# CFM thru 3/8" hose. - LawnSite.com™

jcom · #1 07-26-2010, 04:10 PM

I have been searching but can't find the answer to this.

I am looking at a bigger compressor for the upcoming blowout season. My present compressor puts out 17 CFM and I have been using 3/8 " hose. I have the larger fittings for this hose to avoid restriction. Hose has worked well for me...This is the biggest hose I want to drag around. (Lets' not go into that here.)

I found one site that stated 20 cfm is no problem for 3/8" hose. The compressor I am looking at is at 30 CFM. But I don't want to invest in a bigger compressor if it means I need to start using bigger hose.

Thanks for the opines.

John

greenmonster304 · #2 07-26-2010, 05:41 PM

Are you blowing out one head at a time?
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JeffY · #3 07-26-2010, 06:22 PM

That's an awfully small hose. Majority of us here use a 185cfm compressor and 1" hose. Gives you the ability to blow out many zones at once and speeds up your time. Why not invest in or rent a compressor that can allow you to blow out an entire system (5-6 zones) in 5 mins or less?

Wet_Boots · #4 07-26-2010, 06:28 PM

Way too small a hose for big work. Even if you don't go for bigass jackhammer hose, you need more hose to make effective use of more air, especially in cold conditions.

A cheapskate compromise that could work, would be 3/4 or 5/8 garden hose, if you get the "forever" kind, that's made from polybutylene. (that stuff will last for decades)

jcom · #5 07-26-2010, 06:36 PM

I do all my blowouts myself. Maybe blow out 200-300 per year. I like the compressor in the pickup. Majority of blowout connections are boiler drains which don't have a large opening anyway so methinks a large hose is not necessary as far as restriction.

I know that the big tow behinds are quicker but I do not want to lug any 1" hose around or reel it up. I have an air powered reel that reels up 200' of 3/8" hose in no time at all. And I am not totally wore out after a day of blowouts.

My two cents worth. I can pop two zones at a time now but the compressor will not keep up to efficiently blow both out. Hence, my desire to try a somewhat larger compressor. And the original question as to CFM capacity of various hose sizes.

Thanks for the input.

John

Wet_Boots · #6 07-26-2010, 06:59 PM

If you still want to stay with the idea of a truckmount, but get more air, you could look into assembling your own rig from a compressor pump you find on the local market. For winterizings alone, you can use a single-stage reciprocating pump, with head unloaders, that allow it to run continuously from a gasoline engine. You can easily go into 30+ cfm, and work with that garden hose.

DanaMac · #7 07-26-2010, 07:30 PM

Sweet. Is it time to talk winterizing?????

Wet_Boots · #8 07-26-2010, 07:52 PM

I'm strictly thinking of blowing skirts around, being that it's still summer.

JeffY · #9 07-26-2010, 09:19 PM

Here's a chart I found. http://www.airtxinternational.com/re...-air-hoses.htm Go to the bottom of the page and it will tell you recommended sizes of air hose to get dependent on the CFM and length of hose being used.