wolfpacklawn
09-20-2007, 04:42 PM
I've been searching the forum with some advise on bowing out sprinkler systems. But still need some help. I am in Reno, NV and hardly anyone blows out the lines here. Normally we just shut off the sprinkler main and open up a few drains and the station valves. The laterals are supposed to have auto drains but they don't always drain all the water out. We have not offered this service in the past but last spring we had more freeze damage than normal and thought we would offer the service this year.
We will mostly be doing smaller residential systems of about 2,000 - 7,000 sq feet. The majority of setups around here have a Wilkens 720 backflow valve with 1" or 3/4" pvc to the station valves and then 3/4" pvc for the laterals.
As I have talked to a few people who have done blow outs around here they say they hook up an air compressor to the top test **** on the backflow valve and then open up each station at a time.
We probably will not be doing a whole lot of these this year. Maybe 30- 50 is what I expect out of the 300+ we will be shutting down.
Anyhow, the question is, what are the minimum cfm's I will need to blow out stations one at a time? I am hoping not to rent a pull behind compressor capable of doing all the stations at once. Maybe a nailgun type compressor that I can just take in my truck and plug in at the site.
What other things should I watch out for? Or am I just being a fool and maybe we shouldn't offer this service and just fix what is broken next spring? It was a major PITA fixing all the places that had cracked laterals that did not drain properly.
Thanks for any help and advise.
Matt
We will mostly be doing smaller residential systems of about 2,000 - 7,000 sq feet. The majority of setups around here have a Wilkens 720 backflow valve with 1" or 3/4" pvc to the station valves and then 3/4" pvc for the laterals.
As I have talked to a few people who have done blow outs around here they say they hook up an air compressor to the top test **** on the backflow valve and then open up each station at a time.
We probably will not be doing a whole lot of these this year. Maybe 30- 50 is what I expect out of the 300+ we will be shutting down.
Anyhow, the question is, what are the minimum cfm's I will need to blow out stations one at a time? I am hoping not to rent a pull behind compressor capable of doing all the stations at once. Maybe a nailgun type compressor that I can just take in my truck and plug in at the site.
What other things should I watch out for? Or am I just being a fool and maybe we shouldn't offer this service and just fix what is broken next spring? It was a major PITA fixing all the places that had cracked laterals that did not drain properly.
Thanks for any help and advise.
Matt