Underground Lawn Sprinklers Almost A Cinch To Install

(HIT) - Jealously eyeing your neighbor’s lawn sprinkler system, but intimidated by the thought of digging huge gullies and tearing a hole in your wallet to do the same? While no one’s ever called you handy, there’s no need to spend $1,000 on a team of retired football players to work on your home turf.

With some careful planning and a weekend of time, an underground lawn sprinkler system can become any homeowner’s asset.

"An underground lawn sprinkler basically involves digging and gluing pipe together—there’s not a lot of mystery," said Matthew Herko, a plumbing department manager at The Home Depot. "A preliminary lawn sprinkler plan designed on graph paper makes the system easier to envision and install."

But first, some very important phone calls need to be made. Before you begin digging, contact all local utility companies—water, gas, electric, cable, etc.—to determine the location of underground lines and pipes. Usually, they will do this with a visit. In most townships, the do-it-yourself lawn enthusiast who skips this step and punctures a line faces a steep fine.

If your home is one where the water pressure can't handle more than one shower running at a time, it’s possible an underground lawn sprinkler system will pose the same situation. There are several ways to determine if your water system can accommodate the additional workload: Check water meter size, confirm the diameter of the pipes and use a pressure gauge to determine water pressure. The combination of the data gathered will indicate the water capacity of your home which in turn dictates how many sprinklers can run on your lawn system at a time.

Remember, you want to water the lawn, not the driveway, sidewalk or roof. A well-designed underground lawn sprinkler system will provide optimum results, so the layout of pipe, sprinkler heads and valves is critical.

"Some extra guidance also may be required when hooking the underground sprinklers to the water main," said Herko. "And tunneling under concrete demands a little more patience and time, but don’t let this discourage you. You don’t have to be a plumbing expert, just a little determined."

It may take a full day or more to dig the trenches for your underground lawn sprinkler system, depending on the size of the lawn. You could use a shovel, but save the headache and strain—rent a digger instead. Water the lawn a couple days before you plan to dig, to soften the ground.

On the second and hopefully final day of installation, you’re ready to begin fitting pipe and sprinkler heads. Check the sprinkler manufacturers recommendations and instructions to determine the type of pipe, heads and valves best for your system. If possible, pick a cool weekend to install and impress your neighbors with your handiwork. When watering time arrives, your underground lawn sprinkler system will be ready to make your lawn perfect for picnics, croquet, and mowing!

For more information, contact your neighborhood Home Depot.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center