Choosing the Right Sprinkler System: Manual vs. Automatic and Essential Components for Efficient Irrigation

There are two types of sprinkler systems:

Manually Operated: Refers to a sprinkler system that must be turned on by hand. Most commonly, this will require turning a ball valve to the “on” position. We locate manual ball valves next to concrete surfaces such as the driveway, a walkway, or a patio.

 

Automatically Operated: Refers to a sprinkler system that can be operated by a controller or clock. The controller turns on low voltage electric valves located in round valve boxes in your yard. We typically install controllers on a conveniently located wall inside of a garage or a storage room that has a 120-volt outlet. A controller is used to program water cycles. We can adjust the length of time zones the sprinkler will run, the days to operate, and the start time of the operation. Refer to your owner’s manual about specific information on how to program your controller.

 

Critical Landscape Maintenance Guidelines

All plants and lawns require maintenance

 

• Sprinkler System

• Seasonal Watering

• Trees & Tree Care

• Seasonal Color

• Establishment Watering Program

• Lawn Maintenance Program

• Sprinkler System Data Sheet

 

Nature's Irrigation System at Work…

 

 

Sprinkler System Components

Sprinkler Heads: There are many types of sprinkler heads manufactured by many different companies. However, most can be classified into three categories:

 

Turf type heads - Used to cover large areas such as lawns. Spacing ranges 25’ to 45’ apart. Runtimes are from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

 

Spray type heads - Cover small areas of the landscape such as shrub beds or narrow lawn spaces adjacent to homes or property lines. Runtimes are 10 minutes to 20 minutes.

 

Drip type components - Deliver water directly to the root zone of plants, slowly, one drop at a time. Run times are from 1 hour to 4 hours.

 

Valves: Valves require very little maintenance but are a vital part of your system. They are placed at the water’s point of entry into each zone, allowing isolation if a problem ever develops. Ball valves are used on manually operated sprinkler systems. Low voltage, globe-type, electric valves are used on automatic systems.

 

Backflow: A dual-check backflow prevention device is installed on the system’s main line near the water meter. This device prevents contaminants such as fertilizer or pesticides from entering the city or county water system through your sprinkler system. It is a required component according to state and local building codes. It is located in a valve box for inspection by officials and service technicians. It requires no maintenance.

 

Main Line Shutoff Valve: This is a manually operated ball valve or gate valve that can turn off water to the entire sprinkler system. It is used during extreme cold weather, below 20°F. It is also used to allow the system to be shut off without affecting water availability to the home. It is placed in a valve box near the water meter.

 

Rain Sensor: This component is installed on automatic sprinkler systems. It detects moisture and automatically turns a sprinkler system off during rainfall. Your sprinkler or controller will be turned back on when the sensor dries out. It is adjustable to measure from 1/8” to 1” of rainfall. We suggest a setting of 1/2” on the rain sensor.