Water is an essential part of life, and if you want your plants and landscape to survive, it is vital to use the proper amount of water at the right time. One way to do this is with an irrigation system. Irrigation systems come in a variety of styles, but all are aimed at helping you save water.
Surface Irrigation:
This method involves reshaping the land to direct water directly to areas of need, such as gardens or crops. It is efficient, but labor-intensive and only works in areas with sufficient rainfall.
Manual Irrigation:
This involves a series of pipes or hoses that send water over the tops of the land to target specific areas. It is less expensive than other methods of watering, but it is also less efficient because a lot of the water evaporates.
Sprinkler Irrigation:
A common type of landscape irrigation is a system of sprinklers that emit water from above-ground or underground piping. These are triggered by a timer that automatically turns on and off at predetermined times.
The advantage of a sprinkler system is that it can be programmed to deliver exactly the amount of water needed by individual areas of your yard. However, this means you need to know how to design a sprinkler system properly.
Choosing the right type of wire for your system is important. Wires should be 18 gauge or smaller in size and be able to handle a minimum water pressure of 100 pounds per square inch.
You will also need to choose a waterproof connector for your wires. These are filled with a silicone substance that will prevent any potential water damage to the wiring.
Once you have your wiring all in place, it is now time to install the sprinkler heads. If you are doing this yourself, be sure to read the instructions that came with the heads and follow them closely.
If you are doing the work for a professional, be sure to check with them for their recommendations. They will be more likely to recommend a higher quality sprinkler head and they should have the ability to program the system for you.
Before you begin installing the sprinkler heads, be sure to evaluate your sprinklers for dry spots, leaks and other issues. Typical problems include poor coverage, a plugged nozzle, a faulty rotor or a south-facing exposure or windy area.
Wet Spots:
If there are wet spots on your property, they may indicate a problem with the valve. It could be a worn diaphragm or sealed solenoid valve that is leaking to the heads when it shuts off.
In the case of a leaking valve, you will need to replace it with an appropriate replacement or your sprinklers will not function.
Then, you will need to connect the wires for your controller. This is the point where a lot of confusion can arise.
You will need to determine the number of solenoid valves you have in your system and then determine how many wires are necessary. Most controllers require a certain number of solenoid valves in order to function correctly, so be sure to add this into your calculations before purchasing the required wiring. You will need at least a single wire for each solenoid valve you have and one common wire to run the whole circuit.