How to Winterize a Sprinkler System - Blow Out Method

Properly winterizing your irrigation system is essential to preventing damaged pipe and back-flow devices. Ewing Irrigation's Jeffrey Knight with the help of Mark Stuhlsatz from Ryan Lawn & Tree explain the process in this video.

Winterizing instructions from Hunter:

[davidchaparealtor]

Perfection! Give this whole crew an Emmy!! Bob Vila would be proud 👏🏼

[Jetdoctor]

I do it myself because the first year I had it done by a local irrigation company they charge me commercial plumbing rates. Thanks for the info. Now I'm doing it myself

[zackk]

Definitely something for up north because no systems in the south would not have a port to connect equipment so it would be a big process to do that.

[patrickmckeown]

Beautifully done guys. My guy retired so I’m going to try to give it a go myself this year. Cheers from Cincinnati!

[ratness]

A regular air compressor will do it.. it's just business what you guys are trying to do.. I own a Landscaping company and also do sprinklers and I think it's not right to be ripping off people.. it's pretty cool that you guys are explaining this though.

[sammyg]

I use a normal air compressor and it works just fine

[NHJOE]

I borrowed a fairly high volume compressor from a friend, yet this video helped me to determine that the ports had to be "beyond" the backflow unit... saved probably $70 - $100 by doing it myself... and not messing something up... thank you guys..

[wolfsden]

Wow never knew the process ....definitely worth the price to have it don't professionally

[lag]

Thanks for a very good video. I would add one step: when openining the drain at the supply connection, leave the valve or plug opened a bit. Any water leaking past the irrigation system shut-off valve will exit the drain rather exposing exterior water-filled components to freezing temperatures. Insulation will prevent freeze damage only when the temperature is only slightly below freezing and/or below freezing for a relatively short period. If it is cold enough long enough, exposed water-filled components will suffer freeze damage. The only solution is to remove water from all system components exposed to freezing temperatures.

[ronalehman]

Good video... To prevent freeze damage on the above ground pipes when we get an early cold snap, any insulation is helpful. Freeze tolerant ball valves are also a nice upgrade to minimize damage... And make sure the main supply valve doesn't leak back into the system over the winter...

[smile]

Very imformative and clear explanation .. Thank you!

[scindiana]

I blow out through the test cocks all the time with my PSI set at 50 and I have never had a problem damaging the backflows. I like knowing that all the water is getting cleared from the backflow.

[Cabledeluz]

I purchased a home with sprinklers 6 years ago this December. I have sprinklers that cover over an acre of my home. I didn’t realize that I needed to winterize them until the next Fall. I came across this video and started using my 30 gallon air compressor. Does it work? Yes. But I can see why this could have issues. The sprinklers that are further away from the blow line struggle to get all the water out and most of the time doesn’t get the mist that the other sprinklers do get. This has been my experience.

[josephjamison]

You need a big air compressor if you are blowing out 10 or more zones with a house on greater than a 3/4 acre of land . 2 HP and a 30 Gallon tank won't get it done very fast. I tried it, but it will work. I live in eastern Washington, there are lots of guys that like to run their big compressors and will do it for under 100 bucks. Big compressors can blow out 12 zones in about 15 minutes.

[justinbagdon]

I live in colorado everybody blows out their sprinklers here, thanks for the video

[ewingoutdoorsupply]

+tscooter22 - Sorry, we were unable to reply directly to your comment. The goal is to get the bulk of the water out that can freeze and expand enough to damage pipe and components. The water left in the pipe once fogging begins is not enough to do harm. Also, friction resulting from compressed air running thru PVC can generate enough heat to damage components if left running too long.

[louischavez]

ive been studying this for work 7t was helpful

[johnm]

I use my home compressor and set it at 60 PSI and it takes a few minutes to do. Then I go through the zones a second time. I live in northern New England where the temperatures go well below zero for an extended time and all water must be out of the system.

[bmlong]

My basement is lower than my outside underground pipes. So I have a siphoning mechanism at a point lower in altitude than the rest of the system. Before the first freeze, I turn the valves to start the siphon into a bucket. All the water is then drained out of the pipes. Simple.

[popeyepopeye]

At the end he takes the connector. When asked if you can do it yourself he gave a runaround answer. It depends how many gallons your air compressor can hold