Check The Water Pressure
It’s important to first determine the water pressure at an outdoor faucet, using a simple pressure gauge. Then, use a 5-gallon bucket to measure how much water your homes plumbing delivers in one minute. Send the water pressure information to the sprinkler manufacturer you have chosen, along with a sketch of your property, including all critical dimensions.
In return, you’ll receive a system layout and a list of all the sprinkler parts youll need, including those not sold by the manufacturer, but available at most hardware stores. For this installation, we used Rain Bird, a company thats been designing and manufacturing irrigation products since the early 1930s. The system layout they provided divided our lawn into zones, each controlled by a zone valve. In this case, to ensure total coverage, there were eight zones and 48 sprinkler heads. The price: $1,500.
Related Stories
In warmer climates, you can use PVC pipe to supply water to the sprinkler heads. Here, we used polyethylene pipe, which is more flexible and able to withstand freeze-thaw cycles. Consult the local building department to see if you need a building permit to install a sprinkler system.
Top Rated Sprinklers
Plug In The Water Source
It’s finally time to connect your main water source after your pipe is assembled. Then connect your control valve box directly to the supply line or an existing faucet. At this step, turn off the water at the meter to avoid wasting water and a resulting mud puddle.
We recommend hiring a plumber if your plan is to connect directly to the main line to avoid affecting any other existing underground wires.
If you feel confident doing this yourself, here are some guidelines:
Additionally, connect your PVC pipe to the control box. You can use multiple valves when controlling the water flow to various areas of your yard. After this, attach a riser to each tee connection along your PVC pipe. Risers will connect your water line to the sprinkler heads.
Where Can I Go To Shop For The Best Price On Labor
Online truth-in-business agencies like Angies List, Home Advisor, Thumbtack or Yelp are often free-to-use services that help pair prospective clients with retailers. You can search professionals by job type and price range to see the best businesses in your area. If simply looking for cheap labor, online community forums like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace allow users to search for varying job opportunities or available labor in your area.
Read Also: How To Treat Lawn Mold
Signs Of A Broken Sprinkler Head
Lawn sprinkler problems may be caused by a broken sprinkler head.
How do you know if you have a broken sprinkler head? Look for the following: A broken or cracked plastic casing on the sprinkler head A head that fails to pop up Water that sprays unevenly, or doesnt spray A head that is set too high .
To replace a sprinkler head: Purchase new sprinkler heads made for your particular system from home centers and hardware stores.
Replace the sprinkler heads following these steps:1. Turn off the water to the sprinkler system2. Using a transfer shovel, dig a hole around the sprinkler head approximately 2 feet in width. Set the sod aside to put back in the hole later.3. Carefully dig to locate the riser its usually found 8 to 12 inches underground. 4. Locate the sprinkler head. Turn the head counterclockwise to remove it from the riser. If the head fails to loosen easily, hold the riser with pliers to keep it from coming loose from the fittings below.5. Screw the new head onto the riser until hand-tight.6. Test the sprinkler system.
Learn more about repairing or replacing lawn sprinkler heads here.
Do You Need A Permit To Install A Sprinkler System
Many cities and counties require homeowners to obtain an irrigation permit prior to installing a sprinkler system. This allows the city or county to keep tabs on the project and ensure that it meets certain safety regulations and is in compliance with local codes.
You will need to pay a fee in order to obtain an irrigation permit. This fee will vary depending on your location, but most building permits cost several hundred dollars.
Don’t Miss: Where Are John Deere Lawn Mowers Made
Adjustable Diy Drip Watering System
Did we catch your attention quite well with the concept of using a bottle to make a drip irrigation for potted plants, but youve got a few that need more watering sometimes than others, or that grow rapidly and need something easily customizable? Then were pretty sure Instructables has the perfect simple design for you! This adjustable drip irrigation watering system is much like the previous bottle based design, but quicker to refill and simpler to set up, take down, and change to account for your plants needs.
Alternative: Pvc Pipe Instead Of Garden Hose
For a sleeker installation that eliminates using a garden hose on the long sides of the lawn, use 1/2-inch PVC pipe. Because PVC pipe is not threaded, connect the pipes to the threaded sprinkler spikes with 1/2-inch PVC male and female adapters.
You May Like: Who Sells Mtd Lawn Mowers
Smart Controllers Save Water
According to the EPA, residential outdoor water use in the United States accounts for nearly 9 billion gallons of water each day, mostly for landscape irrigation. Experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of this water is wasted through overwatering caused by inefficiencies in irrigation methods and systems.
