How To Install A Sprinkler System From Scratch

Download Article

Download Commodity

Installing a sprinkler system volition allow you to h2o areas that would otherwise wither and dry out in dry seasons. Evaluate the size and shape of the area(s) y'all plan to water and determine which sprinkler types are near effective for your state of affairs. Continue in mind that you can utilize multiple types of sprinkler heads. Then, dig out the trenches and install the pipes and command manifold. You should be able to purchase all of the necessary supplies at a large hardware shop or home-comeback store.

1. 1

   Choose a gear-driven rotor sprinkler head to cover wide areas. Rotor heads are the most common and versatile type of sprinkler head. They popular up as directed by a timer and circumduct 360 degrees in lodge to spray h2o beyond a large area. You lot tin can adjust the distance that each head will spray from 8–65 feet (2.4–19.8 m).^[ane]

   • Gear-driven rotor sprinkler heads are an improved version of the older (and much louder) impact style of rotor sprinklers.

2. ii

   Opt for shrub heads or bubblers to irrigate shrubs and flowers. "Bubbler" sprinkler heads exercise not elevate above the ground level and, as the proper name implies, emit a low-level stream of water designed to saturate the ground in a garden or heavily vegetated area. Each bubbler tin only irrigate an surface area of well-nigh 3 square feet (0.28 m²), and so they need to be placed relatively close to each other.^[2]

   • Bubbler-type sprinklers but work on flat ground. If you endeavour installing a bubbler on a sloped patch of your grand, you'll end up with a small river running downhill.

   Advertisement

3. iii

   Stick with stock-still popular-upwardly heads for watering areas adjacent to buildings. If you lot need to water an surface area right adjacent to the side of your home or garden shed and would rather that the sprinkler head non blast water all of the edifice itself, choose a stock-still popular-up head. These heads spray water in a half-circle, so you don't have to worry about watering the side of a building.^[3]

   • Fixed pop-up head sprinklers are besides peachy to utilize next to paved areas like driveways and streets.

Advert

1. 1

   Describe a roughly to-calibration diagram of the areas you wish to irrigate. The schematic should include the primary area yous'd like to h2o and any next areas you'd like to accept covered by the sprinklers. Starting with a schematic will enable yous to plan the routing of pipelines and placement of sprinkler heads so you lot can purchase your materials.^[iv]

   • Drawing out the area you'd like to irrigate will too ensure that the unabridged expanse is covered by the sprinklers.

2. two

   Divide the areas into rectangles of about ane,200 sq ft (110 m²) each. These will be your "zones," or areas which volition be watered as a unit of measurement. Consider the blazon(south) of terrain contained in each zone. For the sake of sprinkler installation, try to limit each zone to 1 type of terrain. For example, i zone could be a large, grassy lawn and another could include a garden or sidewalk-side shrubberies.^[5]

   • Areas larger than 1,200 square feet (110 m²) would require special heads and a higher volume of water than you can normally become from a residential h2o system.

3. 3

   Mark the location of each sprinkler head on your diagram. Locate the sprinkler heads throughout the areas you're watering in accordance with the spraying distance of the heads you chose. Mark the to-scale distance that each head volition spray onto your schematic. Then, determine which shape yous desire each head to spray in.

   • A expert-quality rotor head volition spray an arc, semicircle, or full circle most 25–30 feet (7.6–9.1 k) in diameter. If you're using rotor heads, situate each head about 45 anxiety (14 chiliad) apart to allow adequate overlap.^{[half dozen]}
   • Stock-still pop-up head sprinklers spray roughly x feet (3.0 m). To ensure adequate coverage, install fixed pop-up heads about 18 anxiety (5.five m) apart from i some other.
   • If you're installing bubbler sprinkler heads, map them out then that the heads are located about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) apart, since each will cover a radius of roughly 1.75 feet (0.53 m).^[seven]
   • As a dominion of thumb, information technology'south better to have likewise much overlap than not enough.
   • Keep in listen when y'all're positioning the sprinkler heads that the angle of spray on rotor and popular-up heads can be adapted.

4. 4

   Describe in the primary water line. Beginning the line from the location where yous programme to install your command valves, timer (if automatically operated), and backflow preventer.^[8] Regardless of where you're installing the water arrangement, the main line will most probable start from an outdoor water nozzle.

