Why Every Sprinkler System Needs a Blowout Port

Why Every Sprinkler System Needs a Blowout Port on the Down-leg of the Backflow Preventer

If your Northern Colorado home has an irrigation system, protecting your system from freeze damage is critical. One of the most overlooked, yet essential, components in that protection plan is a blowout port on the down-leg of your backflow preventer.

So why is this simple fitting so important?

Your backflow preventer is designed to stop contaminated water from flowing backward into your home’s drinking water. It usually sits at the highest point of your irrigation system, with water lines running down from it into the yard. When it’s time to winterize your system, simply shutting off the water supply isn’t enough—you need to remove the water trapped in the pipes to prevent freezing, expansion, and bursting.

Here’s where the blowout port on the down-leg comes in. This port allows a technician to connect an air compressor and push any remaining water out of the system from the lowest point below the backflow preventer. Without this port, the only access for blowing out the system is often through the backflow itself—risking damage to this expensive and delicate device.

Installing a blowout port below the backflow:

• Prevents costly repairs to broken valves and cracked pipes

• Extends the life of your irrigation system

• Protects the backflow device from over-pressurization and damage during winterization

In short, a properly located blowout port is a small upgrade that saves time, money, and hassle year after year.

Contact us about adding a blowout port to your down-leg and safeguard your investment the smart way.