What to Consider When Installing a Sprinkler System and Looking for a Good Sprinkler Installers

A sprinkler system can be an efficient, effective way to provide the right amount of nourishment your lawn and garden need to thrive. Design, installation, and maintenance are important aspects of ensuring your system works effectively and achieves your landscape goals. A professional sprinkler installer is trained to ensure this happens, and selecting a good one is key to the success of your sprinkler system. Here are a few tips to help you find a qualified, professional sprinkler installer.

First, it’s good to know a little bit about a sprinkler system and how it works. This will enable you to communicate what you want and understand the installer’s role in setting up and maintaining your system.

A sprinkler system provides the right amount of water in a controlled and efficient manner. In order to do this, make sure you have a plan in mind. Design your garden or landscape and have a concrete plan of what it’s going to look like. This way you know where and how much water your landscape will need.

Discuss your plan with the sprinkler installer, so he or she has an idea of your landscape goals. Also, be sure and determine who is responsible for checking on any city permits and utility clearances you may require. For example, the gas company may need to mark gas lines, and it’s important to know where the gas lines are before you ever start to dig.

Second, know the importance of water pressure and flow rate of your system. Pressure and flow will dictate how the system is set up and what components will be required to make your system work. A lot of times, residential water pressure isn’t great enough to support certain sprinkler systems. A good installer will be able to determine pressure and flow, and whether or not you need to install a pump or other device to create the right amount of pressure and flow.

Also keep in mind sprinkler head placement, direction, and coverage. You don’t want to place a sprinkler heads incorrectly and end up watering the side of your house, instead of the landscape underneath. Similarly, understand the role of circuits in a sprinkler system. Many systems are electric and, once in use, are operated using an electrical keypad. Discuss circuitry with the installer as both an operational and safety issue.

Installation includes designing the system based on your needs. The installer will create a manifold to house control valves, dig the trenches and lay the pipe, place the system components – like the sprinkler heads – and make the connections. Be sure your installer tests the system before filling in the trenches and completing the job.

Now that you have an idea of the installation process, consider these pointers on how to choose a sprinkler installer to meet your needs. First, a good installer is willing to discuss with you the details and answer any questions you might have.

Second, sprinkler installers should meet a set of qualifications in order to be bona fide, legitimate installers. Depending on where you live, many installers are required to go through extensive training and apprenticeships in order to be qualified.

Check your installer’s credentials and make sure they measure up to area standards. Also, before you hire on the installer, have them fully disclose warranty and upkeep information in writing. The last thing you want is a problem down the road that the installer won’t come out to fix!

Maintenance and repair are just as important as the initial installation in ensuring your system works effectively.

Sprinkler systems are great elements of a beautiful landscape. Now that you know how to find a professional installer, you are one step closer to the amazing lawn you’ve always imagined.

For more information on installing sprinklers, please read these articles:

Book review - how to build your own automatic sprinkler system.

List - of automatic sprinkler components.