The landscape sprinkler system is one of the most important parts of a home’s exterior. It helps to regulate the watering needs and creates beautiful showy effects. However, if it is not installed correctly or maintained over the years, it can lead to costly problems and disastrous consequences. Here are some different ways to upgrade your landscape sprinkler system to make it work better for you and your home!
A landscape sprinkler is a versatile device that can be used in many ways around the house. A typical setup involves connecting a garden hose or pipe with water pressure from an outdoor tap to an irrigation system that distributes water over one or more landscape zones.
Landscape sprinklers come in one to six-channel, with four to six zones each. The number of channels of water flow determines the size of the sprinkler. A three-zone landscape sprinkler can cover a large area, while a six-channel system can cover a smaller area with even coverage.
Most landscape sprinklers have plastic “pipes” that need to be buried for safety reasons. These pipes are not made to withstand freezing temperatures or strong winds; thus, they must be replaced every couple of years. Plastic pipes also do not last long in sandy or hard soils, so there is an immense need to upgrade your landscape Sprinkler System.
Modern Sprinkler System
Modern sprinkler system is more efficient, cost-effective, and technologically advanced than their predecessors. They are used on streets to mitigate the effects of water runoff and control water distribution in residential areas. In commercial settings, these systems have been installed for rain festivals or whenever a high volume of rainfall is anticipated. These systems also feature a large variety of integrated sensors that continuously monitor and adjust the irrigation system’s performance according to user needs.
The total amount of water that a modern sprinkler system can supply is determined by the number of heads in use and the size of the pipe running from the water source to the sprinklers. A typical landscape sprinkler system has a pressure regulator at the water source, which protects against over-pressurization. The heads are connected with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe: copper piping is not recommended, as it becomes electrically charged during lightning storms and may cause fires or other damage.
Modern sprinklers may be made of plastic or a combination of plastic and metal parts. Plastic parts are used on lower-head systems (25–75 ft). Metal parts are used for sprinklers with higher-head heights (200–400 ft). Sprinklers with plastic heads and metal stems are found in large commercial buildings and malls. Sprinklers with plastic heads and polyethylene (plastic) stems are used on smaller residential streets and yards. Polyethylene pipes may be prone to freezing in extremely cold weather, but this is rarely a problem due to the thermal insulative properties of polyethylene itself, especially when combined with a heat-reflective cover such as copper or aluminum.
Landscape sprinkler pipe is usually plastic but may be made of steel or aluminum during particularly severe weather. Both plastic and metal pipe are covered by a heat-reflective back cap that shelters the sprinkler stem. PVC sprinkler stems are not allowed in apartment buildings due to corrosion concerns.
Most landscape sprinkler heads are mounted on a bracket, which can be adjusted to several angles to adjust the spray pattern on lawns. Many commercial series heads feature patented design features for special applications such as pre-spray or “quick release,” or for gardening applications or other non-irrigation purposes.
The sprinkler’s ability to reach greater heights with fewer heads is important because if the water supply is greater than the water demand in an area, then water will overflow from the supply pipe into an adjacent street or another yard.
Modernizing Lawn Sprinkler Systems
You can enjoy the benefits of having a beautiful lawn year-round without the hassle of manually watering it. By automating your sprinkler system with an automatic timer, you can spend more time on other projects and let your yard take care of itself. This article will focus on the equipment needed to modernize your lawn sprinkler system and some new technologies that are available today.
A modernized landscape sprinkler system can help you save water, time, money, and labor by using advanced technology such as automated timers to make watering possible 24/7 without worrying about forgetting or running out of water.
Outdoor water gardens also improve the look of your yard by giving it a more cohesive aesthetic. Using advanced technology like an automatic timer, you can water your garden when you want to and turn the sprinkler system off when you’re finished or inside.
You will need to purchase several different parts to set up an automated sprinkler system before you can use it. You can purchase these parts at a local hardware store, home improvement store, or online. Below is a list of parts every automated sprinkler system needs:
Solenoid valve
Small metal valves that hang out from the bottom of each zone. You must have one for each zone. You can purchase these online or at a local hardware store.
Controller
Controls how many zones are on by using rain sensors and water recirculation technology. You can purchase these online or at a local hardware store.
Rain Sensor
These small devices learn how much rain you get per hour in your area and adjust the amount of water it uses accordingly. You can purchase them online or at a local hardware store.
Bundled Pump
Pumps up to 2,000 gallons of water per hour and gives you the option to choose between an electric pump or a low voltage pump (usually installed as part of your vinyl siding). You can purchase these online or at a local hardware store.
You will also need to purchase tools such as a hose, connectors, drill, and screwdrivers for installation.
Once you have purchased all your needed parts, it’s time to install it! You will want to find the main water line from the water meter and run your first solenoid valve. Your next step is to run another line from the opposite side of the yard and attach another solenoid valve to that line. Connecting these two lines will allow you to control which zone gets water through an automatic timer while all other zones are off.
New Equipment
It is crucial to comprehend and use new technology to update and modernize our lawn sprinkler systems and save water.
To modernize lawn sprinkler systems, you need modern equipment such as:
- Spray nozzles
- Weather-based rain and moisture sensors
- Sprinkler heads
- “Smart” Controllers
All these new technologies ensure that you can distribute water to your landscape more effectively, much like there are improved water-conserving toilets and showerheads.
