Step by step irrigation installation 6

Start from the valves and move outward, laying the connecting pipe along the bottom of the trench.

After the pipe has been connected and the glue has dried (PVC pipe only), turn on the water, open valves one zone at a time and flush until the water runs clear. Seal the fitting with duct tape to keep dirt out until the sprinklers are installed.

NOTE: Don't backfill your trenches until your final system operation check is complete.

Make your sprinkler head choice based on the job you need it to do. Small areas are best serviced by spray heads, whereas rotary heads take on the task of covering larger areas. A bubbler head can be a great addition to a flowerbed where you need deep penetration without getting the foliage wet. Bubblers run a slow application of water through a 1/4 inch tube, thereby allowing for less frequent watering.

Using PVC Pipe

Install Fittings

Cement fitting to the end of the pipe. Adjust the fittings to fit the space as necessary. Be sure to give the pipe a 1/4 turn to spread the solvent. Make sure to plan ahead so that the tee is facing straight up; remember that solvent cement dries very fast. We recommened waiting atleast two hours before turning the water on again.

Install the Risers

Using the appropriate height and type of riser for the location (here we use a Hunter Swing Joint Riser), wrap the riser threads with pipe-thread tape and screw the riser into the tee fitting.

Attach the Sprinklers

Attaching the sprinklers is easy! Just screw them onto the riser. Position the sprinkler in the trench so that the top of the sprinkler is flush with ground level. Keep the sprinkler in an upright position while filling dirt in around the sprinkler body and tamping the soil with a rubber mallet every 4 in. Repeat this process for each sprinkler.

Using Poly Pipe

Install Fittings

If drainage is not a problem, sprinkler heads can usually be attached to the pipe with a standard 90 degree ell barb fitting at one end and a female thread at the other. Use a clamp to secure the poly tubing around the fitting.

If you are at a low spot and need seasonal drainage, install a 90 degree drain ell instead. Install it upright with the threads up top. Use a clamp to secure the poly tubing around the fitting.

Install the Risers

Using the appropriate height and type of riser for the location (here we use a Hunter Swing Joint Riser), wrap the riser threads with pipe-thread tape and screw the riser into ell or drain ell. This results in a snug fit that makes a crimp ring unnecessary.

Attach the Sprinklers

Install the timer in your garage or another convenient place. If an outdoor location is desired, use an outdoor
cabinet to protect the timer against the effects of weather. Make sure an adequate power supply is available. (See instructions included with the timer for details.)
If you haven’t already done so, lay the valve wires in the bottom of the trenches, beneath the pipes.

Tip: Installing more wire strands than your system currently requires can be a real time saver. Adding them now is simple, adding them later after all the dirt is back in place and the grass is growing is not.
Connect the valves to the timer using the valve wires.
- Take one wire from each valve and connect them to a common wire. (For ease of identification, use the white wire as the common.)
- At the timer, connect the common wire to the common terminal on the timer.
- Take the other wire from each valve and connect them to the timer terminals in sequence.

Slowly turn on the water, then manually open an irrigation valve.
Adjust the sprinklers to ensure proper coverage.
(See sprinkler installation instructions for details.)
If you don’t have complete head-to-head coverage,
follow the steps below:
- Make sure the control valve and shut-off valve are fully open.
- Turn off any water being used in the house
  (washers, showers, faucets, etc.).
- Fine-tune sprinkler spray positions and spray patterns to match your coverage area.
- If coverage is still not complete, go back and check your system layout against the plans.
- When you see that the coverage is satisfactory, fill in the trench.
- Once you are satisfied with your installation you can move on to installing your drip irrigation system.