We may earn revenue from the products useable on this page and participate in affiliate programs . con More ›
Getting the most out of your yard often starts with managing the lawn by keeping it reduce to the right height , trimmed with nice edge , and watered properly . Installing an underground sprinkler system can make watering the lawn a hands - costless cognitive operation , saving you both time and effort . to boot , an automate sprinkler system may help to conserve water , keep open on the cost of your pee bill .
Lawn sprinkler installation professionals can get this job done , but DIYers with experience in both plumbing and landscaping may be also able to tackle this caper themselves to reduce the toll to install a sprinkler system . It ’s of import to note , however , that this project is n’t intended for beginners , so it is often best to call in the professional . Before assay it yourself , consider the sizing of the yard as well as whether the curtilage is clean-cut and even , or whether it ’s hilly and full of obstruction .
Photo: Getty Images
If you finger confident you’re able to manage this project , watch out this guide to learn how to complete an clandestine sprinkler arrangement installing .
Project Overview
Working Time:16 to 20 hoursTotal Time:24 to 30 hoursSkill layer : IntermediateEstimated Cost:$1,500 to $ 2,000
Before You Begin
There are a few things to keep in mind before you think about install an in - earth sprinkler system . First , you will want to look at the trouble of the job . Many DIYers neglect to inquire if it is difficult to set up your own lawn sprinkler organization before they set about , and then find out that they lack the skills required to complete the labor . You will need to have experience in plumbing and landscape gardening , including prior workplace with PVC or poly piping , backflowing preventers , valve facility , shovels , trenchers , and canonical wiring .
face into the undergroundsprinkler system costto determine if you have the budget for the undertaking , as well as checking with your municipality to find out what permit are required and whether there are any limitation in place forresidential sprinkler systems . Before getting get , the local utility company will need to be adjoin to do out to the property and mark any buried lines , so you do n’t by chance damage anything while digging in the yard .
eventually , we recommended having at least one other person to help you harness this job due to the difficulty and amount of sentence the project takes . Make certain to wear shut - toe shoe , glove , and appropriate tribute for being out under the heat of the Dominicus for several hour of landscaping work .
Photo: Deyan Georgiev via Getty Images
Tools and Materials
Tools & Materials
Bobvila.com may earn a charge from leverage made through these links .
Underground Sprinkler System Installation Guide
Step 1: Map out your sprinkler system.
You will postulate to create a mapping of the intended sprinkler system to ensure that it underwrite the pace and to get a canonical idea of the parts you will demand to make out the problem . Measure and represent your property at a graduated table of 1 inch equals 10 inches using graph newspaper . Take into consideration any permanent feature or obstacles in the yard , like trees , flower beds , or fencing material , as well as the slope and size of the 1000 .
loosely , this means creating several severally - contained set of pipe and sprinkler heads , which are recognize as zones . check that to notice on the mapping where you plan to place the manifold paper containing the dominance valves for each zone . Once the map is complete , you’re able to lie in out the sprinkler system plan using wager and string , place a marker where thelawn sprinklerheads will be positioned .
Step 2: Buy the right tools and parts.
When you are patronise for the tools and parts necessary to complete the sprinkler arrangement induction , you will need to find out certain information about the dimension and resolve on the right cloth for the organisation .
Step 3: Dig trenches for your sprinkler system.
With the landscape gardening stakes and string put out over the yard , you should have a basic plan for where to bulge compass .
Step 4: Install sprinkler system.
After the trenches are dug , you could start lay out the pieces for the system .
Step 5: Install sprinkler valves and valve box.
The valve box typically contains the principal shut off valve , which controls the menstruation of water for the entire sprinkler system , as well as the manifold paper , and a series of sprinkler control valves , which each control a zone of the sprinkler organization .
Step 6: Connect sprinkler lines to the zone valves.
With the multiplex and zone control valve in stead , usage tobacco pipe , elbows , thread adapters , and any other connexion to attach the sprinkler lines to the zone valve .
Step 7: Connect to the main water line and install a backflow preventer.
you could either link the sprinkler system to an existing outdoor faucet or execute the sprinkler organisation directly to the primary water line .
Step 8: Flush the system and install sprinkler heads.
Before installing the sprinkler heads , deform the water on and flush the organisation . This will reserve any dirt , Gunter Grass , or other junk that is trapped in the system to be forced out , instead of constipate the sprinkler heads .
After flushing the system , thread the sprinkler manoeuvre onto the last of the establish risers . Generally , each sprinkler head should be install about 6 column inch deep , with land mob firm around the heads to bind them in position so they sit just below the top of the turf at your preferred mowing height .
Step 9: Set up and mount the control system.
Read and keep an eye on the directions provided by the manufacturer to set up the sprinkler control system . Generally , the control box should be mounted in a sheltered area with an available electric outlet , and the wire from the valve manifold should be run underground in a shallow trench directly to the control box .
Once you have get on and wired the control system , essay the preferences according to the manufacturer ’s instructions to learn how best to operate the sprinkler organisation for your dwelling . Finally , substitute the filth in the trenches , fill up any holes , exchange the sod , then run for a brief exam to ensure the installation was a achiever . Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the integral pace is appropriately watered and program the control organization with a suitable watering schedule for improvedlawn careand a healthy lawn .
Sprinkler System Maintenance Tips
keep up an underground sprinkler system does n’t need to be difficult as long as you regularly scrutinise the pipes and sprinkler head , make necessary repairs , and winterize the sprinkler system before winter weather hits .
When to Call a Pro for Sprinkler System Installation
Sprinkler system instalment is n’t a job for novice DIYers or those with circumscribed plumbing skills . If you notice that any of the above stone’s throw seem hard or overpowering , then it ’s a dependable idea to call a master to nail the installation . Similarly , if you have a large or to a fault complex M with many obstacles and slope , then it may be proficient to hire a pro to instal the sprinkler scheme instead of trying to do by this job on your own .
regardless mistakes can lead to leak , pricey water bills , and the degradation of the soil in the thou , so think carefully before decide that this is a labor you could handle . If you carry into any significant job , it ’s often better to turn to the pros than it is to sputter through the issue with a haphazard solution that may or may not correct the issue .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
Photo: Valentyn Semenov via Getty Images
We ’ll help you gear up up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bottom , or an in - earth plot of ground out back — and select the right flora for your territory and neighborhood .
Photo: photovs/Depositphotos
Photo: welcomia/Depositphotos
