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On
this page:
Dig trenches and fit the pipe together
Connect to the main water source
Attach risers and flush out the system
Install the sprinkler heads
Connect to timer
Test
Parts
of an irrigation system
Dig
trenches and fit the pipe together
The first step is digging trenches for the pipe. Make sure you know where
gas, phone, cable, and sewer lines are before digging. If you have any
doubts, call your utility companies. Following your irrigation
design map, make trenches about 8 - 10 inches deep and about 4 inches
wide for the pipe. Before fitting the pipe together, lay it out in the
trench to make sure you have enough. When you are ready to fit the ends
together, make sure they are clean. Brush primer on the pipe ends and
glue them together with an adhesive.
Connect
to the main water source
After the pipe has been fitted together, it is time to hook it up to
the main water source. Shut the main water supply off. Place a copper
tee fitting between the house water line and the outside faucet. Install
a shutoff valve below the tee and attach the pipe to the control valves
with pipe tape to prevent leaking. It is highly recommended that a professional
landscaper or plumber connect the pipe to the main water source.
Attach
risers and flush out the system
Attach risers to the pipe at each place where a sprinkler head will be
placed. Before installing the heads, flush out the pipes by turning on
the main water supply and the irrigation system.
Install
the sprinkler heads
Attach sprinkler heads to the risers. Place heads at least 2 inches in
from the edge of the sidewalk or driveway and make sure they are pointing
in the correct directions. They should be placed at or just above the
soil level. Placing them any lower would be too low for good coverage
and placing any higher could cause them to be damaged by lawn mowers.
Connect
to timer
If using an automatic timer, connect the control valves to it with electrical
wires through a waterproof pipe. Timers are often installed in the garage.
Be sure to arrange the control valves so that areas that have different
water requirements can be watered and programmed separately. Set your
timer so that trees, vegetable gardens, planting beds, or other shrubs
are watered on their own schedule according to their water needs.
Test
Before you fill in the trenches, test your system to make sure that there
are no leaks. If you are sure everything is working properly, fill the
trenches and complete the final grade of your soil. Conduct a "catch
can test" after the final grade to make sure you have obtained
uniform coverage. If not, you may need to adjust the placement of the
sprinkler heads. At this time you can also calculate the application rate
to effectively schedule irrigation.
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