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Lawn sprinkler system?

by Lycanthrope , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 05/17/2011 09:39 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lycanthrope

Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
New house, going to attempt to install my own sprinkler system. Got a design from Rainbird and they seem to have gone overboard with the amount of heads/zones I need. Anyone else ever do their own system? Any suggestions, do's or dont's? Thanks!
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by dschaible on 05/17/2011 09:55 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
dschaible
Joined: 04/03/2009
Location: ND
Large sprinklers every 30 ft. The stationary popup sprinklers should be the same distance apart as the distance they are spraying.  Make sure the sprinklers overlap eachother.

1.5 gpm sprinklers on 90 degree corners and 3 gpm on 180+ degrees.

use the correct number of sprinler heads per zone. If you have 12 gpm you would be able to use 4 90 degree and 2 180+ degree spinklers anything more than that and you would have to put in a new zone.

You can put quite a few popup sprinklers on one zone.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Tim Sandstrom on 05/17/2011 09:55 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
I use to do it when in high school but we always used Toro.  I wouldn't feel comfortable about offering advice on design without polishing up.  I wouldn't be afraid of proper zones though.  Helps with the water pressure and proper sprinkler operation.




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 | jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by ndwalleyes on 05/17/2011 09:58 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ndwalleyes
Joined: 07/10/2010
Location: ND

I did my own last summer and installed them in GF for 3-4 years during high school.

It's a piece of cake. I would suggest using one large valve box, just make sure your zone pipes come into the box at good locations. Think about your valve layout ahead of time. Don't forget to run your control wires when you have things dug up!

Heads should throw "head-to-head". Most companies over do it on the number of heads...just use common sense.  If you can keep it to 7-8 pop-up heads and 5 or so gear driven head per zone you should  be fine unless you are throwing big water. Every city has different water pressure so you may need to adjust accordingly.

I'm bias towards Toro systems because that's what I worked with, I think the quality is higher so compare prices. I ordered all my stuff from sprinkerwarehouse.com and they were fast.

Check with the City, but I'm sure you will need a vacuum breaker or other back-flow device. If you can work with Pex and copper you can do pretty easy....just think your placement through before you start drilling holes in your house.

PM me if you have questions.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by walynut on 05/17/2011 10:01 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
walynut
Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND
I thought the same when I did mine down in florida. I was wrong, they were right. Follow what they give you it will save you some headache later. Areas watered to much other areas not watered enough ect. You can not go by what they advertise on the individual heads for coverage. That is what I did and it was a foul. Also follow what they have labeled as to what head gets water 1st, 2nd, 3rd ect. Some heads take more pressure to operate like an oscilating head vs one that just pops up and mists. Lastly, but what you should check FIRST is your water pressure that you are going to be running off of, to low and you may have to neck down your piping as you get further away from the source to raise the pressure.

Have fun it is well worth it when it is done, thinking about putting in another one this year.

Oh yeah, at the end of the run bring the pipe back up to ground level so you can blow the line out for the winter.
 

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by dschaible on 05/17/2011 10:02 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
dschaible
Joined: 04/03/2009
Location: ND
Backflow preventers are required by code, you will also want a drain on the inside and outsite of your house to winterize your system.

Place all your valves in one spot if possible.  Its annoying troubleshooting problem valves that are hidden all over a yard.

Make sure you One Call!!
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by walynut on 05/17/2011 10:23 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
walynut
Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND
dschaible Said:
Place all your valves in one spot if possible.  Its annoying troubleshooting problem valves that are hidden all over a yard.
VERY good point, been there done that, not fun!
 

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Lycanthrope on 05/17/2011 11:53 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lycanthrope
Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
My water pressure is 57psi and my flow is 30gpm. Its a new house and they already have a 1" pipe going outside with a shutoff valve right inside the house. For pop-up heads, do I need to use a pressure regulator, I was reading that you should have closer to 30psi than 60 for those. I have NO grass right now, should I rent a trencher or is there a better way to run the lines? Someone I work with suggested using a 'pipe puller'. This rainbird plan has 9 zones, 7 for lawn and 2 drip zones for garden stuff. Yard is 120' x 150'. Also they recommended using 1.25 inch poly pipe and then using reducers to attach the risers which seems strange because my service line is only 1".
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Tim Sandstrom on 05/17/2011 11:56 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
A pipe puller will save you a lot of hassle even without  grass.

Do you have to bore any sidewalks or other structures?




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 | jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Lycanthrope on 05/17/2011 12:15 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lycanthrope
Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
The zones they laid out need that, but I was thinking about using popups to spray over the sidewalk to save some time and cut down on heads. I dont CARE too much about the blvd anyway, its not going to get a lot of water. I have a corner lot so doing the blvd the way they suggest will take 30 heads and 3 zones!
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Blue Plater on 05/17/2011 1:12 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Blue Plater
Joined: 08/09/2008
Location: MN
I think the puller is a better option as well. The trencher I used removed too much dirt and was rather a pain in the butt. I rented a "harley bar" to landscape my yard before I dug my trenches. By the time I dug the trenches I had a mess. The problem for me was my house was in a development and was the builder's last lot to build on. Every foundation in the development had the cement trucks cleaning out their trucks on my lot. That really made it fun!

I haven't heard about using less pressure with the popups. I didn't and they work fine. I think that it is important to not mix types (gear driven and popups) on the same zone.

