Maintaining your lawn requires that you provide it with a good source of water to keep the grass hydrated, especially during the hot days of summer. A sprinkler system needs a proper design and layout, correct installation, the right components, and appropriate maintenance.
A typical lawn zone requires approximately 15 to 22 gallons of water per minute. Each sprinkler head shoots water for 55 to 6o feet and releases about 15 gallons of water per minute.
You will need to install pop-up rotor heads around the edges in order to establish hard lines. After that, you can fill the voids with 360-degree heads in the middle to allow head-to-head coverage and water distribution efficiency.
(Pixabay / byrev)
Before you plunge into the installation, you need to tend to the planning stage. Here are some steps to take before installing:
- Check the property to identify any obstacles, and pinpoint any potential problem areas.
- Have your water utility company mark off the location of their lines. Digging into utility lines could lead to big trouble.
- Check with the water company to determine the capacity of your system. Keep those parameters in mind so that you don’t design a system that requires more capacity than your home can provide.
- Find out where your water source is located and where and how your sprinkler system will attach to it.
After completing those steps, assess the following:
- Water pressure – You can design an efficient sprinkler system only if you are aware of the water pressure of your system. Water pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The average water pressure of a home system is between 30 and 50 psi, but this may vary in some locations. Too much or too little pressure will prevent your sprinkler system from working correctly.
- Size of your water meter – Find your meter and ascertain its size (usually printed on the meter itself). If you need help, call your water utility company.
- Size of your service line – The service line is the pipe that runs from the water meter to your home. You need to find out the measurement of the service line so that you can choose the appropriate size of sprinkler pipes.
If you have experience in plumbing, you may be able to install your own sprinkler system. Otherwise, call in a professional plumber to do the job.