Air compressor

[AllProlawn]

Hi guys i have a ? Do you think a Ingersoll Rand 25 CFM @ 175 PSI, 13 HP Horizontial Air Compressor would be ok to blow out residentual homes i got a contract with a realty company with 50 propeties *and the company did not blow out the systems last year and i have been fixing all of them plus mowing them or can you direct me to some where in colorado that sells tow bhind ones thanks

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

I sent a message to Craig at craig@irrigationrepair.com. I hope he might be able to come back here and offer his suggestions.

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[SprinklerRepair]

Thanks to Steve for notifying me about this question.
Yikes! I have never blown out a system in my life! I live in Florida!
I did find some information for you.

http://www.hunterindustries.com/Resourc....86w.pdf

Copy this into your browser (I'm not good at the link thing on forums yet).IrrigationTV

[AllProlawn]

Thanks Guys

It should work. I never use a tow behind. Just know, DO NOT blow air more that 2 mins. thru the zone. Air compress more that water, and it heats up BIG TIME! You will melt pipe if you go crazzy with the air.

Originally Posted by GTA

It should work. I never use a tow behind. Just know, DO NOT blow air more that 2 mins. thru the zone. Air compress more that water, and it heats up BIG TIME! You will melt pipe if you go crazzy with the air.

I agree with GTA no more than 2min and no higher than 40 psi or you run the risk of damaging the Vacume pressure valve and soleniod zone valve. do google search for blowing out spinkler systems. Also have to a compressor that will deliver a min 5 cfm @40 psi.

[Steve]

Rob, do you have any suggestions on when you should be doing your irrigation winterization marketing and what works best?

steve

Marketing for sprinkler winterization should have started in Aug - Sep time frame.Still its not to late to get on the phone and talk to your current costumers, about your winterization and you might offer a discount for being a mowing client? Also do not forget about those estimates you did during the mowing season that you did not land. they are still potential customers for other services. also ask your current clients to spread the word and also if a potential customer says no, try to get the last word in i.e. "well if you know of some one that needs our service please give them my infomation"

Second make sure you are ready to go. check your equipment out good. you cant afford to have a compressor go down,especially if you have 6-7 blow-out for the day. it pays to have a backup compressor. (OOpps i know murphy struck me today)


Rob

[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

[Steve]

Mike that is fascinating!

What made you choose that size air compressor?

Also, how did you line up the work? What type of marketing did you do?

What would you do differently next year?