Traditional controllers for yard sprinkler systems turn each zone on and off for a predetermined amount of time. A rain gauge connected to a controller will monitor recent rainfall and shut down the system in the middle of or shortly after a rain event. Thats helpful, but there are controllers and sensors available now that can track temperatures, sunlight and other seasonal conditions, and will adjust the watering schedule accordingly. A well-planned design along with a properly functioning smart controller can save a couple hundred gallons of water per day!
The one shown here, made by Rachio, connects to a home Wi-Fi, allowing the homeowner to control it or get updated on a smartphone.
Plan Diy Sprinkler System
A 4-inch pop-up sprinkler body casts water about 15 feet and waters a maximum 700 square feet of lawn. Sprinklers need significant overlap for full coverage.
With this project, the lawn is 40 feet long by 24 feet wide, for a total area of 960 square feet. Six sprinklers, all on the perimeter, will cover the lawn with sufficient overlap.
You May Like: How Much To Aerate And Seed Lawn
Lay Down The Pvc Pipeline
This part is fairly simple. Youll be laying down the pipeline down piece by piece. If you to use a pipe cutter or saw, exercise caution! Wear gloves and safety goggles in case there is any flying debris. Start at the main trench with the valve manifold, using tee connectors to allow branching off from the main line in different directions. When you reach the post, flag, or other marker that you had installed earlier, attach risers with 90° connectors.
Thispart is fairly simple. Youll be laying down the pipeline down piece by piece. Ifyou to use a pipe cutter or saw, exercise caution! Wear gloves and safetygoggles in case there is any flying debris. Start at the main trench with thevalve manifold, using tee connectors to allow branching off from the main linein different directions. When you reach the post, flag, or other marker thatyou had installed earlier, attach risers with 90° connectors.
Diy Or Professional Installation
Nancy Price Foreman, Owner and Director of Operations with Drilling and Irrigation Services in Melbourne, Fla., notes that when you hire a professional to do the job, the system is covered by a warranty. Deciding whether to do it yourself or have a professional install your lawn sprinkler system is a process of weighing a lot of important factors.
A professional installation is carefree and it might be best because of strict state and local regulations. But DIY installation is something to take pride in, and both installation and upkeep are definitely doable for a homeowner.
Here are some pros and cons of professional lawn sprinkler installation:
Pros:
- The system is covered by a warranty
- Theyll come out and fix it at no cost to you
Cons:
- Up-front costs: Professionally installed sprinkler systems cost from $2,539 to $4,773, depending on the size of the yard, materials, and the company you use.
Here are some pros and cons of DIY lawn sprinkler installation:
Pros:
- You may need to rent equipment
Don’t Miss: Why Should You Aerate Your Lawn
Determine Water Pressure And Flow Rate
Before you rush out to purchase all your DIY irrigation supplies, you need to determine several important aspects about the flow of water through your system. Once you figure these out, you can purchase the correct parts.
Water Pressure: You want to determine the working measurement of your water pressure, which is the pressure while the water is turned on. To do that, attach a pressure gauge to an outside faucet and turn on the water. Be sure all your other water valves are off inside and outside your home. The gauge shows you your water pressure per square inch .
Water Meter Size/Well Size: If you receive your water from a municipal water system, you should be able to find the size of the water meter on the box. If you cannot locate it on the outdoor box, call your water company for the information. If your water is from a well, the size of your well pump is noted on the outside of the pump or in its owners manual.
Size of Service Line: To purchase the correct size pipe that matches your existing water service line, be sure to measure it before you purchase the PVC pipe for your lawn sprinkler system.
Flow Rate: Determining your flow rate is measuring how many gallons of water per minute . The steps for determining your flow rate are basic:
Wrapping Up Our Garden Irrigation Systems Guide
Choosing irrigation systems for gardens has to be defined by what youre growing. However big, however small, there is an irrigation system for your garden. If youve got an allotment garden, and are exclusively growing veggies, then a drip irrigation kit is perfect because it reduces water use, and targets watering directly.
If its large colourful beds and borders, then you need a soaker hose. The even distribution of water gets every drop into the soil. For lawns, invest in a good spray irrigation kit, which will evenly water your lawn.
For those of you with more specialist collections, maybe try a mist irrigation kit to help raise humidity in enclosed spaces. Whatever you decide, I hope this guide to garden irrigation systems has been useful.
