Press the saddle valve's collar around the pipe and snap it together. Check out some of our favorite lawn care resources. Make any required adjustments to the spray patterns and program the control box to the days and hours you desire the system to operate. For this installation, we used Rain Bird, a company thats been designing and manufacturing irrigation products since the early 1930s. Trying to stay as close to scale as possible, draw up a map of your lawn area noting where there are trees, flower beds or other vegetation, as it requires different water requirements than turfgrass. water line just beyond the meter and upsized to 1-in. Make sure any pop-ups are flush with the soil line. In warmer climates, you can use PVC pipe to supply water to the sprinkler heads. If you want to know how to install your own sprinkler system, though, here are the basics to know. How much does it cost to build my own sprinkler system? The bubbler sends a trickle of water through 1/8-in. The blade will shimmy the pipe down into the ground. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much does it cost to build my own sprinkler system? Dig a shallow trench from the valve box to the location for the timer, according to your plan. Finally, every sprinkler system needs a backflow preventer to keep the sprinkler system from contaminating the homes potable water supply. Then reattach the faucet, install a nipple (a short piece of pipe with threads on each end) into the tee fittings stem and finally connect the shut-off valve into that. You also need to call 811 before starting any digging project to make sure you dont disrupt any underground utility lines. Next, you want to install the valve manifold by digging a hole slighter bigger than the valve manifold box. Next, following the manufacturer's directions, glue together the manifold and attach the zone valves. All rights reserved. Using your layout of the area, place a landscape flag or stake in every location where you plan to install a sprinkler head. If you've rented a pipe puller, begin by attaching the end of the polyethylene piping to the machine's blade. polyethylene swing pipe. By metering out a precise, consistent amount of water, automatic sprinklers not only make it easier to maintain a lush, green lawn theyll also save you money by not wasting water. Run the zone-valve cable to the control box. Turn the water off again to install the sprinklers. Turn on the system, moving from one zone to the next and check the sprinkler heads and their spray patterns. Get easy-to-understand, actionable yard tips that will give you the greenest grass on the block. Install an air-gap catch basin on the unit and run a full-size drainpipe to the nearest floor drain. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"To build your own sprinkler system, you need PVC pipe, sprinkler heads, risers, and a control valve. When figuring out the zones for your sprinkler system, consider that the turf has different water requirements from trees and shrub, so designate zones according to the water requirements for the specific vegetation growing there. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I get rid of rust spots? However, make sure you prime it before repainting to make sure the new paint layer adheres well. In this case, to ensure total coverage, there were eight zones and 48 sprinkler heads. All Rights Reserved. Here, we installed a reduced-pressure backflow preventer and installed it in the basement where the system will be drained each winter. Install a plastic, inline drain fitting on the downstream side of each valve and connect the cable wires. swing pipe. Remove the cap from the sprinkler and install the appropriate spray nozzle, as indicated on the plan. Accomplish this efficiently by using a lawn sprinkler system. Can This Machine Finally Hunt Down Dark Matter? Using a primer and adhesive, connect the ends of the PVC pipe. A Suburban Lot Turns into Magical Garden Rooms, How to Install a Water-Saving Drip-Irrigation System, Backyard Renovation: From Dirt Patch to Perennial Paradise. However, be prepared because doing the job yourself can be labor-intensive. A Red Ventures Company. Multiply that result by 60 and you end up with the flow rate per minute. The average cost of a professional sprinkler systeminstallation can average anywhere from $2,900 to $4,500, depending on the size of the yard, materials and the company. No one head fits all situations. Amazon Is Running a Huge Sale on Patio Furniture. The next step in planning how to install your lawnsprinkler system is the actual drawing up a sketch of the area where you will install the system. Manually open each valve and allow the water to flush the pipe and then close it, moving onto the next valve and repeating the process. If the line is copper, solder on a copper tee. Backfill the hole 4 in. You can program it to automatically water the grass on a regular schedule, which means you wont have to drag out the hose and sprinkler every few days. Lay your PVC pipe along the trenches and lay the appropriate sprinkler heads and connectors at each landscape flag or stake. Run 1-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe from the main water line to a backflow-prevention device and then connect it to the manifold. For the best in class DIY projects and more, join Pop Mech Pro! {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I build my own sprinkler system? Use a sluice pipe to tunnel under sidewalks. Once your