How To Install A Filter In A Sprinkler System

Download Commodity

Download Article

Installing a sprinkler system will allow you to water areas that would otherwise wither and dry in dry seasons. Evaluate the size and shape of the expanse(s) you plan to water and make up one's mind which sprinkler types are almost effective for your situation. Keep in listen that you tin can use multiple types of sprinkler heads. Then, dig out the trenches and install the pipes and command manifold. You lot should be able to purchase all of the necessary supplies at a big hardware shop or domicile-improvement store.

i
Cull a gear-driven rotor sprinkler head to cover wide areas. Rotor heads are the about common and versatile type of sprinkler head. They pop up every bit directed by a timer and revolve 360 degrees in order to spray h2o across a big area. Yous can adjust the distance that each head volition spray from eight–65 feet (2.4–19.8 k).^[1]
- Gear-driven rotor sprinkler heads are an improved version of the older (and much louder) affect style of rotor sprinklers.
2
Opt for shrub heads or bubblers to irrigate shrubs and flowers. "Bubbler" sprinkler heads practise not drag above the footing level and, as the name implies, emit a low-level stream of h2o designed to saturate the basis in a garden or heavily vegetated expanse. Each bubbler can simply irrigate an expanse of about 3 square feet (0.28 thou²), so they need to be placed relatively close to each other.^[2]
- Bubbler-blazon sprinklers but work on apartment footing. If you endeavor installing a bubbler on a sloped patch of your yard, you'll end up with a small river running downhill.
Advertisement
3
Stick with fixed pop-upwardly heads for watering areas adjacent to buildings. If you demand to water an surface area right next to the side of your dwelling or garden shed and would rather that the sprinkler head not blast water all of the building itself, choose a fixed popular-up caput. These heads spray water in a half-circle, so you don't accept to worry about watering the side of a building.^[3]
- Fixed popular-up head sprinklers are also bully to utilise adjacent to paved areas like driveways and streets.
Advertisement

1
Draw a roughly to-scale diagram of the areas you wish to irrigate. The schematic should include the primary area y'all'd similar to water and any adjacent areas you lot'd similar to have covered by the sprinklers. Starting with a schematic will enable you to programme the routing of pipelines and placement of sprinkler heads so you tin purchase your materials.^[4]
- Drawing out the area you lot'd similar to gargle will also ensure that the entire area is covered by the sprinklers.
ii
Split up the areas into rectangles of about 1,200 sq ft (110 m²) each. These will be your "zones," or areas which will be watered as a unit of measurement. Consider the type(s) of terrain contained in each zone. For the sake of sprinkler installation, endeavour to limit each zone to 1 type of terrain. For instance, 1 zone could exist a large, grassy lawn and some other could include a garden or sidewalk-side shrubberies.^[5]
- Areas larger than 1,200 square feet (110 yard²) would require special heads and a higher volume of h2o than you can usually get from a residential water organisation.
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. Marker the to-scale altitude that each head will spray onto your schematic. And then, determine which shape you want each head to spray in.
- A good-quality rotor head will spray an arc, semicircle, or full circumvolve about 25–30 anxiety (7.6–nine.1 m) in diameter. If y'all're using rotor heads, situate each head about 45 feet (xiv m) apart to let adequate overlap.^[6]
- Fixed pop-up head sprinklers spray roughly 10 anxiety (3.0 m). To ensure adequate coverage, install fixed pop-upward heads nigh xviii anxiety (v.five thousand) apart from one another.
- If you're installing bubbler sprinkler heads, map them out then that the heads are located about 1.v feet (0.46 m) apart, since each will cover a radius of roughly 1.75 feet (0.53 m).^[7]
- Equally a rule of thumb, it'due south better to take too much overlap than not enough.
- Keep in heed when you're positioning the sprinkler heads that the angle of spray on rotor and pop-up heads can exist adjusted.
4
Draw in the main water line. Start the line from the location where you plan to install your control valves, timer (if automatically operated), and backflow preventer.^[8] Regardless of where you're installing the water system, the master line will most likely commencement from an outdoor water nozzle.
- Go on in heed that the PVC piping you lot'll utilise for the water lines tin curve merely slightly, so all lines must be straight and should plow at ninety-degree angles.
- This portion of the diagram will give yous an idea of the length of piping you'll need. The sketch can exist rough, though.
5
Draw branch lines from the main line to each caput. Co-operative lines are the smaller pipes that connect the principal line to each of the individual sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads themselves are never fastened to the main lines, simply always to the branch lines. You can route a branch line to more than 1 caput if yous employ a ⁱⁱⁱ⁄_four inch (1.9 cm) pipe, but 2 heads should exist the limit.^[9]
- Further downwards the line, you lot may decrease the size of the main to ³⁄_iv inch (1.nine cm), also, since near the end it will exist supplying only ii or 3 heads.
Advertizing

