One of the best ways to water your lawn effortlessly on a fixed schedule is by installing sprinkler systems. These days, you can even get the advanced sprinkler systems that water your lawn automatically based on the timer - But even if you do not get an automatic sprinkler system, it is still better than manually watering your lawn with a hose.
One problem which prevents a lot of homeowners from getting a sprinkler system installed is the high water bill. But if you use an alternate water supply, such as an irrigation well, you can not only save money on your water bills but also save valuable time by letting the sprinkler system do its job (watering the lawn)...
If you plan to use irrigation well as a water source for your sprinkler system, then you need to check a few things first:
Water Pressure
The municipal water system and irrigation well work a little differently. When we talk about irrigation well, it needs to pull up the water from the ground using a pumping mechanism. The use of a pump is very important to maintain the pressure in the irrigation well. On the other hand, the water from the municipal system usually maintains constant pressure.
That's why the water pressure of the irrigation well depends on the power and the size of the pump being used. Another thing to remember is that the sprinkler systems also come with their own pump - This ensures that the pressure remains constant and doesn't drop while the sprinklers are running.
Backflow Prevention
Another important part that is present in most sprinkler systems is the backflow prevention device. When designing and installing any sprinkler system, do not forget about the backflow prevention, as it prevents dirt, dust, and any other unwanted material from entering the water storage tank and the sprinkler pipes.
Besides contaminating and clogging the pipes, the dirt, dust, and other contaminants can also cause water contamination which can cause waterborne diseases.
In short, backflow prevention is very important for any type of sprinkler system and shouldn't be skipped.
Variable Flow Rate
What's the flow rate of water provided by the well? That's also an important metric that should be considered when planning a sprinkler system.
In the majority of the cases, irrigation wells also come with a tank from which the water is drawn when required. This means that the flow rate of the well as well as the flow rate of the tank will be different. Since the sprinkler systems are known for using a lot of water, there is a possibility that the tank becomes empty, which can cause the flow rate to drop - If the system continues to draw water even after the tank is empty, it can cause air to get into the pump which results in breakdown and overheating.
So when you are planning a sprinkler system, check the variable flow rate of both the well as well as the tank and then choose a design that meets the water pressure and flow rate of the well.
How to Install a Sprinkler System From a Well
Now that we understand the basic concepts such as the variable flow rate, water pressure, and the importance of backflow devices, now let's move on and see how one can easily install a sprinkler system using irrigation well as a water source:
1. Collect Water Supply Information
The first step is collecting important information about the water supply, such as:
- Water Pressure (PSI)
- Well Pump Size
- Flow Rate (gallons/minute)
2. Draw Property Diagram
The second step is to draw a rough diagram of your home, including all the important information such as flower beds, shrubs, and trees. You do not have to be an architect or a professional designer to draw the diagram of your property - Just draw a basic outline of your property so that you can properly plan everything.
Once the property diagram has been drawn, mark the location where the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads will be placed. The location of the sprinkler heads must be evenly spaced to ensure adequate coverage of the lawn.
3. Purchase Supplies
Once you have drawn a rough irrigation map and have found out the water system's specification, the next part is to get the required components for the sprinkler system. If you are not sure what type and size of components you need, then you can also get help from the nearby hardware store that sells these items.
Any sprinkler system usually contains the following parts:
- Automatic Timer - Using this device, one can set specific times at which the sprinkler system will automatically start to water the lawn/garden.
- Control Valves - A control valve is a device that controls the flow rate, pressure of water as well as various other variables.
- PVC Pipes - These pipes are made from PVC, which makes them safe from corrosion, and on top of that, they are affordable as well. To transport the water from the well to the sprinkler heads, these PVC pipes are used.
- Risers - Set of pipes that are used to support or connect irrigation equipment with the irrigation system.
- Sprinkler Heads - This device discharges the water and thus waters the lawn when required.
4. Place String & Flags
Based on the diagram you had drawn in step#2, start placing flags/stakes at the exact location where you plan to install the sprinklers. Using a string, connect these flags/stakes, which will tell us where to lay the PVC pipes.
This will allow you to get a rough idea of where the pipes, sprinklers, and everything will be placed.
5. Start Digging
In step#4, we used strings to get an idea of where the PVC pipes will be placed. Follow the strings and start digging a trench where the pipes will be placed. Generally, the trench should be 4 inches wide and around 8-10 inches deep. The size of your sprinkler system and the length of the pipes will determine how much you have to dig - That's why if you have to do a lot of digging, it is best to get a buddy or a helper with you.
6. Make Connections
Now place the pipes in the trench and use an adhesive or a primer to connect the ends of the pipe. Place tea connections at the location where you plan to place the sprinklers.
7. Connect Water Supply
Once the pipes have been placed and connections have been made, now it is time to connect to a water source which will be an irrigation well in our case. Connect the control valve to the faucet of the irrigation well - The sprinkler pipes (PVC) will also be connected to the control valve.
8. Install the Risers
We had placed tea connections at the location where the sprinklers will be placed - Now, it is time to install risers in those tea connections along the PVC pipe.
9. Remove Dirt/Debris
Before we move on to installing the sprinkler heads, we need to properly flush the system to remove any dirt or debris that might be present in the places. Simply turn on the water supply, and any debris/dirt present in the system will be flushed out.
10. Install Sprinkler Heads & Automatic Timer
Now install the sprinkler heads on each riser and ensure that they are properly placed - They must point in the right direction, and their level above the soil must be just enough to ensure a smooth function.
It is important to ensure that the sprinkler head is pointing in the right direction - Otherwise, the sprinkler system will start sprinkling water in the wrong direction and will lose its main purpose of watering the plants, trees, and grass.
The next step is to install an automatic timer - You can use a waterproof pipe and wire it to the control valve. As mentioned earlier, the automatic timer can be used to schedule time as well as different watering zones to automate the entire process of watering your lawn/garden.
11. It is Testing Time!
Now all that's left is to test the system to ensure that there are no leaks and everything is working as intended. Once you are 100% sure that there is no leakage and everything is working perfectly, you can cover the PVC pipes to finish this process.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to install a DIY sprinkler system?
- How many sprinkler heads do I need?
It depends on the size of your lawn/garden as well as the water pressure of your irrigation well.
- How long does it take to install a sprinkler system?
- Using this device, one can set specific times at which the sprinkler system will automatically start to water the lawn/garden.
- Control Valves - A control valve is a device that controls the flow rate, pressure of water as well as various other variables.
- PVC Pipes - These pipes are made from PVC, which makes them safe from corrosion, and on top of that, they are affordable as well. To transport the water from the well to the sprinkler heads, these PVC pipes are used.
- Risers - Set of pipes that are used to support or connect irrigation equipment with the irrigation system.
- Sprinkler Heads - This device discharges the water and thus waters the lawn when required.