If you are tired of hauling a garden hose back and forth across your property, it may be time to consider installing a sprinkler system for your lawn or garden. Watering no longer has to be a chore. You can program your sprinkler system to come on at the best, coolest times of the day — and have a beautiful lawn or garden without the backbreaking effort.
Depending on your needs, a do-it-yourself system may be an option, but in many cases, hiring a plumber is the faster and easier option. Either way, planning is key to getting the most out of your lawn sprinkler system.
Why hire a professional plumber for a system installation
Installing a lawn sprinkler system is labor intensive. When you hire a pro to do it instead, your sprinkler system will be covered by warranty. If something goes wrong, they will come back and fix it. If you install it yourself and something goes wrong, the damage is on you.
Call before you dig
Before you start digging up your property and laying pipes and hoses, contact your local utility company. Have them mark any underground lines in advance. You do not want to dig up a utility line and lose power, a telephone line, cable or the Internet. You will also need to check with the local city or county offices to see if you need a permit to install a sprinkler system. Local regulations often vary.
Of course, if you hire a plumber, all of this is taken care of for you. It is part of the package.
Map out your lawn
The first step is to create a detailed map of your lawn. Note trees, flower beds and other vegetation. Keep in mind that areas that have lawn, tree, flowers or shrubs will have different water requirements. The amount of water each area gets will need to be adjusted accordingly. Plan to use standard sprinkler heads on turfgrass, lower spraying heads for trees and shrubbery. Drip irrigation systems work best for vegetable gardens.
If you work with a professional plumber that has garden design experience, he or she can determine the best nozzle position and rate of flow for all vegetation options. This removes the guesswork.
Choosing the right sprinkler head
Next you will need to choose the best sprinkler head type for each area you are watering. This will depend on the yard configuration as well as the type of vegetation you are growing. No one head works best for all situations.
Fixed spray sprinkler heads are ideal for small lawns. They produce a tight fan of water that spans 5 to 15 feet. Flood sprinklers are ideal for trees, planter boxes, or shrubs. Instead of spraying foliage, they flood water to the ground and into the roots of vegetation — ideal for small areas of 5 feet or less.
Gear driven sprinklers are designed for large to medium sized lawns. They have adjustable spray patterns that cover great distances. Pop up sprinklers are good for yards and garden areas. They pop out of the ground when in use and disappear when turned off. Shrub sprinklers have adjustable pattern nozzles and are designed for shrubbery or planters.
Call Plumbers 911 for lawn sprinkler installation
If all this information seems overwhelming or you just want a lawn sprinkler installed fast, Plumbers 911 can connect you with a licensed and bonded plumbing contractor that has experience installing lawn sprinklers and garden design.
Get the lawn or garden sprinkler system you want, perfectly designed for the layout of your yard and what you want to grow. Plumbers 911 is a network of qualified expert plumbers who undergo rigorous review and inspection. You will be connected quickly once you have described what plumbing service you need.