How do I know if my sprinkler system is winterized or not (designs, hydrant) - Idaho (ID) - City-Data Forum

ruralcda · 10-10-2019, 07:33 AM

Hi,

I hired a sprinkler company to blow out the sprinklers at my house, but it's my first time hiring this company and I'm not sure if it was actually done.

The company claimed they stopped by, and the main valve is off, but I want to confirm independently/on my own that the water is out of the sprinkler lines. How would I go about doing this?

Cnynrat · 10-10-2019, 08:49 AM

I think the only way to do that is to run compressed air through the system and confirm there isn't water in the lines. Usually there is a hose bib in the valve box where you can use an adapter to connect a compressor. Open one valve at a time manually and pressurize that line. The pressure required can vary based on the layout of your system, but I'd start at about 40 PSI.

Basically, I think you have to run through the winterization process. It's not hard to do yourself if you have a compressor.

Good luck!

Dave

nm9stheham · 10-10-2019, 05:45 PM

Is the drain valve of any sort by the pressure source to the sprinkler system? If the pressure is off to the system, then you could just open the drain valve and see if much comes out. But it is so hard to say how to do this, because there are several types of designs. You could even have a dry pipe system where there is no water in the lines until ti activates for a fire.

Cnynrat · 10-10-2019, 06:08 PM

I don't think sprinklers in cold weather country typically have drain valve. There is a valve for the water supply to the system, which I think is what is referred to above. These may be some differently depending on where the water source is located. In my system it's a valve buried 3' deep that drains when the valve is off, much like a yard hydrant. It will not drain the entire system though, only the short line from the valve to the anti- backflow device.

Dave

Spokaneinvestor · 10-10-2019, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nm9stheham

Is the drain valve of any sort by the pressure source to the sprinkler system? If the pressure is off to the system, then you could just open the drain valve and see if much comes out. But it is so hard to say how to do this, because there are several types of designs. You could even have a dry pipe system where there is no water in the lines until ti activates for a fire.

I think we are talking lawn irrigation sprinklers not fire suppression

nm9stheham · 10-11-2019, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spokaneinvestor

I think we are talking lawn irrigation sprinklers not fire suppression

LOL.... AHAH I bet you are right!

oregonwoodsmoke · 10-11-2019, 12:41 PM

Easy enough. If you really think you can't trust your guy and want to check:

Your irrigation water will be off. Go to your sprinkler control and turn the sprinklers on. The water is off, the lines are empty, you won't get any water through the sprinklers.

Be sure to turn the control box off again after you are finished.

nm9stheham · 10-11-2019, 12:49 PM

If the water is shut off, and the lines are still full, I can imagine seeing the same result. No pressure means no water flow, unless it just drips out a bit or you pick a sprinkler at a low spot.

FWIW... I blow out lines every winter for a house..... it never gets all the water out of everywhere. The key seems to be to get mostly air in the system to allow for some expansion room when the residual water does freeze.

Cnynrat · 10-11-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Easy enough. If you really think you can't trust your guy and want to check:

Your irrigation water will be off. Go to your sprinkler control and turn the sprinklers on. The water is off, the lines are empty, you won't get any water through the sprinklers.

Be sure to turn the control box off again after you are finished.

If the water supply is turned off any water that remains in the lines will not be pressurized. As a result, if you turn on a sprinkler you won't get water even if there is water in the lines.

The only way to tell whether there is still water in the lines is to blow them out with a compressor.

Dave

banjomike · 10-11-2019, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cnynrat

If the water supply is turned off any water that remains in the lines will not be pressurized. As a result, if you turn on a sprinkler you won't get water even if there is water in the lines.

The only way to tell whether there is still water in the lines is to blow them out with a compressor.

Dave

The ancient sprinkler system in my yard self-drains after the water is shut off. I don't know how it's done, but I suspect it's a simple valve that opens once the water pressure is gone.

Maybe newer ones have the same feature?