   • Go on in mind that the PVC pipe you lot'll use for the water lines tin curve only slightly, and then all lines must be straight and should plough at 90-degree angles.
   • This portion of the diagram will give yous an idea of the length of piping you lot'll need. The sketch tin be crude, though.

5. five

   Depict branch lines from the principal line to each caput. Co-operative lines are the smaller pipes that connect the principal line to each of the private sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads themselves are never attached to the primary lines, but always to the branch lines. You can road a branch line to more than 1 caput if you use a ³⁄_four inch (ane.9 cm) pipe, but ii heads should be the limit.^[9]

   • Further down the line, you may decrease the size of the main to ³⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm), besides, since near the terminate it volition exist supplying but 2 or iii heads.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Purchase adequate PVC piping for each irrigation zone. To supply each zone of the area you're watering, you will need 1 in (two.five cm) primary line pipe and ³⁄₄  in (1.nine cm) branch line pipe. Refer to your to-scale diagram and measure the distance of primary and co-operative pipe you'll need. And then visit a local hardware store or domicile improvement store and purchase the amount of pipe you'll need.^[10]

   • If you lot're planning to only adhere one sprinkler caput to each branch line, yous could go away with using ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) pipe.

2. two

   Measure the pressure of your water supply with a water gauge. Find an outdoor water nozzle, and screw the pressure gauge onto it. Plow the h2o on total smash and read the psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals) indicator on the confront of the water guess. Most home-sprinkler systems demand a water pressure of almost 30 pounds per square inch (210 kPa) in order to function.^[11]

   • Purchase a h2o gauge at any hardware shop or dwelling house improvement store.

3. 3

   Mark the locations for your pipe ditches and heads on your yard. Refer to the to-scale drawing to run across where you've fatigued in the main and branch lines, then head out to your backyard and apply a shovel to mark the physical locations where yous'll dig to install the water pipes. So, when you come to the finish of the branch lines, flag the sprinkler-head locations using survey flags.^[12]

   • Considering yous're using PVC pipe, you don't need to dig the ditch in a perfectly straight line, as this fabric will curve fairly easily.
   • Measure all distances with a tape mensurate to ensure that all of the distances are precise.

4. four

   Dig the ditches along the main and branch lines marked on the diagram. Use an axe or grubbing hoe to cut the turf, taking intendance to fix it aside in clumps so it can be replaced when yous are finished. The ditch should be at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) deep to protect the pipes from impairment fifty-fifty in warm climates.^[13]

   • If yous live in a region that gets frosts during the winter, dig the ditches at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) below the frost level for your surface area. A trenching shovel may be the best tool to use for this part of the job.
   • Dig carefully and then every bit to avoid your home water lines, exterior lighting circuits, and waste and sewer lines.

5. 5

   Set up your PVC pipage out in the ditches y'all just dug. Starting time, place the main PVC line pipe in place so it'southward ready to attach to your outdoor water nozzle. Then, ready the smaller PVC pipes in place for the branch water lines. Also set into the place the tees, elbows, and bushings for reducing pipage sizes and threading on the sprinkler heads.^[14]

   • Depending on the setup you're using, yous may besides install funny pipe at this point. "Funny piping" is a flexible butyl rubber pipe used in sprinkler systems, which has its own unique fittings that slip into the pipes without glue or clamps, and adaptors to thread information technology into the PVC branch lines and the sprinkler heads.
   • Funny pipe as well allows the heads to be adjusted for height and is forgiving if you are decumbent to driving over the head with a riding backyard mower or vehicle.

6. six

   Install risers to connect the co-operative water lines to each sprinkler caput. Discover the flagging that you stuck into the ground earlier to marking the locations of your sprinkler heads. The risers will connect your water line to these sprinkler heads. So, attach the risers to the PVC pipage by threading them in place.^[15]

   • Before you install the riser, make sure the terminal fitting is the correct thread size for the head.

7. 7

   Connect the master h2o line to the timer and control valves. Your sprinkler arrangement will come with several control valves and a timer to control when the heads plow on and off. Use PVC funny piping and the advisable fittings to connect the main line to the control manifold.^[sixteen]

   • "Manifold" is the commonly-used term that describes several valves that are grouped together.
   • Be sure to use the advisable valve for the blazon of control you are using.

