Blowing Out Your Hose

[SteveSueMac]

I bought an adapter that allows me to connect my ViAir compressor to the city water connection for winterizing. Since that's basically a hose connection, I got the idea that I could use it to blow out my city water hose before rolling it up to put in my storage compartment.

That's been working great for me. I don't need it when I use the HandiHose (like a small scale fire hose on a reel) since reeling that back in squeezes out the water. But with a regular white or blue drinking water hose - especially a 35' one - rolling it up full of water is a pain, gravity helps but doesn't do a complete job and storing the hose with water inside for a week or two between trips seems like a recipe for something...

So that's working for me. But I notice when I first press the air trigger the gauge goes to about 100 PSI until the column of water mostly escapes the other end of the hose, and then it sticks around 20 PSI.

So I'm wondering, if I actually did use it to blow the lines out for winterizing (instead of or in addition to the pink stuff) would that 100 PSI blast be tamped down by the 60 PSI regulator in the city inlet? Would a water pressure regulator have any effect on an air hose?

What do you think?

[Caffeinated]

I have no idea as to the answer of your question, but I did get excited as I received my Viair 88p today from Amazon, and I'd like to know if I can use it next winter to winterized my trailer.

Mike

[ROBERT CROSS]

SSM,

My garage compressor is set at 150psi, with low points open it supplies a constant 30psi.....NEVER pressurize a closed system.




Bob

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

. . .
My garage compressor is set at 150psi, with low points open it supplies a constant 30psi.....NEVER pressurize a closed system.
. . .

Shouldn't a novice compressor user use the compressor's regulator to throttle back the output to 30 PSI before sending it into the hose? This would be much safer for a novice IMO.

If the compressors being discussed do not have regulators which permit lowering the output PSI to 30 +/-, personally I would not recommend using them to blow out the trailer's plumbing lines. One false move at a higher pressure, and you could easily burst a pipe inside a wall or under the floor. Not worth the risk IMO. Use a better compressor.

I would NOT trust the trailer's water pressure regulator to regulate air pressure, as asked by the original poster. Can't explain the details of why, but basically not worth the risk IMO. Get a better compressor. [Edit see Protagonist reply next]

Fine for blowing out a hose on its own, obviously, if the water inside is very free to run out the open end (no kinks in the hose).

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Would a water pressure regulator have any effect on an air hose?

No. A regulator designed for non-compressible fluids will not necessarily work for compressible gases.

[SteveSueMac]

Excellent. Glad I asked! Thanks, gents!

[thiel]

Add a regulator to your compressor. Not expensive, and they are handy to have.

[68 TWind]

Also, leave a tap open when you start the compressor and you won't have the problem with pressure building up. Open the another tap before you shut off the first and you will always have an outlet for the pressure. A regulator is still a good idea too. I have been blowing my system out like that for 6 winters and with no issues in the spring. I do fill the traps with antifreeze and remove the strainer from the 12v water pump.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Shouldn't a novice compressor user use the compressor's regulator to throttle back the output to 30 PSI before sending it into the hose? This would be much safer for a novice IMO.

If the compressors being discussed do not have regulators which permit lowering the output PSI to 30 +/-, personally I would not recommend using them to blow out the trailer's plumbing lines. One false move at a higher pressure, and you could easily burst a pipe inside a wall or under the floor. Not worth the risk IMO. Use a better compressor.

---------------------------

POI...there is no line regulator lowering the pressure to 30psi.


When I originally started using the compressor I set the regulator to 40psi....the open line pressure was less than 5psi.
On an open system it's the volume thats working not pressure.

All I meant to imply is that a 12v low volume compressor is not capable of delivering 60+PSI on an open system.

My safety rule...never compress a closed system.



Bob

[mikeoxlong]

I have been blowing out my lines on my Avion and on my park modle home for years with no problems. Always remember to open a faucet before hooking up the air! No more frozen pipes, no more pink stuff.