What is an Irrigation System and What are the Benefits?
An irrigation system is a sprinkler system for your home that is underground. It gives you, as a homeowner, much more control over when your lawn is watered and how much. The underground system of pipes is buried 8-12 inches deep. There will be sprinkler heads that are placed around the lawn in strategic locations to optimize your watering effectiveness and efficiency.
The sprinkler heads, valves and pipes work together on a pressure system. When the valve activates it allows the water to pass through the pipe for a particular area and pushes the sprinkler heads above the ground while they spray water, and when the valve closes the water stops, the heads retract below again. If you’re using them in a garden, these sprinkler heads can be installed with a portion of the sprinkler head above ground to avoid foliage blockages.
You will be able to control the valves and when they come on through an irrigation controller. It tells the valves when it’s time to open and close. An additional product that is also a great investment is a rain sensor. A rain sensor notifies the controller that the lawn doesn’t need to be watered due to rainfall. Depending on the model your rain sensor, you can have it delay irrigation watering up to 48 hours after a rainfall event.
Some of the benefits of these systems are that they are convenient, and they can save you money in several ways. If you travel a lot or are away from home, having this system installed can have excellent benefits as you do not need to worry about whether your landscape is going to be watered or not.
An irrigation system can save you money and help with water conservation. When you water your lawn with a hose or an oscillator, it can be a massive waste of water if not monitored, timed and adjusted correctly. If you overwater or underwater you can kill your grass or plants, which will cost time and money to replace. A properly designed and installed irrigation system can target specific areas, allow you to choose the required amount of water needed, and reduce your water bill costs.
The Components
Backflow Preventer
In most water systems, water flows in only one direction. Sometimes, water can switch directions, creating a backflow. There are many reasons why it’s essential to avoid this, including contaminated water flowing back into the city water supply. Having a backflow preventer is crucial to your irrigation system. A testable Backflow device is now a mandatory requirement for all irrigation systems
Zone Valves
The zone valves turn on each section of your irrigation system known as zones. Typically, only one zone can run at a time, your controller will turn on each zone valve on for a set period of time until that area has adequate water. The zone valves are fed by the pressure line and hold back the water from the pressure line until the controller activates the valve. When this valve is activated, it allows water into the zone line and the sprinklers or drip will run.
Drip Line
The Drip Line is the most effective and water-efficient way to water your garden beds. Drip Line is laid out rowed 12-18” apart until your garden is completely covered, the drip will have emitters spaced 12”-18” apart to give your garden a grid style of watering. Laid under the mulch, the drip effectively waters the roots of your vegetation and has very little evaporation, wind, and wastewater loss.
Valves and Valve Box
The sprinkler valve box will be where your wire splices, manifold and valves are located. The valve box can either be installed flush in the grass or under the mulch in a garden. This is an integral part of the system. If you bury it under mulch, it is imperative to know where it’s located, we always suggest a good record drawing needs to be created after your system is installed.
Fixed Spray Head
These sprinklers are used typically for gardens or small lawn areas. They can spray from 5-18ft and come in different heights. 2”,4”, 6” and 12”. These heads spray a set arc pattern.
Master Valve
The master valve is a vital valve during damage or water loss. It’s an electric valve that is located at the main water supply. It reduces water loss if there is a leaky valve or a leak in your pressure line. The master valve can help prevent turning off the main water supply if there is a repair needed.
Rotor Head
Used for large lawn areas, these sprinklers have a single spray that can reach 30-50ft. These heads rotate to cover their arc pattern.
Maintenance
Like most good things in life, an irrigation system will require some maintenance over its lifespan. Preventative maintenance will help you avoid disaster and expensive repairs. By doing this, you are keeping up on little things here and there, which allows it to run its best.
Cleaning your sprinkler heads regularly will help them work properly. Dirt and grass will get stuck in them as they protrude and retract into the ground, and you should give them a good clean every month. If they get stuck in their upright position, it can be troublesome. They can become damaged by people walking on the lawn, extra dirt and debris getting stuck, or even destroyed by the lawnmower if you don’t notice them.
If you live in a place where winter gets cold with frost, you will need to winterize your irrigation system. This can be a challenging job, but it’s best to do it before freezing temperatures to prevent a pipe or your backflow from freezing and bursts, which will be an expensive fix in the spring. Water that is sitting in the pipes should be blown out before freezing temperatures hit. If you’re not able to do this on your own, consult a professional to help you out.
Cost of Installation
Hiring a professional to install your new irrigation system is beneficial to get the job done right the first time and can save you time and money compared to doing it yourself. The cost will depend on the size of your lawn, how complex you want the system to be, and the cost of the components you want.
Being a homeowner comes with many chores and responsibilities. Some of them are easier to remember than others, and some you likely enjoy more than others. Taking care of your lawn is essential, and it can be a big task to take care of on your own. When you invest in the cost of an irrigation system installation for your property, you’re also investing in your home, and you’re saving time and money. So, how much does an irrigation system cost? Well, some determining factors will help answer that question.
3 of the biggest factors that impact the cost of an irrigation system
1. How does property shape and size impact the cost of an irrigation system?
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The main factor in determining lawn sprinkler system costs will include the size and shape of your property. The more lawn you have, the more materials will be needed to ensure your entire yard is reached when watering. If your property has an irregular shape, that can increase the cost as well. Another factor is the quality of your soil and whether or not your property is on an incline. If you have finer, sandy soil, it can be easier for the installers to dig through the ground than if you have rockier soil. Rocky soil can cause damage to the tools used to install the system. The technicians will have to do a lot of work by hand to ensure its appropriately installed and will work the way it’s supposed to. If you have many trees in your yard, their roots can also cause more difficulty in the installation process. If your property is on a slope or incline, this can alter the entire design of the system as it will have different requirements to prevent flooding or water pooling. It’s important to have a professional inspect your lawn before providing you with a quote for the cost of an irrigation system.
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2. What is the water source and is the water pressure high or low?
Your water source size can affect how much an irrigation system costs. A standard residential house typically has a ¾” water supply. If the house is in an older area or the water supply is inaccessible (finished basement) then the system water supply may be ½”. When you go to a smaller water supply, you have less available water (gallons per minute) to supply the system with. When we have less water available, the irrigation system will require more zones to ensure the system works properly. There are options to increase your gallons per minute if you have only a ½” water supply. Booster Pumps can be installed inline to increase the amount of water available to the irrigation system, but it comes at an additional cost.
If you have low water pressure at your home, you may need to have a few more zones installed along with low pressure operating heads to ensure the system works effectively and efficiently.
3. Where is the irrigation system being installed: in new or existing landscaping?
Having your sprinkler system installed with a new landscape is ideal for both your Landscape Contractor and your Irrigation Contractor as it will reduce some labor costs. If you have a brand-new home that hasn’t been landscaped yet, this is the best time to hire a company to do your irrigation installation because it will be less labor-intensive and take less time. While a fully landscaped yard can still be done beautifully, it poses more challenges during installation and is often more expensive.
Why should you consider installing an irrigation system?
An irrigation system is an investment in your property, but the advantages are clear and important for homeowners to consider. A properly installed lawn sprinkler system can increase the property value and curb appeal of your home. If you decide to sell in the future, having a quality system already installed can be a huge selling point for homebuyers.
Having an irrigation system helps you take care of your lawn effortlessly. With many new systems, they have built-in timers, so you can water your yard without having to do it manually or even think twice about it. You can also help reduce your environmental impact by using a smaller amount of water on your lawn. The upfront cost of an irrigation system ultimately ends up saving you time and money.
