This is an example of what the layout of a front yard sprinkler system may be like. The laterals are color-coded to avoid confusion.
Sprinkler head layout is perhaps the most important part of your personal installation. If you don't have a proper layout, you won't have good performance and will likely waste thousands of gallons of water each season.
Head to head coverage means every spot in the irrigated area needs to be covered by at least 2 sprinkler heads, and each head should throw water far enough to reach or slightly overlap the adjacent heads. This is done by considering each sprinkler as a geometric shape based on its ARC and Radius ratings.
The shapes in the pictures represent the space between sprinkler heads.
Each sprinkler head used in these examples are full heads to help demonstrate how important layout can be.
The triangle pattern (actually called a diamond pattern) is more efficient but less common because it's more difficult to lay out. Most residential sprinkler systems use the square pattern.
Layout can be simple. Walk around the property with a measuring tape or wheel, placing flags according to available products based on distance. Start with corners, measure sides, and determine appropriate sprinkler head types and sizes. Transfer the layout to paper or computer for review.
Measure the property for spacing of Sprinklers
Create a layout using sprinkler heads; use rotors for larger areas if possible.
This is an example of an actual sprinkler system layout.
As you can see, the layout is good, but there are still gaps in overlapping coverage. This is a common and unavoidable problem.
A stop and waste valve is essential in areas with hard freezes. It's a shutoff valve that drains downstream water from the main line, typically installed near the properties water connection/meter.
For More Information About Stop and Wastes, Check Out This Video.
A backflow preventer is required for any sprinkler system supplied from culinary water (drinking water). It prevents the undesirable reversal of flow into the potable water supply.
A Backflow Preventer protects drinking water from becoming contaminated in the event of a loss in pressure from the supply, the backflow preventer prevents the water from flowing backwards.
The PVB is a popular choice for its ease of installation and cost-effectiveness. It's suitable for most sprinkler systems but doesn't protect against back pressure.
The RP offers the best protection for sprinkler systems connected to pressurized culinary water systems. It's more expensive but provides comprehensive protection.
To measure your water supply, use a 5-gallon bucket and time how long it takes to fill from a fully open hose bib.
Measure GPM ToolKeep in mind that measurements from the house may not be accurate. For best results, measure after installing the stop and waste valve. Your target rate should be close to the maximum GPM for your property main line.
Warning! Always have utilities located before digging. In the U.S., call 811 or visit Blue Stakes for this free service.
For systems designed to drain when not under pressure, pipes don't need to be very deep. A good rule is to measure the body of your most commonly used sprinkler heads, then add 2 inches. For residential properties
For residential properties, never go deeper than 12 inches to avoid problems with utilities. After connecting to the stop and waste, bring the irrigation supply main line up to this depth before running the remaining irrigation main line for the system.
Use these sealants on threaded fittings.
This setup has 3 valves (one drip valve kit and 2 DVF valves), a gate valve to shut this valve bank down for minor repairs, and a ball valve used as a winter drain.
All Fittings are PVC:
Preferred setups are 2-4 DVF valves. When assembling threaded components, wrap the threads 3 times with Teflon tape and for extra insurance apply a small amount of thread sealant to the fittings on the main line side of the valves. Do not over-tighten; if using both Teflon tape and thread sealant, hand-tight should be sufficient.
Use approved wire designed for sprinkler systems. Choose a color (typically white) for the common wire, which connects to each valve. Then, connect a different color wire to each valve for individual control.
In this example, the pipe size remains 1 inch until the second Tee. After this, piping and fittings remain 3/4 inch up to the Funny Pipe connections. It's good practice for the pipe size to remain 1 inch (for 9-16 GPM) until the first Tee, or until the zone has supplied 1/3 of the sprinkler heads.
Swing joints offer a flexible way to install sprinkler heads. The swing pipe length can vary, but for heads exceeding 3 GPM, keep the swing joint no longer than 18 inches.