one
Purchase adequate PVC piping for each irrigation zone. To supply each zone of the expanse you're watering, you lot volition need 1 in (2.v cm) chief line pipe and ⁱⁱⁱ⁄_four in (ane.9 cm) branch line pipage. Refer to your to-scale diagram and measure the distance of main and branch piping you'll demand. Then visit a local hardware shop or home comeback store and purchase the amount of pipe you'll need.^[10]
- If you're planning to only attach 1 sprinkler head to each branch line, you lot could get away with using ¹⁄₂ inch (ane.3 cm) pipe.
ii
Measure out the force per unit area of your water supply with a water estimate. Find an outdoor water nozzle, and screw the pressure guess onto information technology. Turn the h2o on full boom and read the psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals) indicator on the face up of the water gauge. Most home-sprinkler systems need a water pressure of about 30 pounds per foursquare inch (210 kPa) in order to function.^[xi]
- Buy a water estimate at any hardware shop or home comeback store.
3
Mark the locations for your pipe ditches and heads on your 1000. Refer to the to-scale cartoon to see where y'all've fatigued in the principal and branch lines, then head out to your backyard and use a shovel to marker the physical locations where you'll dig to install the water pipes. And then, when you come to the finish of the co-operative lines, flag the sprinkler-caput locations using survey flags.^[12]
- Because y'all're using PVC pipe, you don't need to dig the ditch in a perfectly straight line, as this material will curve adequately easily.
- Measure all distances with a tape mensurate to ensure that all of the distances are precise.
four
Dig the ditches along the principal and branch lines marked on the diagram. Use an axe or grubbing hoe to cutting the turf, taking care to set it aside in clumps so it can be replaced when you are finished. The ditch should be at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) deep to protect the pipes from harm even in warm climates.^[13]
- If you live in a region that gets frosts during the winter, dig the ditches at to the lowest degree 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 so as to avoid your dwelling house water lines, outside lighting circuits, and waste and sewer lines.
5
Set your PVC piping out in the ditches yous just dug. Showtime, place the principal PVC line pipe in place so information technology'south ready to attach to your outdoor water nozzle. Then, set the smaller PVC pipes in place for the co-operative water lines. Also set into the place the tees, elbows, and bushings for reducing pipe sizes and threading on the sprinkler heads.^[14]
- Depending on the setup you're using, y'all may too install funny piping at this point. "Funny pipe" is a flexible butyl prophylactic pipe used in sprinkler systems, which has its own unique fittings that slip into the pipes without glue or clamps, and adaptors to thread it into the PVC branch lines and the sprinkler heads.
- Funny pipe also allows the heads to exist adjusted for height and is forgiving if you lot are decumbent to driving over the head with a riding lawn mower or vehicle.
six
Install risers to connect the branch water lines to each sprinkler head. Find the flagging that you stuck into the footing earlier to marking the locations of your sprinkler heads. The risers will connect your water line to these sprinkler heads. And so, attach the risers to the PVC pipe by threading them in identify.^[15]
- Earlier you install the riser, make certain the terminal fitting is the correct thread size for the caput.
7
Connect the master h2o line to the timer and control valves. Your sprinkler system volition come with several control valves and a timer to control when the heads plow on and off. Use PVC funny pipe and the appropriate fittings to connect the main line to the control manifold.^[sixteen]
- "Manifold" is the ordinarily-used term that describes several valves that are grouped together.
- Exist sure to employ the appropriate valve for the type of command you are using.
8
Adhere 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 you volition not syphon water from the sprinkler arrangement into the potable water.^[17]
- If y'all don't install a backflow preventer, your home's beverage water could be contaminated.
9
Install the timer unit of measurement near an attainable power source. Attach the timer to the wall near a power supply past your front or back door. Ready up the unit by connecting the wires coming from the sprinkler valves to the numbered terminals in the timer unit. Test that the timer unit of measurement is properly installed and works correctly past manually testing each of the sprinkler zones from the timer control box.^[18]
- You'll utilize the timer unit to gear up and adapt the watering schedule for the sprinkler system. Without a timer unit of measurement, your sprinkler organization would spray water 24 hours a day.
10
Turn the control valve on that supplies water to 1 zone. Allow the water pressure to flush the pipes of whatsoever droppings or clay which has gotten into them. This should but take i–2 minutes, but doing this before installing your sprinkler heads will prevent clogged heads later on.^[19]
- Clogged sprinkler heads tin can exist a major headache to clear. So, clearing the pipes at this point tin save y'all time in the long run.
xi
Install your sprinkler heads at the ends of the installed risers. Place the heads according to the locations where yous mapped them on the fatigued schematic. Yous can too locate the heads past finding the ends of the risers you installed. Depending on the top of the heads, each should be installed well-nigh six inches (15 cm) deep. Pack the soil firmly around the heads to concur them in position.^[20]
- Bury the heads deeply enough that the soil will support them and they will be slightly recess below the top of the turf at your preferred mowing height.
12
Set upwards the control valve and backflow preventer in the adjacent zone. Once you lot have successfully installed the sprinkler heads on the first zone, motion on to the next zone. Working in sequential order will keep you from overlooking whatsoever part of sprinkler arrangement or accidentally forgetting to install a sprinkler head.^[21]
- Go on working zone past zone until y'all've installed the unabridged system.
Advertisement

