one that I have cut off set at 160 PSI.

Build up pressure and switch zone on. Keep doing until mist is gone or head just go round and nothing comes out!

!!!!!!!The Main Point of My post!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do have a booster pump and it is located outside of my house in a Suncrest outdoor box! Make sure if you have a booster pump to drain inside of pump. I forgot to do this the first year I ran my sprinkler system and blew system out. The next spring when I turned on my system, water was leaking and bursting out of pump housing. I tried to fix but had to bump another pump!

Good luck!!!!!

[FishingIdiot]

Thanks for the specific advice. I might hire them to do it this year and watch them do it.

[eurolarva]

Quote:

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Thanks for the specific advice. I might hire them to do it this year and watch them do it.

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This is a really good idea. Used to cost about 100 bucks to have this done yearly for me. With that and a swimming pool it paid for the compressor in one year. Once you have seen it done it is pretty easy.

[setterguy]

One thing to watch out for when doing it yourself is your warranty on your system. I surely don't mind when my customers decide to winterize themselves but I don't know if they do it correctly, and thus cannot warranty their system if they start maintaining it. Just something to consider, if you do want to winterize yourself maybe just have the install company do it until warranty is over, then proceed.

[18 inch Crappie]

Setter, When you going to make out to Blaine and get mine system done? Brian

[setterguy]

You're so close to the shop, whenever you want. Shoot me an email and we'll confirm.

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