Want to keep your lawn irrigation game strong? A sprinkler system should do the trick. But the question is- how do you install it?
Well, here the catch:
There are many ways to do this both online and offline. But you need a foolproof plan. A professional sprinkler system can do the trick for you.
But, can’t afford professional sprinkler systems? Try this inexpensive diy sprinkler system that you can put together in 6 steps. Check out irrigation supplies near me to get what you need.
We know how expensive professional sprinkler systems can be. So, we put together this step-by-step guide for people who are enthusiastic.
Throughout the guide, we’ll describe the steps with as much information as possible. So that you can do the job perfectly. All below $100.
Without waiting any further let’s jump right into the steps. But first let’s check out what you might need.
Things You’ll Need
Here are some of the things that you’ll need at points throughout the process:
- Pressure Gauge
- Swing Joint Pipes
- Flex Pipes
- Lawn Edger
- Small Spade
- Hand Trowel
- Gloves
DIY Sprinkler System Installation
We laid out these 6 steps to make things easier for you. And as a bonus, we have added one extra step that you can use to turn the system smart.
So let’s start with the first step, measuring the water pressure and it’s flow.
Step 1: Measure Water Pressure and Flow
Firstly, we have to measure the water pressure and the flow rate of the water source that we’ll be using for the sprinkler. These measurements are crucial.
They will tell us which design we should use for our sprinkler system and what kind of sprinklers we should use. So, it’s crucial that you don’t miss this step.
Too little water flow or pressure and your sprinkler won’t cover enough area. On the contrary, too much flow or pressure and the sprinkler will mist up.
However, measuring the water pressure or the water flow is fairly easy. All you need is a pressure gauge and an empty 1-litre bottle of Coca Cola for the flow.
For pressure, attach gauge and check the pressure at maximum water flow. And for water flow, simply measure how long the bottle takes to fill up.
Now, let’s move on to the next step.
Step 2: Design The Sprinkler System
It’s time to get the design straight. This is the most important of them all because the whole plan depends on this structure. So be careful.
It helps to make a full scale plan for your lawn or garden so that you know what to put and where to put it. Let’s start with choosing the sprinkler.
Choose a Sprinkler
You need to choose the sprinkler depending on the amount of watering you need and your budget. The right sprinkler will correspond to your garden size and the water pressure, along with the flow.
So, get your measurements straight before choosing the sprinkler for your system. Look for specialist manufacturers to get quality products for cheap.
Place the Sprinkler
Now, set the points for the sprinklers and be careful about it. We’d recommend you to follow the head to head sprinkler placement design.
Place the sprinklers in a rectangular shape and set the 90 sprinklers on the corners. Set the 180 sprinklers at the center of the longer sides.
Now, set the 360 sprinkler at the two centers that we would find if two circles were drawn into the rectangle. That’s it. It’s all connected now.
Connect the System
Finish the design by connecting your sprinklers with piping and finding the appropriate size of the pipes. Once you’ve done that, the design is ready.
Step 3: Increase the Water Pressure and Flow
This step depends on the fact if the water pressure and the water flow that you measured at the beginning were too low. Otherwise, this isn’t important.
For water pressure, you can use a water pump to achieve your desired pressure. And to increase water flow rate, increase the supply of water or get a new tank.
Now, let’s check the next step in our list.
Step 4: Build Plumbing
For connecting the sprinklers to the main source of water, a swing joint or flex pipe is the way to go. The benefits of using these pipes is that they are easily replaceable.
Moreover, they are also well protected from movement and impact. So, they’ll be a great addition to your system.
Now, let’s check out the next step.
Step 5: Conduct System Test Above Ground
Now that the plumbing is done, it’s time to start testing the system above ground. This method is recommended by many experts.
If you test the system above ground, it’ll be easier for you to identify the problems. Common problems like low pressure should be addressed like this.
Once you’re done with this, move on to the next step.
Step 6: Bury the System
Now comes the hard part, trenching water lines. It’s the most labor intensive and quite the work.
For this work you’ll need a pair of gloves, a lawn edger, hand trowel and a small spade. Trench to a minimum of 400mm (15.8 inches) below surface.
Once the digging is done, you’ve almost completed the job. Time to put some finishing touches. Now you can go creative with the decorations.
Once all that is done, your sprinkler is done. Now it’s time for the bonus.
Add-On: Water Timer for Smart Homes
Here’s the bonus as promised:
If you want a smart sprinkler system that responds to Alexa or Google, you can spend an extra under bucks and get a wireless water timer. It’ll work wonders.
Like what we share? Don’t forget to visit agoodgarden.com to know tips and tricks related to gardening.
Conclusion
That was all that we had to give on Can’t Afford Professional Sprinkler Systems? Try This Inexpensive DIY Sprinkler System. We hope it helped.
Now, we’d like you to help us out with some feedback.
If you think we missed something or if you want us to write on something else, let us know in the comments below.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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