i
Observe the spray coverage and direction of each head. Turn the zone valve back on and see how each sprinkler head sprays. If they're not spraying how you lot'd like, you can arrange the change the full rotation of gear-bulldoze heads from 0–360 degrees. Also adjust the spray pattern and distance with the adjusting features designed in your particular head.^[22]
- The mode you lot adjust the sprinkler heads can vary from i manufacturer to another. Most accept a small radius adjustment knob on the summit of the sprinkler caput.
2
Walk the length of your ditches to check for water leaks. Take a close look at the bushings and other fittings to brand certain none are leaking water. When you are satisfied in that location are no leaks, turn the valve off. If y'all do 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 identify over the water lines. If you don't, you could end upward needing to dig up the lines once again in the future to find a leak.
3
Backfill your ditches and pack the soil in firmly. But backfill the ditches in one case you've walked the ditches and confirmed that at that place are no leaks. Once you're certain, use your shovel to scoop the dirt and organic material that you lot dug out earlier back into the ditches.^[24] If you had to remove any sod or other ground encompass, identify the sod dorsum in place.
- Shovel upwardly any roots or other organic matter that you unearth while installing the sprinkler pipes. Dispose of these materials in the trash or compost bin.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

How do you ready a leaking sprinkler system?

Mike Garcia is a Licensed Landscape Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a full-service landscape design and construction firm in Los Angeles, California. With over thirty years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape 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 ane of viii Internationally Certified Swimming Builders in the earth. Enviroscape LA has won mural and h2o feature awards from the International Professional person Swimming Contractors Association (IPPCA), National Clan of Swimming 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. Magazine, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, HGTV's Landscapers Challenge, and A & E's series Fix That Yard.

