The Benefits Of An Underground Sprinkler System

Many people ask if an underground sprinkler system is really worth it? Does it really help improve your lawn and landscape in general? Will, I think you probably already know the answer. Yes, an underground sprinkler system will help green up your yard as well as provide you with an incredible convenience.

We all are envious when we see that lush green lawn down the street. It tells everyone that the homeowner takes good care of their landscaping. But, what you may not realize is that some of this care is done automatically with their underground sprinkler system.

The keys to having a green lawn are pretty basic. You need sunlight and water. Controlling the sunlight is out of your hands of course, but watering your grass is not. The problem most people have is taking the time to water their grass.

Who really has the time to chase around the lawn sprinkler attached to your garden hose? None of us do. That's where an underground sprinkler system can be a big asset.

With a sprinkler system you get the benefits of:

-A scheduled time of watering your grass throughout the week. You set the schedule and the sprinkler system does the rest.

-The convenience of not having to move a lawn sprinkler around and keep track of how long you've watered an area, etc.

-Conservation. You won't be wasting water by forgetting to move the sprinkler and having water going down the drain.

-The ability to water every area of your yard, including shrubs, small trees, and even your garden on a set watering schedule.

As you can see, having an underground sprinkler system is much more than a luxury or a convenience. It's really a key element in having a happy and healthy lawn.

Yes, you'll still need to mow the yard and put on the fertilizer and weed killer, but an underground sprinkler system will take care of the most important part; keeping your grass watered.

Terry Edwards is the owner of SprinklersA-z, a website providing great information on lawn sprinklers. You can find out more about Underground Sprinkler Systems as well as more information on all types of sprinklers at http://www.SprinklersA-z.com.

Sprinkler Repair For The Do-It-Yourselfer

Owning an automatic lawn sprinkler system makes it easy to keep your grass green without having to drag a hose around the yard. But they are not completely maintenance free, as any homeowner who has one will tell you. Sprinkler systems have their share of maintenance issues. But unless you do not mind forking over a lot of money to sprinkler repair professionals, you should learn to repair and maintain your system yourself. It is actually very rewarding to keep up your own system.

Here are the steps to troubleshooting your sprinkler system. Basically, it is the process of elimination-

1. To start with, you need a multi-meter to properly diagnose and troubleshoot various sprinkler problems. Don't let this intimidate you! Using the multi-meter is not at all difficult, and you do not need a degree in electronics to operate one. It is actually quite easy and self explanatory.

Most sprinkler systems operate on 24 Volts DC. When a zone is on, the controller should be sending 24 Volts to your zone valve. If you do not have 24 volts at the controller, there is something wrong at the controller. If you have 24 volts at the controller but not at the valve, there is something wrong with the wiring between the valve and the controller (a broken wire or bad connection). If you have 24 volts at the controller and 24 volts at the valve, there is something wrong at the valve or in the plumbing itself.

2. Valve problems are easily diagnosed. Your valves have few moving parts, and most of them work like this:

Your controller sends 24 volts to the valves solenoid. The solenoid has a plunger on it that moves up and down over a small hole. When the controller is sending voltage to the solenoid, the plunger is raised up and the hole is uncovered. Then, air rushes through the hole and into the valve and the diaphragm inside the valve allows water to pass through.

The first thing to check if you suspect a valve problem is the solenoid. Unscrew the solenoid from the valve and check the plunger on the bottom for dirt or debris. Clean the plunger. Then make sure the tiny hole in the area the plunger screws into is not obstructed. If there is something blocking the hole, use a small paper clip to remove it. If it still does not function properly, remove the top of the valve and inspect the diaphragm for wear or holes. Replace the diaphragm if it has a hole or is worn out looking. While you have the valve open, check the inside of the valve housing for rocks and debris. Worst case scenario, you may have to cut out and replace the entire valve.

3. So your valve checks out but you are still having problems with the zone. The next step is to check for leaks-

Leaks are usually pretty obvious- just look for the puddle in the yard. This is where a little manual labor comes in. After you find the leak, dig until you find the leaky pipe and repair the leak. Sometimes back-flow prevention devices leak. You can usually buy a repair kit for them, but you will want to check your local codes before working on your own back-flow device- some cities require a licensed professional to install, repair and test your back-flow for you.

4. Does your system use a pump? There a 3 common pump issues that you can narrow down-

1. A foot valve not opening, stuck open or clogged up. If your pump is loosing prime, first check your foot valve (the thing in the water at the end of the suction pipe). If it is stuck open or will not close, replace the foot valve. If the foot valve is clogged up, clean it up and make sure it is not laying in the mud or seaweed.

2. Sometimes your pump motor or pump end will simply give out. Sometimes you can have it repaired or rebuilt, but sometimes it is easier just to replace the pump.

