Lawn Sprinkler Installation: The Ultimate Guide
Deciding to install lawn sprinklers is a big decision for most homeowners. We’re here to help!
This post will show you why lawn sprinklers are great for your home, what to consider when installing a sprinkler, whether you should go the DIY route or contract with a professional irrigation company, and much more.
Rest assured, if you’re interested in growing a greener lawn by utilizing an underground sprinkler system, this guide will have everything you need.
First, let’s square away some basics!
The Benefits of Lawn Sprinklers
First and foremost, let’s talk about why lawn sprinklers are a useful addition to your backyard. If you are looking for a cost-effective way to water your lawns, then sprinkler installation is the way to go.
Unlike manually watering your gardens and lawns, a sprinkler system ensures an evenly distributed water coverage across your entire lawn.
Why does that matter? Well:
It means no drop of water goes wasted, which can be a massive difference on your monthly water bill and for the environment at large. Just think: has your town ever had a water shortage during the summer?
Your grass receives the optimal amount of drink to grow. Without a professionally installed system, you run the risk of underwatering or overwatering your lawn, leading to drowned or starving plantlife.
You save time and energy! Letting an automatic sprinkler system tackle the watering for you opens up your schedule for the things you truly enjoy.
Lastly, for those who might be thinking about selling their house, underground lawn sprinklers help appreciate your property value. This is not just a mere theory since most properly maintained gardens have a sprinkler system that helps them look green and in good condition.
If you’re curious about the benefits of sprinkler systems, you can check out more info on our blog about whether or not it’s worth it to install a sprinkler system for your home.
Traditional versus Automatic Sprinklers
Okay, so we’ve squared away why sprinkler systems are so great, but many homeowners are still quick to point out that the cost of lawn sprinkler installation presents a high barrier of entry. This is the reason why traditional hose sprinklers are still commonplace for residential lawns and gardens.
While the initial cost of lawn sprinklers can be high, you can always find a lawn sprinkler installation company that offers affordable sprinkler installation, the efficiency of which eventually ends up paying for itself.
What’s more? With a professional irrigation company, you can typically find solid deals for continued maintenance services.
Automatic sprinklers can save you a lot of time and can even help you make your lawns look lush with very little effort. You just have to set a timer for the watering time and length.
Why You Shouldn’t Water with a Hose
You may think that using a hose as an irrigation system is an effective method because it gives you more control over what parts of your garden you can water and how much water should be allocated for each part.
However, despite the amount of control that you gain, a hand-held hose is not a wise idea for your garden since hoses can be a source of chemicals and toxins such as lead and antimony. These chemicals can thrive inside your hoses since there is no way that you can clean their insides.
Unlike hoses, however, sprinkler pipes are designed to withstand constant wear and tear and maintenance which means that you are guaranteed safe and non-toxic water out of them.
Quick Tips for Watering Your Lawn
There are telltale signs for when you should water your lawns, if you’re savvy enough to recognize them. If you see that your grass is now on the duller side of green, then you should know that it needs some watering.
Furthermore, you should not just slap any amount of water on your grass and plants just because. Use our recommended watering times guide for help in this area. In general, you should be watering your grass every other day.
You also have to know the soil type and grass type of your lawns to make sure that you are appropriately watering them.
The Effects of Different Soil Types
Lawns have different soil types which influence their water-holding capacity. Knowing the ins and outs of your particular variety can help you prevent overwatered or dead grass!
While it’s true that some lawns may contain more than one soil type, what we’re really discussing is your soil’s texture, which has the largest impact on the ability of water to be absorbed by plants and grass.
The best soil texture types for a larger water holding capacity are clay and silt. Sand and loam, however, are less than ideal if you want to grow your foliage.
How Much Water Does Your Grass Type Need?
Of course, different grass types also require different watering frequencies. For example, if your lawn uses bentgrass as its primary grass, then you should expect to water it every single day. Bermuda grass also requires high maintenance and therefore watering as well.
If you are looking for a grass type that does not require as much watering, then centipede grass is a good option since it doesn't demand as much water as most other grass types.
The Sprinkler Installation Process: Choosing the Right Sprinkler Head Types
Okay, with some of the basics out of the way, it’s time to dive into the meat and potatoes.