Licensed Mural Contractor

Expert Respond

If you're dealing with an overhead spray irrigation organisation, first determine where the leak is coming from. If it's coming from the summit part called the nozzle, unscrew the broken nozzle then screw a new ane on. In the case of drip irrigation, decide where the leak is coming from showtime. Next, locate the pressure coupling. Cut the cleaved drip if information technology'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 practice I set the command valves?

TC Williams

Community Answer

Check and brand 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, then Controller. Near all of the valves can be taken apart past loosening screws or Ring around top Bonnet. Exercise not lose screws. Advisedly pry the peak of the valve (Bonnet) off of valve the Body to bank check the Diaphragm for tears or holes. Supersede the Diaphragm if needed afterward flushing out the Valve Torso of any droppings. Replace the Valve Meridian (Bonnet) and do not over tighten screws.
Question

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

Dig the dirt out from around the popups, and backfill by paw at first, holding the popup where you lot want information technology to be with the other hand. Pack the dirt downward as you go.
Question

Will pouring concrete on acme of a PVC sprinkler line cause it to break?

Not necessarily. However, it is generally a bad idea if there are any glue joints in the pipe. Over time, glue joints weaken and eventually fracture. Concrete over pipes makes it hard to prepare. The concrete will either have to be broken, or the pipe will take to be cut and diverted if possible.
Question

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

ConnorFisher

Community Answer

A soaker system depends mainly on the types of heads you're using in the sprinkler arrangement. They're more commonly used in irrigation systems that in sprinkler systems. However, you can purchase small-scale soaker-type heads to adhere in your sprinkler arrangement for the aforementioned overall result. These soaker-type heads are somewhat like to bubbler-blazon heads, except they're install beneath the soil.

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

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

Submit

Advertizing

Video

Things You'll Need

Shovel
Axe (optional)
Grubbing hoe (optional)
Tape measure
Survey flags
Sprinkler heads
Funny pipe
ⁱⁱⁱ⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm) PVC pipe
PVC fittings
Backflow preventer
Timer
Control valves
Glue (for plastic pipes)
Pipage cutter for cutting PVC

Go along any sprinkler caput adjusting tools, keys, etc. and spare parts for future utilize.
If you use an automated sprinkler system, install a wet sensor or rain detector. At that place is no need to run your sprinkler system during or after a good soaking rain.
Many home centers and sprinkler suppliers offer complete sprinkler blueprint if you take a good drawing (program) of the area yous are irrigating. This will come with a list of supplies, measurements, water usage calculations, and sprinkler head requirements. If you feel like you're in over your head when it comes to installing the sprinkler arrangement, this is a adept alternative choice.
Do non over-water your lawn. Most experts recommend watering about ane inch (2.5 cm) every 3 to vii days, depending on soil type and weather condition weather. Watering lightly and ofttimes encourages your backyard to grow shallow, weak root systems.

Advertising

Call the "no cuts" underground utility locator prior to earthworks. Exist sure to have whatsoever underground utilities located prior to digging. Even a shovel can cut a fiber optic cable or telephone line, and without having these located, the person digging is responsible for the cost of downwardly time on the system and repairs.

About This Article

Article Summary 10

To install a sprinkler system, start by drawing a diagram of the area you want to irrigate and mapping out the sprinkler system, including where each sprinkler head volition go. Then, dig ditches that are at to the lowest degree 10 inches deep for the main pipe and the branch pipes that will run from the master pipe to the sprinkler heads. Next, lay downwardly PVC piping in the ditches you lot dug, and install risers to connect the branch lines to the sprinkler heads. Finally, connect a timer, backflow preventer, and command valves to the pipes. To learn how to cull the right kind of sprinkler organisation for your needs, read on!

Did this summary help yous?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 322,701 times.

Did this article help you?