3. No power getting to the pump. In this case, you will want to call a licensed electrician.

So the next time your sprinkler system is having problems, don't rush to the phone to call someone. Get out there and get familiar with your system. Try to figure it out for yourself, it's not rocket science by any means. Besides, it's kind of a good feeling to know that you figured out and repaired it yourself.

This article was written by Manny Leger, author of the Sprinkler Repair blog

Choosing the Right Sprinkler System

Sprinklers come in 4 basic designs. Each of these sprinkler types has their advantages and disadvantages. Lawn size, frequency of watering and soil types are all important factors when choosing which type of sprinkler is best for you.

Of the 4 basic designs a stationary or fixed sprinkler is probably the worst type you can purchase. These types of sprinklers work best for spot watering or used in conjunction with another sprinkler system. Varying flow rates are this type of sprinkler's greatest disadvantage. At the outside edge of the spray pattern the grass can receive upwards of 6-8 inches of water while at the base it may only receive 2 inches of water per hour. This is due to the water being directed through the fixed pattern of small holes in the base.

Oscillating sprinklers use a curved piece of metal or plastic with small holes that move back and forth to deliver the water in a rectangular pattern. By pausing when the spray is furthest away this sprinkler does a better job of delivering the water in a more effective pattern. More up to date models will allow you to adjust this pattern as well as adjusting the width of the spray. Revolving sprinklers use one or more arms to throw the water in a circular pattern. This type of sprinkler has a fairly decent radius but suffers in the uniformity of the water being delivered to the lawn. Generally speaking the majority of the water is delivered to an area 4-9 feet out.

For a large area an impulse or impact sprinkler is a good choice. By using a combination of a jet internally and a hammer externally this sprinkler can shoot jets of water in a circular pattern. On many models the head is adjustable from a fine mist to a strong pulse or anything in between. Coverage is good with this type of sprinkler.

One of the more odd sprinkler systems is what is known as a traveling sprinkler. I haven't come across too many of these which is too bad. This system while looking a little bizarre gives good thorough coverage and excellent rates of moisture. The sprinkler follows the hose or track laid out by the homeowner. By varying the hose pattern you get excellent coverage. The pressure of the water exiting the rotating arms propels the unit along.

For most homeowners the choice for a sprinkler system would be an in-ground system. By installing the sprinkler heads at key locations you ensure uniform coverage and excellent water delivery. Most units come with a timer to make watering your lawn even more convenient. Some models also incorporate a sensor to let the system know if it has been raining to curb the cost of your watering bill. The spray heads pop up from the lawn when activated and return to their almost hidden position when finished.

When having your lawn aerated ensure the heads are clearly marked to avoid damage to them while the lawn is being aerated.

Paul is a Certified Pesticide Applicator in the province of Alberta, Canada. He has over 15 years experience in the lawn care industry.

For more lawn care information, please visit http://www.fairyring.ca

How to Install a Lawn Sprinkler

Installing your own lawn sprinkler system can be a very rewarding experience if done correctly. After all, it is just moving water through a pipe from point A to point B. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Unless of course you start to think about the layout of the system, the backflow preventer, the valves and how they sit in the valve box, the wiring back to the control panel, and installing and adjusting the sprinkler heads. Sounds like a lot and it can be but in the end it is just moving water through a pipe from point A to Point B.

So how do you get that water moving through that pipe in the first place? The first thing you have to do is measure your yard and layout where the sprinkler heads need to go to get the best water coverage. You will also need to locate where you want to place the valve boxes and which valves serve which zone.

From your sprinkler layout plan you can figure out what supplies you need and how many sprinkler heads you need, how many valves you need and a good estimate on the amount of pipe you will need to buy.

Before you start digging make sure you have all the underground utilities in you yard located. Call you local underground utility locate hot line and they will locate and mark any underground power, phone, cable, gas and water lines free of charge. If you do not get your lines located you will be responsible for any damage your digging or trenching does to any underground utilities, not to mention the fact that you can seriously injure or kill yourself if you dig into a gas or electric power line.

There are a couple of ways you can dig your pipe into the ground. You can dig your trenches by hand using a shovel or sharp shooter shovel, which will make nice pipe sized trenches for you. Obviously this will take the most amount of time and work. Another alternative is to rent a trencher which will save time and work but will cost you more in rental fees. The third alternative is to rent a trencher that installs the pipe as it goes. This is the quickest and easiest way to get your pipe in the ground without making a big mess of your yard.

The main issue a do it yourselfer will have installing a lawn sprinkler system is time. Most professional installers can install a lawn sprinkler system in an average size yard in 3-5 days depending on layout, yard size and soil conditions. Doing it your self will probably take a little longer, but the results can be the same as a professional install if you take your time and plan well.

Andrew Bicknell is a writer, Webmaster and former lawn sprinkler system installer. For more information on How to Install a Lawn Sprinkler Click Here