In areas where temperature fall below freezing , irrigation system need to be flush of water for the wintertime . Any water persist in the line has the potential drop to freeze down and burst . Using an line compressor , it ’s not that difficult to winterize drip irrigation . For many drip organisation , a little portable unit of measurement such as those used to power pneumatic nail guns will work very well ; you ’re go to blow out lines that unremarkably go under fairly humbled pressure , so a larger unit in all likelihood wo n’t be necessary unless you have an encompassing trickle system . If you do n’t have or ca n’t borrow a compressor , check tool rental companies .
Step 1
Turn off the water to the irrigation organization .
Step 2
Determine a connection point to the strain compressor . If your irrigation lines originate at a sillcock ( spigot ) , the hosepipe terminate that screws onto the sillcock is an first-class point . If you have a more elaborate irrigation system , find a worthy snow - out point such as a yard hydrant or drain nag .
Step 3
If you have a backflow preventer , you may leave it in place if you will be blowing air up to it . If it has valve , shut them now . If you want to apply the downstream connection item of the backflowing preventer as your blow - out stop , dispatch the backflow preventer and store it in a place away from freeze danger . Backflow preventers may be damage by compressed air blowing through them .
Step 4
Make a hosiery adaptor by assembling the appointment and adapters as necessary to transition from the aviation hose to the appropriate hosiery screw thread of your blow - out location . Use Teflon magnetic tape on each virile ribbon , ensure to wrap the mag tape in the management of the screw thread . fasten all connection with plier or wrenches .
Step 5
Screw the completed hose arranger into your reversal - out point .
Step 6
Set the compressor output pressure to 30 to 45 psi to commence . Adjust the force per unit area to a higher stage setting later if needed , but embark on low to avoid damage to the drip melodic phrase .
Step 7
Step 8
If potential , temporarily uncrimp any hose end in the drip line to serve evacuate the piddle . Downhill crimps work best for this .
Step 9
When line without pregnant body of water comes out of all of the drip emitter on a line , the line is sufficiently winterise .
Step 10
If you have a backflowing preventer and did n’t take away it earlier , do so now .
Tip
Make certain to expend the proper duds for your adapters ; hosepipe train of thought and pipe train of thought are not interchangeable . plug away any open hosiery ends for the winter to keep debris , water system and insects out of the blood line .
Warning
Do n’t set up the output air pressure on the compressor too high-pitched , or you may blow out emitter or break the drip mold tubing . If you have an automatize system of rules , check that to fully drift out all of the zone so the control valve do n’t suffer suspend damage . ensure to use a circle that can put up the amperage of the compressor and to use an fitly - sized ( gauge ) university extension cord . Nuisance tripping of the circuit breaker , price to the motor or the inability to launch the compressor are potential result .