The distance the water is thrown is obvoiusly dependent on the pressure. Keeping that in mind you want to keep the supply lines large enough so that you don't have too much pressure drop @ a given flow rate. And the more heads you put on a zone the more pressure drop you are going to have. So I would suggest keeping the supply line 1" going to your valve bank and running the 1" lines out to the zones with gear driven valves and running 3/4" lines to the zones with popup valves.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Tim Sandstrom on 05/17/2011 1:32 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
Lycan,

You going to have help?  I don't know if things have changed with the pullers but when I was in the business they required two people.  One to run the machine and one to handle the pipe coil and make sure you didn't kink it as it entered the ground.  Kinks are not good!!!  The coil man will have a tough job...it takes a little practice especially if the puller operator doesn't keep the machine at a consistent speed.




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 | jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Lycanthrope on 05/17/2011 2:21 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lycanthrope
Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
I can get some help if I need it, how deep do you lay the lines? Do you put drains on each head, or only at the lowest points in the line?
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by dschaible on 05/17/2011 2:24 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
dschaible
Joined: 04/03/2009
Location: ND
Puller is definitly the way to go, you will save lots of time.

you should easily be able to run 10 rotating sprinklers per zone.

your whole system should probably be 4 zones. 3 for the rotating sprinklers and 1 for the popups.

Stick with 1 inch poly throughout the system.  Since you are already limited by the 1 inch that is stubbed out you will not gain anything by making it 1.25.  unless the one inch valves are unable to handle that much pressure you will be fine.

I would recommend double checking the GPM, 30 seems really high.  Around minot the residential areas are around 12 gpm.  I dont think the 1 inch is rated for much more than 12-15 gpm, that why i find 30 gpm to be alot out of a 1 inch pipe.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by fire angel on 05/17/2011 2:26 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
fire angel
Joined: 07/15/2003
Location: ND
 Have you checked out the price to have it done professionally? I know when one of my neighbors had his installed it was only about $500 difference. By the time you rent the equipment and buy your friends beer there isn't much savings. I would rather use the weekend that it takes to go fishing.

www.gregoryericksonart.com
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by dschaible on 05/17/2011 2:32 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
dschaible
Joined: 04/03/2009
Location: ND
Sprinkler companies charge a huge markup on alot of their parts, thats where they make alot of their money.

If you can find some wholesale parts you will save alot of money.

The company i used to work for purchased rotar sprinkler heads for 8 bucks and charged the customer 25 a pop.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Lycanthrope on 05/17/2011 2:46 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lycanthrope
Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
Well my builder was cheap and used small pipe going to my outside faucets so I get about 5gpm from them when measuring with a 5gal pail. What I did was open the valve that was put in for the sprinkler system and timed how long it took to let out 3 cubic feet of water according to my water meter and converted that to Gpm and I got 27 I think. I used an online conversion site to figure it. I should check my math though.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Tim Sandstrom on 05/17/2011 3:05 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
Lycanthrope Said:
I can get some help if I need it, how deep do you lay the lines? Do you put drains on each head, or only at the lowest points in the line?
Again, I did this for cash in high school and college.  So what I say might not be legit.

Anyway, we never put drains in the line at least from what I recall.  Our depth for the line was probably no more than 8 to 10 inches but I suppose at times we'd be forced deeper.  And sometimes shallower but that was not liked too much.  Although, I don't know what sized sprinklers are being used now a days, etc.  As you pull the machine to a shallower depth at desired location shovel work comes into play so the actual sprinkler head varies on depth.  And how motivated the person running the shovel is!

To me, the biggest thing was proper compaction when placing the head and also ensuring proper fitting from pipe to connection.  In college I did more of the service calls because I had done it for awhile and could be trusted to troubleshoot and repair.  That's where the money was made!

Anyway, where I am not strong in is the whole setup of the system.  Didn't do much of the gpm and zoning.  I imagine I could pick it all back up quickly once I got my hands dirty.  Might be doing that sooner than I think.  Have a family friend in town that does this work for a living.  Think I am going to have to hit him up for components at cost and equipment for free.  Of course, as long as I help do it and do most of it myself.  The initial equipment, design, etc is what is most necessary anyway.

I will offer him help on any other jobs if he declines my kind offer.  Ha ha! 




 
Kirsch's Outdoor Products | Fargo, ND | 701-261-9017 | koutdoorproducts.com
Risovi Taxidermy Studio | New Rockford, ND | 701-947-2048 | risovitaxidermystudio.com
Jig-em-Up Guide Service | Grand Forks, ND | 701-739-9198 | jig-em-up-guide-service.com

 
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Grizzly Bear on 05/17/2011 3:18 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Grizzly Bear
Joined: 03/11/2006
Location: ND
Not sure how well they work, but Menards carries a Rainbird brand GPM Gauge for about $5.00...
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by mman on 05/17/2011 3:22 PM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
mman
Joined: 05/17/2011
Location: OR
For a sprinkler system you might want to check out lawnbelt.  I have had one intalled (have had it for about 5 years) and love it.  It’s a trenchless sprinkler system and installs right under sod line. If you aerate you can install it 4-5 inches with an added PVC extension at each head.

You can also install the sprinkler system it using a edging tool which I think will rent for about $50 day. Lawnbelt costs me about $400 for a medium size from yard.
Re: Lawn sprinkler system?
by Maxum on 05/17/2011 11:44 PM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Maxum
Joined: 04/11/2011
Location: ND
I did my own system and also didnt save that much money doing it myself. Especially if you have to pay retail price for heads, valves, pipe, controller, hose clamps and pipe connectors. Also renting the machine and spending many days installing and adjusting heads so they water properly. I also made countless trips to the store for supplies.  Some companies come in with 10 guys and do it in one day and it is done. If it doesnt work properly you call them to come and fix it while you are fishing. I think i saved $500 and wasnt worth it imo.
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Posted By: Lycanthrope
Posted On: 05/17/2011 09:39 AM
1281 Views, 29 Comments

Tags: system, sprinkler, lawn, own, rainbird, new, anyone, need, heads, going
More Tags: Technology_Internet
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Outdoor Sports
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