DIY: How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System (Prevent Expensive Damage)

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In this video, I show you how to winterize your sprinkling system, by blowing out the sprinklers lines with an air compressor! I also show you how I insulate my system components to prevent freezing!

* Ideal pressures are in the range of 40 to 80 pounds per square inch (psi) for the air compressor with 80 psi being the maximum for rigid PVC pipe and 50 psi for polyethylene pipe (flexible black pipe). *

[stiksandstones]

Noob guy to Colorado (I am from So Cal) so I am going to give this video a shot on my sprinkler system. Appreciate the easy how to. The service that did the winterize when we bought the house last Fall, wants $380 to do this. I will take my chances.
THANK YOU

[cb]

"That's what she said" at 3:39.🤣

[davegould]

How many psi you set your regulator to?

[TDace]

If one drains and turns off the backflow and opens all the zones is blowing out the lines even necessary?

[EdCAMPBELL-mx]

Ive been told numerous times to not blow air thru the backflow. Your hose fitting should be on the downstream side of it. Once the lines have been serviced, disconnect the backflow and take it in the house.

[davidcrowell]

I believe you should blow it out from the output side of the backflow preventer to avoid damage to the backflow valve. Am I wrong ??

[weihsinchen]

Best winterization video I found so far! Just a quick question. How much PSI is safe for the sprinkler system when doing winterization?

[edwinmyers]

Why not open the other valves on either side of the vacuum breaker as well?

[slimpickens]

I followed this video exactly and I get no air blowing out of the sprinkler heads? I have an 8 gallon 4cfm compressor, hook it up and open the valve to zone and nothing?

[fslater]

Your putting 70psi of air in your sprinkler lines?

[ThomasCardall]

Great video. Cost from my guy is $90 to blow it out. Cost for a 3 gallon compressor is $70. No brainer.

[DPRyan-vdpp]

Are you in highlands ranch, CO? That looks like a typical little backyard in highlands ranch! We live in Centennial Colorado and thanks for the video…we’re doing our system for the first time by ourselves.

[kkevinj]

Why did you have to cut the water off, you closed the ball valve on the preventer, why isnt that good enough?? So you closed 2 valves, just wondering why one isnt enough

[mistergabrieljensen]

Tip: If waiting for the air compressor is the longest part of the process, turn it on first, then go deal with the valves and key and whatnot.

[TheGreatQbert]

Just a note from a professional here. 80 CFM is the recommended minimum to winterize a sprinkler system. Your compressor in your garage can push 3CFM. Because of how much thinner air is than water you need a significant volume of air to remove water from the system. When you blow out with a small air compressor you are only pushing a small amount of water out of the lines. It may be enough to prevent freeze damage but it is not likely.

[secretface]

You may want to add max air pressure before someone blows heads off their system

[warrathblacktiger]

This is definitely not my state we have drains at base of the above ground breaker so the line drains and a master valve that shuts water from the whole system and a drain. We leave the drain plugs on the breaker wide open so the bowl dosnt bust some even take the top off as preventive and we rape the pipes and definitely don’t use iron pipes for sprinklers. They stop doing that in early 80’s around here. And we do same for inground breakers as well. We also bury lines 18 inch’s or lower below the freeze line. Iv never seen or heard of anyone using a compressor to clear the lines. Best way is just to run the system and open the drains and cut the system off it forces a back flow that drains the lines and since there are drains below the breaker it simply flushes the system

[sparkzaddy]

hey noobs. you don't need all the water out of the lines. just enough so it wont expand and bust your pipe.

[rappmasterdugg]

"That's what she said" Hahahaha!

[leeperreault]

i had to do a double take on the comment of "THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID" lmfao!!!