Sprinkler systems are a wonderful convenience when it comes to watering your lawn in the heat of summer. But when winter rolls around, it is vital that you remove standing water from the lines in order to prevent damage from freezing. If you would like to learn more about winterizing your sprinkler system, read on. This article will introduce you to one of the best ways to remove standing water: the blow out method.

The Basics

If water isn't removed from your sprinkler system before temperatures drop below zero, it will expand, causing the pipes to rupture and crack. The blow out method of winterizing utilizes an air compressor to effect this removal. All this involves is attaching the compressor to the blow out port of your sprinkler system and literally blasting all of the standing water out of the system. But in order to prevent inadvertent damage, it's necessary to carefully select the air compressor you're going to use.

The Right Compressor Size

If the air compressor you use has too little power, it won't be capable of fully evacuating the elaborate network of sprinkler pipes. An air compressor's maximum power is given in terms of cubic feet per minute, often expressed as CFM. Blowing out the average sprinkler system (one with a mainline diameter smaller than two inches) will require a compressor with a CFM somewhere between 80 and 100.

Yet simply selecting the most powerful air compressor on the market isn't a good idea. That's because too much air pressure can lead to serious damage. Luckily, in the owner's manual for your sprinkler, you should be able to find what is known as the maximum operating pressure for your specific system. Be sure to remain below this threshold.

Attaching The Compressor

A sprinkler system's blow out port can be found on the main line leading out of your home. To connect your compressor to this port, you're going to need to acquire the right sized adapter. The type of adapter needed will vary depending on the blow out port used in your sprinkler system.

Having connected your air compressor to the sprinkler system, close all of your backflow valves before proceeding. Failure to close the backflow valves will allow air to migrate backwards--that is, into your water supply pipes. This won't necessarily cause any damage to your pipes, but it will greatly hamper the effectiveness of the blow out process. Contact a company like Outdoor Service Inc for more information.