How big of an air compressor do I need to blow out my sprinkler system?
Blowing out sprinkler lines with a compressor is one of the best ways to winterize a sprinkler system.As frozen water will expand and possibly break the underground plastic pipes, sprinkler lines should be drained as much as possible each season.There are limitations on which type of compressor will do the job.Understanding more about the key parts of a compressor will help you make an informed decision about what size to use for blowing out your sprinkler lines.
To blow out a sprinkler system, your air compressor needs to provide at least 20 cubic feet per minute.Most irrigation professionals recommend using a certain amount of water per minute.The side of the tank is where most air compressor ratings are listed.Larger lines, such as pipes that are 1/3- to 1-inch in diameter, will require more air volume.Smaller lines may need less air.To make sure as much water is blown out as possible, a good rule of thumb is to give no less than 20 cubic feet per minute.
You need to make sure your air compressor can handle the load over a long period of time if you want to get the job done.Each zone needs to be blown out for at least 2 minutes to winterize a sprinkler line.The minimum amount of air you have to deliver per minute is 20.For 2 minutes, run your compressor at full capacity.The pressure meter probably won't handle the job if it drops significantly.
The size of the air compressor's tank affects whether it can blow out a sprinkler line.It can take a long time for smaller tanks that are less than 5 gallons to be charged.A compressor with a tank size of at least 10 gallons is recommended by most professionals.The compressor motor won't have to work overtime to keep up.