Dear Forum: Here's some input from a former sprinkler guy who saw his share of freeze-ups for obvious reasons (see address below).
1. I never had a problem with riser mounted air compressors because they were typically only on small systems that didn't have accelerators. 2. I'm convinced that dry pipe valve trippings can be caused by accelerators with clogged diaphragm holes on systems where the air pressure fluctuates. The air pressure fluctuates on systems with tankless air compressors. 3. Take apart an accelerator and look at the size of the inner workings including diaphragm and hole. Now picture, cruddy, rusty, scaly sprinkler water in this accelerator. Some (all?) have anti-flooding devices so the water doesn't get in there, but often they don't work. 4. You're asking for a freeze up if you ever do a full flow trip test in the fall. 5. In the humid Midwest, it's amazing how much water is pumped into old, large dry systems - especially if you don't have an air compressor with tank. 6. Sell your customers on spring trip tests and return trips in the fall to blow out low points. 7. If it's a problem drum drip in a cold area, consider adding a few ounces of anti-freeze after blowing it out in the fall. 8. Most busted drum drips were at the lower valve (see 7) 9. Ideally the owner blows out any cold exposed drum drips until that part of the system is froze. Since this doesn't happen, and you're still blamed, consider item 7. 10. Dryers or Nitrogen will dramatically extend the life of all dry systems. A tank mounted air compressor will at least pull some of the water out of the air (are your fitters draining the tanks at each inspection?). 11. Roll-grooved pipe causes mini-dams that also trap water (that one was for Mr. Church and anybody else on this Forum in 1996). Dave Sornsin General Manager Nardini Fire Equipment 303 20th St N Fargo, ND 58102 701.235.4224 fax 701.235.5089 cell 701.371.0643 [email protected] www.nardinifire.com _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
