Table of Contents
How do I calculate how many sprinklers I need?
Consider the distance of each sprinkler head. If they distribute water in a circumference of 8 feet around, place them 4 feet apart to ensure every part of the lawn gets watered. Whatever the maximum spray distance of the sprinkler head, divide it in half to find out how far apart to place your sprinklers.
How many sprinklers per zone do I need?
Calculating Zones Each zone should include plants with the same watering needs, or an area of the lawn. Then, add up the necessary flow rate in GPM of all the sprinkler heads, divided by the GPM of your water supply. The resulting number will equal how many zones you need.
How do you size a sprinkler system?
From the Water Source The pipe that extends from your home’s water supply to the irrigation area is the main line. Holding the bulk of the water volume, this pipe size should range from 2 to 3 inches in diameter. You need this diameter so the water pressure is not significantly reduced before entering the garden.
How much should a sprinkler head overlap?
Sprinklers are intentionally designed to require 100% overlap of watered areas. That means each sprinkler throws water ALL the way to the next sprinkler in each direction. READ THAT AGAIN! That’s right, 100% overlap of watered areas is REQUIRED or you will get dry spots!.
How deep should sprinkler lines be?
Dig for Your Sprinkler System The trenches will be relatively shallow, usually 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your area’s freeze cycles and frost severity. The trench must also be deep enough to allow the sprinklers to retract underground to prevent breakage from lawn machines.
How much PSI does a sprinkler need?
Water pressure is measured in pounds per square inch – also called psi. The average water pressure for most homes and businesses is between 30 psi and 50 psi; most sprinkler systems are designed to use pressures of around 30 psi.
How do I calculate sprinkler flow rate?
Finding the Flow Rate or GPM Equation: 5 (gallons)/number of seconds to fill, then multiply your answer by 60 to get gpm. Example: It takes you 30 seconds to fill a five-gallon bucket; 5/40 = 0.167, 0.167 x 60 = 10 gpm.
What is the minimum distance between sprinkler heads?
The minimum distance a sprinkler can be installed below a ceiling is 1 inch. The maximum spacing between two sprinklers is determined by the rating on the sprinkler head (usually 15 feet, but there are other spacing distances, depending on the manufacturer). The minimum spacing between two sprinklers is 6 feet.
What size pipe should I use for sprinkler system?
For schedule 40 PVC, use 1/2-inch pipe for a 4 GPM system, 3/4-inch pipe for 8 GPMs, 1-inch pipe for 13 GPMs, 1 1/4-inch pipe for 22 GPMs, 1 1/2-inch pipe for 30 GPMs, and 2-inch pipe for 50 GPMs.
Where should sprinkler heads be placed?
Sprinkler heads should always be placed so that the sprays overlap—the distance one head throws should reach the head of the next sprinkler. This is called head-to-head coverage, and sprinklers should be placed equidistantly in each zone to achieve it.
Should I use 13mm or 19mm poly pipe?
Poly pipes or irrigation pipe is made of black polyethylene. As a general rule, 13mm pipe can be used for drippers, but 19mm will feed more emitters. Sprayers need 19mm pipe, and pop-ups usually require 19mm or 25mm depending on water pressure.
How high should sprinkler valves be?
The normal rule is at least 6 inches above the top of the highest sprinkler head, some brands say it must be 12 inches. If it isn’t higher, the built-in backflow preventer will not work. The anti-siphon valve will also spill water from the air vent if not installed higher than all the sprinklers or emitters.
How many sprinkler heads can you have on one line?
At different pressures, the sprinkler head and nozzle will consume different amounts of water. For example, at 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) the 5000 Series Rotor using the 3.0 nozzle will use 3.11 gallons per minute (GPM). If your home’s water capacity was 10 GPM, you could place 3 heads per zone.
How far will a Rainbird 5000 spray?
Rain Bird 5000 Series Rotors are ideal for medium to large-size lawns and evenly distribute water from 25 to 50 feet. 5000 Series Rotors with Rain Curtain Technology are engineered to deliver a uniform spray pattern, giving you superior distribution uniformity and a consistently greener lawn with less water.
Should irrigation valves be buried?
Valves can be grouped together in manifolds, or installed individually – and valves should always be buried inside a plastic irrigation valve box. Never bury a valve directly in the dirt.
Where do sprinkler lines run?
Typically a pipe will run from the water supply to the valve box. From the valve box pipes will run out to the various sprinkler heads. Each valve in the valve box represents a single zone. When the sprinklers come on, a valve will open and all the sprinklers in that zone will come on at the same time.