8. 8

   Attach a backflow preventer to the water supply line. Connect the water supply line into the manifold (time and control valves). Be certain to also attach a backflow preventer so that if the water system loses pressure yous volition not syphon water from the sprinkler organisation into the potable water.^[17]

   • If you don't install a backflow preventer, your habitation's potable h2o could be contaminated.

9. 9

   Install the timer unit near an accessible power source. Attach the timer to the wall near a power supply by your front or back door. Prepare up the unit of measurement by connecting the wires coming from the sprinkler valves to the numbered terminals in the timer unit of measurement. Examination that the timer unit is properly installed and works correctly past manually testing each of the sprinkler zones from the timer command box.^[eighteen]

   • Y'all'll use the timer unit of measurement to set and adjust the watering schedule for the sprinkler system. Without a timer unit, your sprinkler system would spray water 24 hours a day.

10. 10

    Turn the command valve on that supplies water to 1 zone. Allow the h2o force per unit area to flush the pipes of any droppings or dirt which has gotten into them. This should only take 1–2 minutes, but doing this earlier installing your sprinkler heads will forestall clogged heads afterward.^[nineteen]

    • Clogged sprinkler heads tin can be a major headache to clear. And then, clearing the pipes at this signal can salve you time in the long run.

11. eleven

    Install your sprinkler heads at the ends of the installed risers. Place the heads co-ordinate to the locations where you mapped them on the fatigued schematic. Y'all tin also locate the heads past finding the ends of the risers you installed. Depending on the elevation of the heads, each should be installed about 6 inches (15 cm) deep. Pack the soil firmly effectually the heads to hold them in position.^[20]

    • Bury the heads deeply enough that the soil volition support them and they will exist slightly recess below the top of the turf at your preferred mowing acme.

12. 12

    Gear up the control valve and backflow preventer in the next zone. In one case y'all have successfully installed the sprinkler heads on the beginning zone, movement on to the next zone. Working in sequential order volition go along y'all from overlooking any part of sprinkler system or accidentally forgetting to install a sprinkler head.^[21]

    • Go along working zone by zone until yous've installed the entire system.

Advertizement

1. 1

   Observe the spray coverage and direction of each caput. Turn the zone valve back on and see how each sprinkler head sprays. If they're not spraying how you'd like, you tin adjust the alter the total rotation of gear-bulldoze heads from 0–360 degrees. Also suit the spray pattern and distance with the adjusting features designed in your particular head.^[22]

   • The way y'all adapt the sprinkler heads tin vary from one manufacturer to another. Nigh have a small radius adjustment knob on the top of the sprinkler head.

2. two

   Walk the length of your ditches to check for h2o leaks. Have a shut look at the bushings and other fittings to brand sure none are leaking h2o. When you are satisfied there are no leaks, turn the valve off. If you practise happen to find a leak, unscrew and reattach the bushings and pipes, taking care to screw them together more tightly this time.^[23]

   • It's important to check for leaks before you shovel the soil back in place over the water lines. If y'all don't, you could end up needing to dig up the lines once more in the future to find a leak.

3. iii

   Backfill your ditches and pack the soil in firmly. Only backfill the ditches in one case y'all've walked the ditches and confirmed that there are no leaks. In one case you're certain, utilize your shovel to scoop the dirt and organic material that you dug out before dorsum into the ditches.^[24] If you had to remove any sod or other ground encompass, place the sod back in place.

   • Shovel up any roots or other organic matter that you unearth while installing the sprinkler pipes. Dispose of these materials in the trash or compost bin.

Advertizing

Add New Question

• Question

  How exercise you ready a leaking sprinkler system?

  

  Mike Garcia is a Licensed Landscape Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a total-service landscape design and structure firm in Los Angeles, California. With over thirty years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable mural practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture degree, C-27 Mural Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Design, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional Pond Contractor, and Pond Building certifications. He is one of eight Internationally Certified Pond Builders in the world. Enviroscape LA has won mural and water characteristic awards from the International Professional Pond Contractors Association (IPPCA), National Association of Pond Professionals (NAPP), and the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). Mike is a past president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Board of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS U.s.a. Mag, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Mag, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, HGTV'southward Landscapers Challenge, and A & Due east's series Fix That Yard.

