Air compressor

[Lukacs Property Maintenance]

I chose the big compressor because some of my accounts have big irrigation. What i mean is the pipe lengths are vary long so you need lots of umpf to blow out the water from the lines. At the begining of the season i ask if the customer needs there irrigation "winterized" at the signing of the lawn care contract. All of my marketing is done through word of mouth. My customers are all known by first name and come and chat nearly every time im around. Chances are ill ask how they like things. They usually pipe up and say if there is anything else to do. Thats when ill ask of any thing that i think needs to be done to the yard. Mike

[roclin]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Lukacs Property Maintenance Hey guys, Just finished winterizing the irrigation systems of all my customers. I used a large tow behind intersol rand diesel compressor. The air line was a 1 inch diameter hose. The air hoses came in 50 ft lengths. The average yard needed two lengths to reach to the blow out bib. The compressor had a gate valve for air control. The bib adapter also had a gate valve. The 100 ft of hose didn't heat up at all. The compressor rental edded up costing $100 for the compressor for the day, $10.00ea for the 50 ft hoses. So for $120.00 i rented out a compressor used about $20.00 in diesel to top up the tank. It took me about an hour at each place. So doing 6-7 places in a day and paying approx $140.00 for the rental. You can do the math. Aprox$20.00 for the rental and one hour per customer.$60.00 - $70.00 per blow out works for me. Hope this helps. Any other questions don't be afraid to just ask. I try to help. Mike Where do you start from to blow out? What is the step by step?

[AllProlawn]

Originally Posted by roclin

Where do you start from to blow out? What is the step by step?

1 Turn off water to th sprinkler system
2 hook air supply to back flow
3 start start your air compersor set regulater to 90 psi (30) for drip
4 go to clock timer go to zone 1 manual enter
5 valve will open up and water will flow out
6 when air comes out repeat on other zones
7 if there a drain in valve box open it and leave it open
8 if there is a drain after the shut off valve open it and leve it
9 shut off compressor roll up hoses
10 collect money

note
small eletric compressors dont work not enogh volume
and water just runs under and dont come out all the way
get as many customers as you can and rent a tow behind
2 blows will pay for it
i rent mine for a month for 750.00 and it pays for it self in a week
i charge 60 dollars for 4 zones and then it 5.00 per zone after that

[roclin]

Originally Posted by AllProlawn

1 Turn off water to th sprinkler system
2 hook air supply to back flow
3 start start your air compersor set regulater to 90 psi (30) for drip
4 go to clock timer go to zone 1 manual enter
5 valve will open up and water will flow out
6 when air comes out repeat on other zones
7 if there a drain in valve box open it and leave it open
8 if there is a drain after the shut off valve open it and leve it
9 shut off compressor roll up hoses
10 collect money

note
small eletric compressors dont work not enogh volume
and water just runs under and dont come out all the way
get as many customers as you can and rent a tow behind
2 blows will pay for it
i rent mine for a month for 750.00 and it pays for it self in a week
i charge 60 dollars for 4 zones and then it 5.00 per zone after that

How is this done? any pictures? "hook air supply to back flow"What if your backflow is only anti-siphon valves?

[AllProlawn]

Originally Posted by roclin

How is this done? any pictures? "hook air supply to back flow"What if your backflow is only anti-siphon valves?

There are to Presure test ****s on the side of the vacume breaker
they are 1/4 in
a air tool fitting will work use the bottom one for are supply

As far as anti sphion valves there should be a drain at the end of
of the manifold you can hook up two
if not you can put a tee in the main line before them
and get brass spigot and screw it in and you can blowit from there

Keep in mind there are many diffrent fittings and sizes to blow out a sprinkler
system .
I did not know any thing about them 5 years ago
i taught my self read books and R/d my self
now i install and repair them

[akessinger84]

So far it sounds like winterizing a sprinkler system is just like a regular house but when I winterize a house I have to use rv/marine antifreeze as well. Is this not needed for sprinkler systems?

[Steve]

Is this not needed for sprinkler systems?

I don't think it is used like that because ideally when you are done, you blow all the water out of the lines.