A sprinkler installation project calls for a good bit of planning. If you're not sure where you want to place an irrigation system on your property, you can follow this guide and pay attention to these 5 items.
Problem Areas
You will want to identify problem areas before you do anything else. Some parts of your property may not require an irrigation installation. If an area already receives enough water, hitting it with more could have adverse consequences.
Look for places where there is weak grass growth, especially during dry parts of the year. Also, verify that water is the problem. If you have animals in the yard, for example, urine can cause growth issues, too.
Identify Potential Connection Points
Every sprinkler installation needs a water source. If you don't know where the possible connections are, ask a professional plumber to identify them. Likewise, if the available connections aren't in great spots, you may need to have them install new ones in better locations. You will also want to consult with an irrigation installation contractor to learn where they think the best places for connections may be.
Mark Underground Lines
Additionally, you'll want to avoid any underground gas, water, sewer, or electric lines running across the property. You may need to have someone from each utility company handle the job. Some surveyors are also able to mark utility lines.
Spacing Sprinkler Heads
Purchase some graph paper and use it to mark out squares. This may sound counterintuitive, given sprinkler heads spray water in circles. However, you'll want to have some overlap between the watering zones.
Operate under the assumption that each square represents one square foot of space. Learn the spray radius for each head. Inscribe the squares inside the radius to guarantee sufficient overlap, and then align the squares along their edges.
Mark Sprinkler Locations
Grab a measuring tape and go into your yard. Mark where each sprinkler head should be according to the graph paper. If you make an X on the squares you previously inscribed, each sprinkler should be dead center in its square. You may end up with a few oddities if you have to work sprinklers into small or unusually-shaped spaces.
Make sure you also have all of the utility lines staked before you do this. If a sprinkler head appears to be too close to one of these markers, it will have to find another home. A sprinkler installation company can help you work out the specifics once you've assembled the general plan.
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