Don’t Miss: Which Lawn Tractor Should I Buy
Build Your Own System
Listed below are the essential parts youll require for installing your lawn sprinkler system:
This essential parts list doesnt include basic tools like shovels, PVC glue, a pipe cutter, landscape flags and stakes, or string. You may also want to rent a power trencher or pipe-puller for around $200 at your local machine rental store.
Need A New Diy Lawn & Landscape Irrigation System
Most homeowners know that applying some elbow grease is a great way to save a bit of money on a project. Irrigation is one of those projects for homeowners who have technical savvy and the do it yourself aptitude. One of Shoreline Sprinklings design team members will meet with you at your home and design an irrigation system for you. We will provide you with a print to follow to complete the installation of your DIY irrigation system. We will make sure you have all of the parts you need to install the underground portion of your system by delivering a small movable trailer with everything you need to complete your install. We install the underground pipe in your yard, or if you have access to a trenching machine, we can adjust quote to exclude the machine time and help save you some money. When it comes to installing your own sprinkler and drip irrigation system, Shoreline wants to help make the do it yourself installation process easy for you. Our irrigation system designers will create a plan that can use less water and provide great results all while saving you money.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Lawn Insects
Keep Your Lawn Looking Great With A Sprinkler System
Installing a sprinkler system is the first step to achieving the green, lush lawn of your dreams! If you need to install a sprinkler system, you can either tackle this project on your own or seek a professionals help. Be sure to consider these options carefully to ensure you choose the option that is right for you.
Hozelock Easy Drip Universal Irrigation Kit
Hozelock is the most trusted irrigation brand in the world. Their Universal irrigation kit can be adjusted for high pressure spraying at water point, and connects to the garden tap with no fuss at all.
It might not come with an automatic timer, but sometimes thats ok, as it gives the gardener more control of their veggies, and means you can respond to the weather each day.
Pros
- Waters areas of up to 10m2
- Easy to install and customise
- Purpose built, with adjustable nozzles. Incredibly easy to use.
- Straight forward reliable system by a trusted brand.
Cons
- More expensive than most irrigation kits
- No automatic timer
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Poison Ivy In Lawn
Installing A Diy Underground Sprinkler System
It’s important to learn how to properly install a sprinkler system to avoid the risk of water flowing in unnecessary places, or not at all.
Before getting started, you need to know whether you require a permit for your DIY irrigation system from your local building department. Youll also need to to make sure you dont dig up power lines, gas lines, or cable TV lines.
Watch this fun video for a step-by-step illustration.
How Do You Make A Homemade Sprinkler System
There are many ways to make a homemade sprinkler system, but one of the most common and effective ways is to use PVC pipe. To do this, you will need to purchase some PVC pipe and fittings, as well as a few other supplies. Once you have everything you need, you can follow these simple steps to create your own sprinkler system:
1. Plan out your sprinkler system. Decide where you want your sprinklers to be located and how long you want your PVC pipes to be. Draw a diagram of your planned system to help you visualize it.
2. Cut the PVC pipes to the lengths you need. Use a PVC cutter or saw to make clean, straight cuts.
3. Assemble the PVC pipes and fittings. Follow your diagram to connect the pipes and fittings together. Make sure everything is snug and secure.
4. Install your sprinkler heads. Screw or glue your sprinkler heads into the top of each pipe.
5. Connect your system to a water source. Attach a garden hose to one of your sprinkler heads, or run pipes to an underground water source.
6. Test your system to make sure everything is working properly. Turn on the water and check each sprinkler head to ensure that it is spraying water evenly.
With a little effort, you can easily create a homemade sprinkler system that will keep your lawn or garden looking great all season long!
Recommended Reading: How To Kill Termites In Lawn
Make The Water Connection
- Turn off the water to the house at the meter.
- Cut into the main water line and splice in a tee fitting with PVC cement and primer. If the line is copper, solder on a copper tee.
- Glue a 90-degree PVC elbow onto a male PVC adapter.
- Thread the adapter into the tee fitting installed on the main water line. It’s okay to connect PVC to copper here.
Tip: If you are uncomfortable with this step, call in a professional plumber to tap into the main line for you.
Can I Install A Rainbird Sprinkler System Myself
Yes, you can install a rainbird sprinkler system without professional help. However, it is important to follow the instructions carefully and to have the right tools. Additionally, when designing your system, you must take into account various factors like the type of soil, amount of sun exposure, and watering needs of your plants.
You May Like: What Is The Best Fertilizer Ratio For Lawns
