DIY guideLawn sprinklers
Blow out the sprinkler lines before the hard freeze
With a compressor that holds a set pressure, push the water out zone by zone, and keep the air away from the backflow.
- 45 min to 2 hr
- 8 steps
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8 steps
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Turn off the sprinkler line's own valve, and set the controller to off.
Find the fitting for the air, just after the backflow on the sprinkler side.
Turn both backflow handles across the pipe, so no air goes through it.
Set the compressor's regulator low, to the pressure your system's installer gives, then connect its hose.
Wear eye protection and stand clear of the heads: air and grit come out fast.Start one zone from the controller, then let the air in. Run it until only mist comes out.
Move on once only mist comes out: blowing through dry pipes heats them.
Shut the air off, let the pressure out, and leave the backflow's handles half open for the winter.
No compressor that holds a set pressure, or no fitting for the air: ask Handyman to book a sprinkler pro.
What you need
- An air compressor with a pressure regulator
- An air hose and the fitting to match
- Eye protection
Call a pro if
- No compressor that holds a set pressure
- No fitting for the air after the backflow
- A zone that won't clear, or a cracked pipe
Handyman says: Leave it. I'll book a sprinkler pro.
Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.
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