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Started By
Message
Is it hard to install your own sprinkler system?
Posted on 7/30/23 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 7/30/23 at 2:47 pm
Need probably 8 heads and a timer. Any advice or brand recommendations? They sell kits at Home Depot.
10
Posted on 7/30/23 at 2:52 pm to CatfishJohn
Lawn or landscape beds? Micro irrigation for landscape beds is very easy. Lawn - others will need to comment.
Posted on 7/30/23 at 3:39 pm to CatfishJohn
It’s not hard but there is some upfront planning involved. I did my yard before sodding/seeding. I have 14 zones with 6 sprinklers per zone with 2 hunter controllers. I drew it out on graph paper to scale and started piecing it together. You can get everything at lowes or Home Depot for sure. Lots of you tube videos and tricks to save your back
This post was edited on 7/30/23 at 3:50 pm
Posted on 7/30/23 at 3:40 pm to CrawDude
Both but I’ll only put the heads in the lawn, just have some on the border of the beds and lawn aim at the beds. The lawn sprinklers will need to have some range. I want the type of heads that shoot out of the ground when they’re on and go back down when off.
Posted on 7/30/23 at 3:54 pm to CatfishJohn
My neighbor did it and he put everything above ground for a few days to make sure he had the range and coverage he wanted. Then buried it all.
Posted on 7/30/23 at 4:20 pm to skidry
That’s a great damn idea
Posted on 7/30/23 at 4:22 pm to CatfishJohn
Not really hard, but lots of labor
Posted on 7/30/23 at 4:35 pm to CatfishJohn
Only 8 heads? That’s pretty small.
I installed a 5 zone system myself, yes very easy. The guy I hired to drill and install the ground pump said he would have only done 2 zones, lol. I don’t see how that’s possible and the extra zones gives me more options for sure.
OP first thing to do is measure your water pressure. Depending on your pressure your options will vary. You’ll have a certain amount of gallons per minute you can use depending on your pressure and supply.
ETA: fixing sprinklers is a pretty basic diy plumbing job any homeowner really should know how to do. So putting in a system yourself is honestly one of the best ways to understand how to fix them. You will routinely have issues and adjustments you’ll want to make.
I installed a 5 zone system myself, yes very easy. The guy I hired to drill and install the ground pump said he would have only done 2 zones, lol. I don’t see how that’s possible and the extra zones gives me more options for sure.
OP first thing to do is measure your water pressure. Depending on your pressure your options will vary. You’ll have a certain amount of gallons per minute you can use depending on your pressure and supply.
ETA: fixing sprinklers is a pretty basic diy plumbing job any homeowner really should know how to do. So putting in a system yourself is honestly one of the best ways to understand how to fix them. You will routinely have issues and adjustments you’ll want to make.
This post was edited on 7/30/23 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 7/30/23 at 4:41 pm to CatfishJohn
Not hard. Just labor intensive. If you have a lot to do, definitely worth getting a trencher.
There's some other nuances such as knowing your water pressure(psi) and knowing the gallons per minute your supply line can provide. This helps you know how many heads a zone can support and how many zones you need.
On the rain bird website, you can actually provide them with a sketch of your property/area to be irrigate and they'll draw up a schematic and list out everything you need. It'll be a good design.
Too many "installers" don't design systems correctly and the coverage is shite. I'm dealing with this from the previous owner of my house. I've already ran some new lines and heads, but one day I'll probably redesign the system properly.
There's some other nuances such as knowing your water pressure(psi) and knowing the gallons per minute your supply line can provide. This helps you know how many heads a zone can support and how many zones you need.
On the rain bird website, you can actually provide them with a sketch of your property/area to be irrigate and they'll draw up a schematic and list out everything you need. It'll be a good design.
Too many "installers" don't design systems correctly and the coverage is shite. I'm dealing with this from the previous owner of my house. I've already ran some new lines and heads, but one day I'll probably redesign the system properly.
Posted on 7/30/23 at 5:16 pm to skidry
quote:this
he put everything above ground for a few days to make sure he had the range and coverage he wanted.
lay it out and let it run, then adjust, then bury
if you are irrigating beds you can just run the lines on top and cover with mulch
Posted on 7/30/23 at 10:17 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
Not really hard, but lots of labor
It is what I refer to as fairly simple but not easy.
I think of simple/complex as the brain part and hard/easy as the back part.
If you are trenching by hand in this heat it is going to be hard but if the job is big to rent equipment a hydraulic trencher makes it a lot easier.
There are plenty of resources to make the layout and materials list relatively simple.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 10:52 am to CatfishJohn
Not difficult; double check all your math and anally lay it out on paper. Rain Bird or Hunter.
Before buying a kit find a company that sells sprinkler system parts for Rain Bird or Hunter.
Before buying a kit find a company that sells sprinkler system parts for Rain Bird or Hunter.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 1:27 pm to Wtodd
Piggybacking off this, what time of year is best time to do it? Reason I ask is bc I know during hot months it is growing season for lawns like bermuda so maybe then would be good so yard can recover quicker from trenching. But in the fall it would be better with the temps being lower.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 1:33 pm to CatfishJohn
quote:
They sell kits at Home Depot
Do NOT use their kits. Rainbird ones either.
I bought that thinking it would work and it sucked even with 55+psi
I had never even touched a sprinkler head before and I laid 5 zones with roughly 16 sprinkler heads myself. Rented the trencher and all. Labor intensive so hope you have a buddy to help you with it.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 1:41 pm to idlewatcher
quote:
Do NOT use their kits. Rainbird ones either.
What did you use then? I was under the impression that rainbird had a pretty good rep when it comes to irrigation/sprinklers.
Posted on 7/31/23 at 1:51 pm to CatfishJohn
Piggybacking off this thread but does anyone know a reputable company in BR to do this?
Posted on 7/31/23 at 5:09 pm to Sir Saint
I believe he means - do not use any of the kits that are only made to be connected to a hose bib.
Most hose bibs are fed with 1/2" pipe, even though the connection is 3/4". Water loses pressure due to friction as it moves through pipes. The smaller the pipe, the more pressure is lost. So if you're going to do it, if your yard is decent sized or larger, you're probably better off running a dedicated 1" line for the system.
I've been exhausting myself with this the last three weeks. I know more about sprinklers than I ever wish I did
.
just follow this:
LINK
Most hose bibs are fed with 1/2" pipe, even though the connection is 3/4". Water loses pressure due to friction as it moves through pipes. The smaller the pipe, the more pressure is lost. So if you're going to do it, if your yard is decent sized or larger, you're probably better off running a dedicated 1" line for the system.
I've been exhausting myself with this the last three weeks. I know more about sprinklers than I ever wish I did
. just follow this:
LINK
This post was edited on 7/31/23 at 5:12 pm
Posted on 7/31/23 at 6:31 pm to Deactived
I’ve used Samson Services. Drew and his crew did a great job. Presented the diagram and the coverage map ahead of the project.
Samson Services
Samson Services
Posted on 7/31/23 at 11:51 pm to Puffoluffagus
quote:
If you have a lot to do, definitely worth getting a trencher.
I used my edger with an old dulled out blade. And a spade to widen some spots out.
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