When planning a sprinkler installation, perhaps the most important aspect of your project we consider is the type of sprinkler heads that your lawn will require. Knowing which sprinkler head type to buy is essential to ensure that your water is not wasted and that your grass and plants receive a sufficient amount of water to keep themselves lush and green.
Best Sprinkler Heads for a Larger Lawn
If you have a large lawn to tend, then you may want to consider implementing rotary heads.
These heads spray water slowly and in streams, which is good for lawns with slow-draining soils and those that have slopes as part of their landscape. These sprinkler heads minimize water runoff, which means that there is less propensity to incur wasted water while tending your lawns.
Impact sprinkler heads are another great choice for larger areas because they rotate while simultaneously covering up to 150 feet, making them perfect for wide open lawns.
Gear-driven sprinkler heads are also great options because they rotate at a uniform speed and also allow for customizing the water pressure through its nozzles depending on your need.
Best Sprinkler Heads for a Small Lawn
A spray irrigation head is the perfect sprinkler type for small lawns. This head type sprays water very quickly which makes the water look like a fine mist.
A word of caution, though. This sprinkler type may not be suitable in areas where winds are strong all year long since the water that comes out of this sprinkler head type is easily blown off its course due to its lightness.
One of the most common types of sprinkler heads are popup sprinklers, which are actually suitable for any lawn size.
Basically, this sprinkler type goes above ground once you activate it through water pressure. It will then distribute the water at a low angle to reduce the likelihood of water getting blown away by the wind.
How to Install a Sprinkler System
While there are professionals that can perform a sprinkler system installation, you can save a whole lot more when you DIY this project.
A word of caution, though: many states require certain certifications in order to tap into your municipal water main. Also, you’ll likely want to talk to your city about line locations and having someone come to mark out your underground infrastructure (like wiring and existing pipes) so you don’t sever any important lines.
To properly install a sprinkler, take some time to consider the following factors:
The size of your lawn
Your lawn’s grass and soil type, and their water requirements
Water pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI)
Water meter and service line sizes
Water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
Backflow prevention as required by local codes
Local permits, if necessary
Obstructions to digging on your property
Water ordinances
There’s a lot of planning involved when installing a sprinkler. Once you’re ready to perform your own installation, here are the steps you can follow:
Know Your Sprinkler System Parts
First, it’s important to know which sprinkler system parts you need to have. For an underground (also known as in-ground) sprinkler system, you’ll need to select parts that can perfectly accommodate your water pressure and water supply. Parts you need include:
Backflow preventer: An anti-siphon device that keeps water from backing up into the supply line.
Control system: Used to maintain and control water zone areas.
Fittings or couplings: Connects and redirects pipes.
Pipes: Can either be a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene pipe.
Risers: Connects pipes to sprinkler heads.
Sprinkler head: Depends on your lawn’s water requirements.
Timers: Schedules when your sprinklers will turn on or off.
Valves: Opens and closes pipes in each water zone.
Valve boxes: Protects valves.
Valve manifold: Acts as the master control of the system.
2. Determine Water Pressure
Water pressure can either be “working,” when it’s switched on, or “static,” when it’s switched off. A pressure gauge will measure your “working” water pressure in PSI.
3. Check Water Meter
Your water meter will typically depend on your water supply line. If you’re connected to a municipal system, you can find the size of your water meter on the meter itself or written on your utility bill. The usual sizes are 1 inch, ¾ inch, or ⅝ inch.
If you get your water supply from a well, check for the pump size in its manual or call your pump’s manufacturer.
4. Measure Service Line
The size of your supply lines will determine the size of the service line for your sprinkler system. Use a tape measure or a measured piece of string and wrap it around the water pipe to determine the right size.
5. Measure Flow Rate
To measure the flow rate, fill a gallon-sized container with water from your outside spigot. Record the time it takes for the container to fill up and divide 1 gallon by the number of seconds. Multiply this by 60 seconds to get the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). To measure for gallons per hour (GPH), multiply it by 60 again.
6. Map Your New System
The number of watering zones your lawn needs will depend on your flow rate in GPM, as well as the various areas within and surrounding your lawn, such as trees, shrubs, sidewalks, fences, and sunny and shaded areas. Each zone is composed of pipes and sprinkler heads with their own control valves.