pipe is assembled, you are ready to connect to the main water source. Attach a sprinkler head to each riser. After you have flushed the system of any possible debris, you can now attach the sprinkler heads to the irrigation system. Before you can start digging holes and laying pipes to install your sprinkler system, you need to do some preplanning. You can also find out if you can install the sprinkler system yourself or you need to hire a professional, per state and local regulations. WARNING: Check with the local building department to obtain all necessary permits, and contact a one-call center to have the local utilities mark any buried electrical cables, gas lines, or sewer lines. If drainage isnt an issue, install a 90-degree elbow with a barb fitting on one end and a female thread on the other. Then, use a 5-gallon bucket to measure how much water your homes plumbing delivers in one minute. To prevent the water coming out of the drip-irrigation tubing from evaporating too quicklyand to help hide the tubingcover the area with bark mulch. With all the valves connected and wired, install the valve boxes and then backfill the trenches. If for some reason you cannot locate it on the outdoor box, you can call your water company for the information. Youll also need a drain valve in order to drain the overhead line in winter. Otherwise, you can end up with water flowing places you dont want it to go, or not flowing anywhere at all. Different yard configurations and vegetation call for different head styles. If there are any holes or breakage in the door from the rust, you may need to replace it entirely. With the piping connected, start the machine moving forward and lower the blade into the ground. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. We equipped this system with three types of heads: spray heads for small grassy sections, rotary heads for the larger areas, and a bubbler for the flower garden. Remove the original spigot and replace with a galvanized or brass tee. Scientists Turn Dead Spiders Into Creepy Grippers, Pentagon: Aid for Ukraine Crushes Russian Morale, The Zodiac Killer, the Secret SR-72, and More, The Best Sprinkler Timers and Controllers, How to Fix Dry Grass and Brown Spots on Your Lawn, The Best Sprinklers for Your Lawn and Garden, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Request an on-site estimate and ask for their professional certifications and references. Flow Rate:Determining your flow rate is measuring how many gallons of water per minute or GPM. The next thing to note on your map of the area is where you are placing the PVC pipe and control box. Before you can begin your own DIY project, you need a plan. You accomplished a difficult DIY task of successfully installing a home lawnsprinkler system. Use a tee connection where each sprinkler will go. Use a scissors-type tubing cutter to slice polyethylene pipe. Hooking Up to The MainWater Line: Take the first step in hooking up to the mainline by shutting off the water before the point in the line where you will be making a cut. Next, you will want to flush the system by turning the water back on. Popular Mechanics participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. That, plus how much water each sprinkler head utilizes allow you to install the correct amount of heads. One of the advantages of these irrigation kits is you dont have to worry about finding your mainwater line and can quickly hook up to an outdoor faucet. Based on the specifications of your water system and irrigation map, gather the components of your sprinkler system. Tip: Most rental dealers will drop off and pick up the trenching machine for a small additional charge. Make the conversion from copper to PVC at ground level with a threaded connector. Depending on the size of the project and the chosen system, the installation process can take one weekend or several. Draw the crimp rings together with crimp-ring pliers. Some you can even control with an app on your smart phone. Mark the locations of all the trenches and sprinklers with wooden stakes or plastic flags. How we test gear. Ready to bring your lawn to the next level? Thread a brass drain fitting into the threaded end of a PVC tee and install the tee downward at 45 degrees. Listed below are the essential parts youll require for installing your lawnsprinkler system: This essential parts list doesnt include basic tools like shovels, PVC glue, hacksaw or other pipe cutter, landscape flags or stakes, string and a pipe-puller, which you can rent for around $200 at your local machine rental store. Once youve verified your system is flowing properly with no leaks, you can finally cover the pipe and enjoy your new sprinkler system. You can rent a power trencher that makes digging the trenches a lot easier than by hand. Assemble the zone valves above ground, then connect them to the underground pipes. Connect the stakes with string to indicate where the pipe will lay. Size of Service Line:To purchase the correct size pipe that matches your existing water service line, be sure to measure it before you purchase the PVC pipe for your lawnsprinkler system. Of course, if you have a large area needing irrigation, these kits might not be the best choice, or youll require several kits to water the entire area. To build your own sprinkler system, you need PVC pipe, sprinkler heads, risers, and a control valve. An in-ground sprinkler system is by far the easiest and most effective way to water your lawn. The trenches