If you’re thinking about installing your own sprinkler system, one of the first things to consider is the design. While many homeowners are capable of doing the physical installation themselves, designing an efficient irrigation system can be surprisingly complex. A good recommendation is to have your sprinkler system designed by a local sprinkler supply store. Many of these stores offer free designs with the expectation that you’ll purchase the materials from them. This can save you time, frustration, and potential mistakes.
A proper sprinkler system design involves several technical factors, including hydraulics, gallons per minute, pipe size, and water velocity. These details determine how well your system will perform and how evenly your lawn will be watered. Learning all of this just to install one sprinkler system usually isn’t worth the effort when experienced professionals will often create the design for free.
At a basic level, every sprinkler system starts with a water source. In many areas, there are two possible options: culinary water from your home’s water supply or secondary water that comes from canals or irrigation systems. The connection point—often called the point of connection—includes several important components. With culinary water, you’ll typically have a stop-and-waste valve or a shutoff valve, along with a backflow preventer to keep irrigation water from flowing back into your household water supply. If you’re using secondary water, you’ll usually have a filter and a shutoff valve at the connection.
From the water source, the system flows into the mainline. The mainline carries pressurized water to all the valves and remains under pressure at all times. Because of this, it’s installed with materials and adhesives designed to prevent leaks.
The mainline feeds into the valves, which are connected to a controller typically located in a garage or mounted on the house. The controller tells each valve when to open and close, allowing your sprinklers to run automatically.
From each valve, water travels through lateral lines that feed the individual sprinkler heads throughout the yard. While installing a sprinkler system is a lot of work, with a good design and some effort, it’s definitely a project many homeowners can successfully complete.