To properly map out your system, take note the following attributes as these can affect where water would flow, how much water would flow, and the pressure needed:
Your house
Permanent landscape features
Water meter
Sloping areas
Location of the manifold
7. Plan Your Coverage
Avoiding dry spots or spots that are overwatered should be your primary consideration when planning your sprinkler coverage. To achieve full and balanced coverage of your lawn, select sprinkler heads that will properly accommodate the needs of each water zone.
Pipe locations and lengths should also be taken into account. Longer pipes with more turns will decrease water pressure, so make sure to create an irrigation layout that avoids overextending pipes and unnecessary turns.
8. Dig Your Trenches
Once you’ve successfully mapped out your system and coverage plan, it’s time to dig trenches for your water sprinklers. Locate your water source and, with wooden stakes or flags, mark the specific areas where trenches and sprinkler heads will be placed. You can either dig the trenches by hand or with a trencher. Ensure that the trenches are level, as variations can affect the efficiency of your sprinkler system.
9. Assemble & Connect Your Pipes
Once the digging is done, it’s time to assemble and connect the pipes before placing them in the trenches. Starting at the manifold and working your way outwards will be the easiest method.
Polyethylene pipes take less time, as they only need to be cut and installed. PVC pipes, however, need to be cut and smoothed out along the edges before being positioned, primed, installed, and aligned.
Once the pipes have been assembled, connected, and placed accordingly, connect the sprinkler heads to the risers. Afterwards, you can directly connect the system to the service line or connect the valve to an existing outdoor faucet.
10. Backflow Installation
Installing the backflow will close the sprinkler system when it’s not being used. This prevents water from backing up into the supply line and keeps reverse pressure from affecting the water system.
11. Programming Your Control/Timer
Since each water zone has its own valve, you can automatically control when specific zones get watered or not. You can schedule this through your water controls or timers. Most sprinkler systems are equipped with rain, moisture, and even weather sensors, which can efficiently determine watering schedules even if you’re not around to monitor them.
12. Don’t Forget Winterization & Spring Turn On
To avoid pipe damage or breakage, don’t forget to winterize your system. Depending on your system type, you might have an auto-drain valve or a manual drain valve that requires an air compressor to clear out all water zones. Turn off the timer to keep water from flowing into the system. For warmer climates, covering pipes with insulation may suffice, but colder areas might need professional services to winterize sprinklers. Once your pipes have made it through the winter safely, don’t forget to turn your system back on for spring.
Best Time of Year to Install a Sprinkler System
No matter if you’re planning your sprinkler system installation yourself or with a licensed sprinkler installation company, you also will want to consider the time of year you schedule your installation for. Many homeowners overlook this part of the process!
While there’s no bad time of the year to install a sprinkler, there is an ideal one: early fall. That’s because your ground conditions will be ideal (resulting in less intrusive installs), while also giving your lawn plenty of time to recover prior to the frozen winter months.
Lawn Sprinkler System Installation Cost
The cost to install a sprinkler system will vary depending on a number of different factors. For more information about all the factors affecting sprinkler installation cost, you can read our blog on the topic here.
That said, a general rule of thumb for a normal sprinkler installation with a professional irrigation company will run you anywhere from $3,000 to $3,500.
Naturally, installing a sprinkler system yourself will cut down on the cost of labor that comes with hiring a sprinkler contractor. However, the DIY method comes with its own can of worms.
DIY Method - Pros, Cons, & Cost
As mentioned earlier in this post, the DIY method of installing a sprinkler system can absolutely save you a pretty penny, but that’s also assuming you have all the correct materials and the expertise on hand.
Sprinkler installations are not a project you can drag out for years as you work up the skills and materials needed. To minimize the damage to your lawn, you should complete the installation in one fell swoop.
Plus, another major con of installing your own sprinkler system is that you run a significantly higher risk of severing some important infrastructure underneath your lawn, with no support on hand to repair the damage. With a sprinkler system contractor, they are liable for repairs in the event that happens.
That said, if you have the confidence, skills, and access to the proper materials, and if you meet the certification requirements in your state, a DIY method of installation can be a nice way to control your cost, control the installation timeline, and be a nice home improvement project to hang your hat on.
Interested in Installing a Sprinkler System? Hire a Sprinkler Installation Company
At Commercial Lawn Irrigation, we’ve specialized in lawn sprinkler installation throughout the Southern Illinois community for the past 25 years. With every installation project, we bring the professional expertise to get the job done with minimal damage to your yard, meaning your grass will be greener than ever!