Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 31, 2002 04:20am | #1

   What the #$%^*# you talking about. It is 100 degrees out and the AC keeps freezing up.

   I think that you have been out in the sun too long. Why you want to blow up the sprinklers?

   You can get a male schrader valve (tire) fitting at the hardware store with 1/8" pipe thread on the other end. I have mine screwed into a brass female cap for a hose bib and use it to blow down my irragation pump. I don't have sprinkers installed yet so I have not done those. But you should be able to find a fitting to go from the 1/8" pipe to 3/4" or whatever you have the sprinkers.

1. 
   priestleyMI | Jul 31, 2002 04:29am | #2

   Hahaha - too right Bill !  I knew I would shake some people up asking about closing my sprinklers on a day like this but it was just forward thinking to fall.

   I am assuming that the appropriate fitting MUST be on my sprinkler system already because they guy who comes out every year to blow them out hooks a compressor up to them.

   I just never paid any attention to what he was doing 'cause I never thought DW would let me get a compressor (hahaha).

   I am sure that someone here knows about this sort of thing and can recommend a good article or steps to do this.

1. 
   bill_1010 | Jul 31, 2002 06:58pm | #3

   set your regulator to a low pressure, blasting 130psi wouldnt be a good thing.

2. 
   smijal | Jul 31, 2002 07:58pm | #4

   Scott,

   I have been winterizing my (and a few others) sprinkler systems for about 20 years now, so I guess I might have some insights to pass along.

   The connection to your sprinkler system should be made AFTER the ani-siphon valve . Vrious methods are used to make the connection. Many systems have been soldered together (copper) with a hose bib  after the anti-siphon, or just a simple 1/8" drain fitting. You need to cobble together the plumbing fittings to connect your air hose to the system.

   When the professional guys come out to blow the system out, they usually use a large trailerable compressor which has a lot of output (volume) of compressed air. With a smaller compressor you will find your tank will empty with air and you will lose air pressure while the compressor tries to  recycle.(By the way a pressure of 40-60 lbs/sq in seems to work well. Don't go too high in pressure, the plastic pipe and fittings could be damaged)

    Ideally, you want the charge of compressed air to force the water out, and replace the water as it does so. When your compressor loses pressure, you need to shut off the valve to that zone, let it restablish pressure , and go at it again. This may take several cycles to rid of all the water. I have been doing this with a 12 gallon tank on a small compressor. This is good reason to get a compressor with a  25 gallon or larger tank. (This fall I will be working with a 60 gallon tank, and looking foreward to it!)

   Just take your time, do multiple cycles ( the last time I raise the pressure to 60 psi ) and you should no longer have to rely on someone else winterizing them.

1. 
   priestleyMI | Jul 31, 2002 08:22pm | #5

   Thank you very much for that reply.