Automatic Lawn Watering Systems

A sprinkler system makes lawncare easier.

An automatic lawn sprinkler system can save you time since you won't have to turn your watering system on and off. It also will help you conserve water by precisely controlling how much water is used. It will cut lawn maintenance costs since your lawn will be watered on a consistent basis and your lawn will not be stressed from lack of water.

Installation Considerations

When considering an automatic lawn sprinkler system, you'll have to make many decisions. One major consideration is will you do the work yourself or hire a professional contractor. There are several good websites that can walk you through the process, regardless if you do the work or just want to know how it's done. Get several estimates from contractors before deciding who to hire. Another consideration is cost. This may also determine if you will do the work on your own. Research the products being used. Like any item, the parts of an automatic sprinkler system vary in quality. In sprinkler systems, you get what you pay for. If you get low quality items, you get a low quality system.

Controls

Automatic sprinkler systems will have a control valve that consists of a programmable timer that sends signals to the valves to controls when the sprinklers will come on, what days they will come on, and how long they will come on. The controls are linked to the valves by wire made specifically for lawn irrigation systems. The number of zones or collection of sprinklers is will determine the type of control you will have.

Valves

Valves are solenoid driven. That is, they work electrically to open the flow of water to the zone for which they are wired. You will have one valve per zone and it is operated by the control box. One side of the valve will be under constant pressure and works as a gate to allow the flow of water. Sometimes there will be an independent valve; this happens when, due to some circumstance, wire could not be run to a valve and it will have a battery operated valve and control. This is usually programmed to work in conjunction with the timing of the main control box even though it works independently so that no two zones are running at the same time.

Sprinklers and Misters

Sprinklers are the larger watering devices that cover large areas. Typically they are used for large grassy areas of the lawn and shoot a steady stream of water, if gear driven; They shoot a pulse stream of water if they are driven by the force of water. Misters are usually used for flowerbeds, shrubs and areas that are too small for a sprinkler.

Zones

Zones are a collection of sprinklers or misters. Due to water demands and the need to maintain a certain pressure for sprinklers and misters to work, only so many of each device will be in a zone. The zone will have one valve. Running two zones at the same time would reduce water pressure and defeat the purpose of zones. Sprinklers and misters are usually not together on a zone.

References

• Rainbird: Irrigation Learning Center
• Toro: Irrigation