should be at least 6 in. In addition, note any hardscapes like walkways or a driveway. To do the job properly, be prepared to do some planning and quite a bit of work. If you receive your water from a well, you need to know the size of the well pump, which is usually noted on the outside of the pump or in the owners manual. If you are tired of playing the role of the human sprinkler system, manually moving portable sprinklers from one area of the yard to another, you may be considering installing a DIY in-ground sprinkler system. Sever the pipe with a scissors-style tubing cutter, then slide the rings onto the pipe and crimp each one with pliers. Space the stakes about 18 to 24 inches apart. One of the biggest reasons someone might tackle installing a home sprinkler system themselves is to savemoney. The fit is so snug that it doesn't need a crimp ring. Connect the elbow to the sprinkler head with 3/8-in. Connect one of each pair of valve lead wires to the white common wire, which will service all of the valves. Record the time it takes to fill the container. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io. But by the end of the season, the beauty disappears as the leaves fall to the ground. And a properly designed sprinkler system provides total coverage, ensuring there arent any grassy areas that are left either parched and dry, or over-watered to the point of drowning. Is Milwaukees $1,000 Mower Worth the Price? Slide a crimp ring onto each pipe and insert the barb fitting. For example, you do not want a sprinkler head that will directly spray against a trees bark, as the constant saturation can eventually cause problems with the tree and possibly lead to its death. Explore our City Guides, Cost Calculator and Top Deals, plus check out your inbox for our welcome email & moving checklist. LawnStarter is a startup making lawn care easy affordable and reliable. Before you rush out to purchase all your DIY irrigation supplies, you need to determine several important aspects about the flow of water through your system. Before you install your sprinkler heads, you need to flush the system of any dirt that might have gotten into the pipes during construction. Mother Earth will thank you, and so will your plants. Lay the 24-volt underground wire in the trench and connect it to the wires leading from each valve. Be sure to space them so theyll provide adequate coverage. Hooking up to your mainwater line is a bit trickier and if you dont feel up to the chore, you might want to call in a plumber to do this portion of the installation. Then use a gas-powered trenching machine to excavate the trenches to a depth of 4 to 12 inches, depending on the recommendation for your area of the country. Send the water pressure information to the sprinkler manufacturer you have chosen, along with a sketch of your property, including all critical dimensions. Many manufacturers will custom-design a system for you that is specific to your yard and region of the country. In-ground sprinkler systems are available from professional contractors, but theyre not cheap, costing on average between $2,500 and $3,500 for a one-quarter acre lot. Learning how to install a sprinkler system isnt overly complicated, but it is important to do it properly. Now, connect a sprinkler head to the elbow with a threaded riser, or make an offset swing pipe. Give your lawn a water auditto make sure sufficient water reaches all parts of the grass, or all the effort youve put into your lawn care will be for naught. Follow these steps carefully to ensure your sprinkler project is a success. A bubbler head is specially designed to soak a flowerbed without wetting the foliage. If necessary, join one length of tubing to another with a push-in coupling. Installing your sprinkler system is doable if youre willing and able to put in the work and time required to do it right. Mark on the diagram where the control valves and pipes will go. As with any large home improvement project, there are advantages and disadvantages of doing the job yourself and hiring a professional sprinkler installation company to do the job. As you can tell from the overview above, installing your own lawn sprinkler system is a labor-intensive process. Then top the bare soil with sod or grass seed. Automatic sprinklers are the best way to maintain such a luxuriant setting while minimizing water use. video for S20 E37: Deck Chairs, Damp Basement, The 5 Best Solar Generators (2022 Review). In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best solar generators on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you and your home. When running a main line, it's best to wrap the low-voltage electrical cable around the pipe and pull both at the same time. Cleaning furniture upholstery can be tricky, as it requires a specific cleaner that eliminates stains without damaging the material. Water Pressure: You want to determine the working measurement of your water pressure, which is the pressure while the water is turned on. Slide on the rings and crimp them tight with pliers. Nancy Foreman notes that one of the biggest mistakes people make, other than not placing the heads properly for 100 percent coverage, is not digging the trenches deep enough. Attaching to a spigot is the easiest method of getting water to your sprinkler system and is suitable for those in a climate not experiencing extreme winters. Local plumbing codes will dictate how to tap into your homes water system, but the installation