Using High-Efficiency Nozzles is an easy method to cut back on water usage. Improved homogeneity, which in turn decreases the total amount of water used in an area, may be achieved with multi-stream rotary nozzles. Modern fixed spray nozzles can increase the Distribution Uniformity (DU) compared to previous conventional nozzles.
Flow sensors are an effective instrument for gathering information about irrigation system flow rates and water use. In combination with a master valve and a suitable controller, they may also detect anomalous flows and shut down the system while perhaps sounding warnings and notifications. This is an efficient method for preventing significant water loss brought on by a pipe break or a damaged head that keeps running during an irrigation cycle.
While updating your lawn sprinkler systems “Smart” Controller is an excellent method to help you conserve water by using daily weather trends to change run times or watering days. Some “Smart” Controllers employ local sensors or historical data, while others need annual subscriptions. These can lower water usage throughout the season if correctly designed and maintained on lawn sprinkler systems that are otherwise capable of working effectively.
The “Smart” Controller capability is enhanced by web-based control, which enables the water management to access the controller remotely from any mobile device to check to program, make any modifications, review any problems, or alerts the controller may have created. In the case of a leak, it may also send alerts from the flow sensor.
Smart Irrigation Technology
Consumers can profit from adopting a wide range of smart irrigation technologies. To potentially save water, the right technology must be chosen to benefit from this modern sprinkler system.
Irrigation controllers can be categorized into two classes: climate-based and soil moisture-based.
Climate-Based Controller
Evapotranspiration (ET) controllers, often known as climate-based controllers, use local meteorological information to modify irrigation schedules. These climate-based controllers collect information about the local weather and modify the irrigation run-time so that the landscape receives only the right water.
Soil Moisture Sensor Controllers
Instead of relying on meteorological information, soil moisture sensor controllers use a soil moisture sensor buried in the root zone of lawns to estimate the amount of water your grass requires. The soil moisture sensor estimates the water content of the soil in volume. Volumetric water content is the percentage of the soil’s overall volume that is made up of water. The Modern sprinkler system controllers may be configured to begin irrigation as soon as the volumetric water content reaches a predetermined threshold. A representative portion of the grass must have soil moisture sensors installed, sufficiently far from sidewalks, tree roots, landscape sprinkler heads, and walls.
Wind Sensors
Windy weather makes irrigation less uniformly distributed throughout the landscape and limits the quantity of water that seeps into the soil profile. Wind sensors stop the watering cycle if the wind speed goes over a certain threshold.
A modern sprinkler system may reduce water usage while fostering a beautiful, healthy environment. Owners of irrigation systems should do routine maintenance and guarantee that the irrigation system only waters the area as required.
Rain And Freeze Sensors
Rain and freeze sensors stop the irrigation cycle during rain or freeze events when watering is not essential, despite the fact that these sensors are not regarded as part of the Modern sprinkler system. Water, money, and runoff are all wasted when you water in the rain.
The amount of rain that falls in any particular year determines potential water savings. Water savings are greater in years with ordinary to above-average rainfall than in years with low rainfall. Rain sensors have demonstrated payback times of less than a year, but they must be carefully maintained for best results.
The Efficiency of Modern Sprinkler System
The modern sprinkler system is more efficient than ever. With the help of motion-detecting sensors and remote controllers, modern sprinklers use a fraction of the water they used to. With this setup, you can be sure that your lawn is getting as much water as it needs without wasting any excess.
It’s never easier to have a lush green lawn without wasted water! To learn more about how you can get started with modern sprinklers in your yard, contact Hydro Dynamics Corp. for more updates on the efficiency of modern sprinkler system.
Landscape sprinklers had come a long way from the days when you had to water the lawn by hand. Today’s landscape sprinklers are more efficient than ever, and modern technology has made water sprinklers even more efficient. You can now conserve water without sacrificing a lush, green yard. For example, instead of wasting water on sidewalks and pavements during the hot summer, you can use motion-detecting technology to save those precious drops for your garden.
How to Assess If Your Sprinkler System Needs An Update
Although having a sprinkler system is practical, installing one is time-consuming and will need one or two weekends. Therefore, asking yourself these questions can help you determine if this is the right choice for you:
Which variety of grass do you have? While warm-season, drought-tolerant grasses like buffalo grass may occasionally require spot irrigation, cool-season grasses like bluegrass may require frequent irrigation.
What type of sail do you have? Clay soil takes longer to absorb water than sandy soil.
Would automatic irrigation be beneficial to you? The ability to program your system for the right frequency and watering depth is one of the main advantages of finishing the landscape sprinkler system installation.
The Basics of Installing A Modern Sprinkler System
The following are the designs for installing a modern sprinkler system:
- Run the pipes, burying them eight to ten inches deep, ideally at least six inches.
- Put the zone valves together above ground and cement the pipe.
- Before connecting cable wires, install an inline drain fitting on each valve’s downstream side.
- Before installing valve boxes and backfilling the excavated area, install brass drain valves at each low point along the feed line and finish connecting and wiring all the valves.
- To complete the process, attach landscape sprinkler heads, tap into your home’s water supply, and install the backflow preventer and sprinkler system’s control panel.