  

  Licensed Landscape Contractor

  Expert Answer

  If you're dealing with an overhead spray irrigation system, first determine where the leak is coming from. If it's coming from the height part called the nozzle, unscrew the broken nozzle then screw a new one on. In the case of drip irrigation, determine where the leak is coming from starting time. Side by side, locate the pressure level coupling. Cut the broken baste if it's not severed all the way through and put the pressure coupling on both ends. Push on it, and it'll be adept as new.

• Question

  How do I set up the control valves?

  

  TC Williams

  Customs Answer

  Check and make sure the Solenoid is working correctly when sent a charge from Controller. If not check wire splices for good contact and waterproof screw cap at valve, so Controller. Most all of the valves can be taken apart by loosening screws or Ring effectually meridian Bonnet. Do not lose screws. Carefully pry the top of the valve (Bonnet) off of valve the Body to check the Diaphragm for tears or holes. Replace the Diaphragm if needed later on flushing out the Valve Torso of whatever droppings. Supervene upon the Valve Top (Bonnet) and do non over tighten screws.

• Question

  How practice I fix my popups that aren't in the ground straight?

  

  Dig the dirt out from around the popups, and backfill by hand at offset, holding the popup where y'all want it to be with the other hand. Pack the dirt down every bit you go.

• Question

  Volition pouring concrete on height of a PVC sprinkler line cause it to break?

  

  Not necessarily. Notwithstanding, it is generally a bad idea if there are any gum joints in the pipe. Over time, glue joints weaken and eventually fracture. Physical over pipes makes information technology hard to fix. The concrete will either have to be broken, or the pipe will have to be cutting and diverted if possible.

• Question

  How do I add together a soaker system to an existing sprinkler organization?

  

  ConnorFisher

  Community Answer

  A soaker system depends mainly on the types of heads you lot're using in the sprinkler system. They're more commonly used in irrigation systems that in sprinkler systems. Notwithstanding, you tin purchase minor soaker-blazon heads to attach in your sprinkler system for the same overall effect. These soaker-blazon heads are somewhat like to bubbler-blazon heads, except they're install beneath the soil.

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to go a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Things You lot'll Need

• Shovel
• Axe (optional)
• Grubbing hoe (optional)
• Tape measure
• Survey flags
• Sprinkler heads
• Funny pipe
• ³⁄_four inch (1.9 cm) PVC pipe
• PVC fittings
• Backflow preventer
• Timer
• Control valves
• Glue (for plastic pipes)
• Pipe cutter for cutting PVC

• Go along any sprinkler head adjusting tools, keys, etc. and spare parts for time to come use.

• If y'all use an automated sprinkler system, install a wet sensor or pelting detector. There is no need to run your sprinkler system during or after a good soaking pelting.

• Many home centers and sprinkler suppliers offer complete sprinkler design if you have a good cartoon (plan) of the area you lot are irrigating. This will come with a listing of supplies, measurements, water usage calculations, and sprinkler head requirements. If y'all feel like you're in over your head when information technology comes to installing the sprinkler organisation, this is a good alternative option.

• Practise not over-water your backyard. Virtually experts recommend watering nearly 1 inch (2.5 cm) every 3 to seven days, depending on soil type and weather conditions. Watering lightly and frequently encourages your lawn to grow shallow, weak root systems.

Advert

• Call the "no cuts" underground utility locator prior to digging. Be sure to take whatever undercover utilities located prior to digging. Fifty-fifty a shovel tin can cut a fiber optic cablevision or telephone line, and without having these located, the person digging is responsible for the cost of downwards time on the system and repairs.

Advertisement

About This Article

Article Summary X

To install a sprinkler system, offset by drawing a diagram of the area y'all want to gargle and mapping out the sprinkler system, including where each sprinkler head volition go. Then, dig ditches that are at least 10 inches deep for the primary pipe and the co-operative pipes that will run from the main pipage to the sprinkler heads. Next, lay downward PVC pipage in the ditches you dug, and install risers to connect the branch lines to the sprinkler heads. Finally, connect a timer, backflow preventer, and control valves to the pipes. To learn how to choose the right kind of sprinkler system for your needs, read on!

Did this summary aid you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 322,247 times.

Did this commodity help you?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Sprinkler-System

Posted by: carrlenct1978.blogspot.com

Share this post