shown here is fairly typical. Tip: Set the tubing in the sun for a few hours and it will soften and be much easier to install. When you get to the end of the layout, cut the tubing with a utility knife if necessary, flush it with water, fold it over, and slip on an end clamp. Continue making connections in this way until you've reached the last valve. Using a gallon container, turn on your outside spigot and fill the container with water. That is, if you dig the trenches by hand. To keep from digging up the entire lawn, you can use a pipe-puller to install the PVC piping. Run the cable into the panel, strip the wires and connect them according to the manufacturer's instructions. Gone are your days of dragging sprinklers all over the yard to quench its thirst. Join a different color-coded wire to the other lead of each zone valve. As seen in Forbes, CNBC and USA Today, LawnStarter makes it easy to schedule service with a local lawn care professional. Be sure to position it upright with the threads at the top. pipe. Send them the sketch and they'll return a detailed plan for your landscapeincluding specific instructionsand a list of everything you'll need to buy at the hardware store to put the system together. You can make your life of filling the trench back in a lot easier by laying soil to one side and placing the sod to the other. You can use multiple valves to control water flow to different zones of your yard. A timer can be programmed to schedule different watering zones of your yard at various times. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Its better to hire a professional that can complete the job without any hassle or costly mistakes. Using a pressure gauge, attach it to an outside faucet and turn on the water, making sure all the water is turned off both inside and outside the home when you do this. Keep unwinding the spool back and forth throughout the flower bed; space the tubing 12 inches apart. To tunnel under walkways, attach a pointed sluice nozzle to a length of PVC pipe. Connect your control valve to an existing faucet or directly to the service line. How to Install an In-Ground Sprinkler System, Depends on the size of your lawn. Now you want to give your home sprinkler system a brain by wiring the controller box per the manufacturers instructions. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. While more costly than doing it yourself, a contractor will likely be able to design your system in an efficient way that conserves water over time. Those living in cold climates or dont have adequate water pressure from the spigot should tap into their mainwater line. If necessary, join pipe sections with couplings and PVC cement. Regulations and requirements vary from location to location. Connect a garden hose to the pipe, turn the water on high and push the nozzle under the walkway to blast a hole clear through to the other side. Assemble the zone valve above ground, and then cement them to the underground piping. Note that it's often necessary to place two stakes very close together and on opposite sides of the tubing to hold it down. Start the pipe puller moving forward and settle the blade into the turf. This means that if anything goes wrong with the irrigation system the company will come back out and fix it at no charge to you. Tip: If you are uncomfortable with this step, call in a professional plumber to tap into the main line for you. Now that you have mapped out your area for installing your home sprinkler system and designated zones based on the plants growing there, you will need to select the best sprinkler head types for each area. Dig a trench from the main water line to the valve box location, as indicated on your plan. Run the main PVC line, along with the cable, to the first zone-valve location. If you're at a low spot and need seasonal drainage, install a 90-degree drain ell instead. Hooking Up to a Spigot:When hooking up to a spigot, turn off the water supply going into the house and allow the spigot to drain. The main parts of any sprinkler system include: Place stakes or flags in your yard where each sprinkler will go. A step-by-step process on installing your own underground system. If youre not up for it, dont feel bad. Then, join the two elbows with a length of 3/8-in. tubing to various spots in the garden. Just push the saddle down onto the pipe at each sprinkler head location, then twist the handle to puncture the piping, so water can flow to the sprinkler. Weve gathered some plants that let you be you, without worrying [], Spending more time at home? Set the manifold in the valve box. Following the plan, lay PVC pipe in all the trenches leading from the valve box. Set the timer and run a test to make sure that each zone and all the sprinklers are operating properly. Install a drain fitting to each valve. However, it is one of the more challenging projects a homeowner can take on themselves. For the area to be properly irrigated, you will want the spray pattern of each head to overlap its neighbor by 50 percent. Once you figure these out, you can purchase the correct parts. If you dont feel comfortable working around electricity, call in an electrician or someone who has experience with wiring. Nancy Foreman notes that many times DIY homeowners dont place the sprinkler heads where they overlap enough and areas of the yard fail to get watered properly. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Typically you can build your own sprinkler system for less than $1,500. Hmmmm something went wrong. deep will give you more room to work. This type of preventer will occasionally back surge, so you'll need a catch basin with an air gap underneath it. The hardest part of installing a DIY sprinkler system is laying all the underground water-supply piping. Install the reduced-pressure backflow preventer right after the ball valve. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Next, match the size of the outlets with faucet and irrigation pipe you are using. Use Teflon tape on the threads. Following the string, dig your trenches for your pipes, 6 to 12 inches deep. Cut into the 3/4-in. In this episode, Tom shares a trick to evenly space balusters; Heath shows how to drill holes in studs to run wire; Jenn Largesse builds DIY deck chairs; Richard explains how to deal with a damp basement. If the sprinkler head is located in a low spot on the property, and needs to be drained occasionally, then install a 90-degree drain elbow instead. Another consideration when purchasing a kit is that the yards elevation cannot be more than 6 feet from the sprinkler head to hose bib. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. Your PVC sprinkler pipe will connect to the control valve as well. If drainage isn't required, use a 90-degree elbow at the sprinkler head. Glue a 90-degree PVC elbow onto a male PVC adapter. Divide filled gallon containers size by how many seconds it took for it to fill. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Like many people with []. Run piping from the backflow preventer to the pipe installed through the rim joist. Install a full-flow ball valve so you can service the backflow preventer without shutting off the flow of water to the entire house. The feed line needs a drain installed at its lowest point. You will feel it click when it locks in place. If connecting to the service line, its recommended to hire a plumber to complete this step. Push the barbed fitting all the way into the pipe; no glue or hose clamp is needed. Irrigation companies such as Rainbird have made the process of installing your own sprinkler system relatively easy by offering irrigation system kits, which are suitable for irrigating medium to small-sized lawns of 1,000 to 3,000 square feet. Please come back later and try again. It's quick and easy to use, and leaves a clean edge. Attach a pop-up sprinkler onto the end of each length of flexible piping. Wherever a pipe branches off to a sprinkler head, splice in tee fittings, then attach a short length of flexible piping, which will connect to the sprinkler head. Now that you have finally accomplished all the hard work and you have finished installing your lawnsprinkler system, its time to test things out and program the control box, per the manufacturers instructions. 12 Steps to Install a Sprinkler System Yourself, Eco-Friendly Ways to Remove Leaves From Your Yard, The 13 Best Backyard Plants to Grow for Privacy, 16 Landscape Design Ideas for Your Front and Back Yards. Taking into consideration any obstructions like a slope, note on the map the proposed placement of your sprinkler heads. Use 90-degree elbows to join the PVC water pipes in the trenches to the zone valve pipes protruding from the valve box. After the ball valve, install a brass nipple and the reduced-pressure backflow preventer. The sprinkler heads can be connected to the pipes in several ways. Hiring a professional contractor to build your system will cost you between $3,000 to $4,000 for a 1/4-acre lot. One thing to do before you get started is to check with your local building department to see if you need a permit for your DIY irrigation system. Follow this blog to stay tuned with what you need to keep your lawn in tip-top shape year-round. To connect the head, install either a swing pipe or a threaded riser in the top of the fitting. Heres everything you need to know to get started and determine if youre up for the challenge. Follow the string and dig a trench for your pipe. However, with the right preparation and parts, your DIY home lawnsprinkler system will be up and running before you know it. It's important to first determine the water pressure at an outdoor faucet, using a simple pressure gauge. Now that you located utility lines, drew up a plan and purchased your supplies, get to work and install your home irrigation system. Cooper? "}}]}, Poet Robert Frost said it best, Good fences make good neighbors. But, barricading ourselves behind 8-ft. walls isnt very practical, and in some cases, your homeowners association (HOA) may not even allow that, but creating a private oasis with plants may be the solution. Dig a small depression under the drain, and fill it with sand and gravel. above the highest point of the yard. You can extend your living square footage by converting a garden or patio into an inviting space. The system layout they provided divided our lawn into zones, each controlled by a zone valve. Pipe the catch basin to a nearby floor drain with 1-in. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. For an above-ground connection, cut away a short section of pipe in the supply line just big enough for you to slide a slip tee into place. Line the hole with 2 inches of gravel, then set the valve box into it. Connect a hose fitting to the opposite end of the pipe, then dig shallow trenches on either side of the walkway. Of course, this isnt the case when installing it yourself, as you are responsible for fixing any malfunctions and their cost.