How to Install Sprinklers

Installing sprinklers is not a difficult task if you plan, organize and prepare. You must choose the proper type of sprinkler system, design the layout, install the plumbing and connect it all together. Because most homes do not have enough water pressure to force the water through the entire sprinkler system, the system will have to be divided into "circuits."

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Planning Your System

1. Choose your system. Options are rotary sprinkler heads, which stay above the ground, or pop-up heads, which pop up to water then drop flush with the ground so you can mow over instead of around them.

2. Create the design layout. Sketch your home, property, driveway, sidewalks, trees, shrubs and flower gardens on a piece of graph paper. Contact your utility companies so they can mark off the locations of the gas, electric and telephone lines. They need to flag the path of the lines for easy visibility. Include the utility pathways on your design layout.

3. Test your flow rate and water pressure. Attach a water pressure gauge to a hose and with all other water sources off, turn the hose on full. Mark your pressure on your design layout. To check your flow rate, fill a 1-gallon bucket from a hose turned on full. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket and divide this number by 60. The answer is your gallons -per-minute rate.

4. Plot your sprinkler system according to the manufacturer's directions for flow rate and water pressure, ensuring each sprinkler throw rate overlaps. Divide the system into circuits according to the instructions keeping the same type of sprinkler head on the same circuit.

Installing Sprinklers

5. Build the manifold, or control valves. The manifold connects to the main water line and diverts the water to each circuit.

6. Dig the pipe trench. The trench for the sprinkler pipe must be at least 8 inches deep and as straight and level as possible.

7. Connect the system to the main water line and add a shutoff valve and anti-siphon valves so water cannot back up into your home's supply line.

8. Lay the pipe and elbow connections. After this is completed, install the risers making sure the risers are at a 90-degree angle to the ground, and ensure the sprinkler heads are at the proper height.

9. Mount the controller and connect the low-voltage wires to the control valves. Set the control and test the system.

10. Fill the sprinkler system trenches back in, compact the dirt by watering and add more soil until the entire trench is just above the level of the ground. Reseed or replace sod and you have completed installing a sprinkler system.