| There's no reason to consider doing an American | | | | will be missed altogether. |
| Indian rain dance to bring water to your home | | | | The Rain Zones. |
| garden, when just a few days of thorough planning | | | | Sprinkler heads work in zones from a common valve. |
| and a good sprinkler system will do the job perfectly | | | | You can design your system with zones for the type |
| every time. Designing a sprinkler system layout | | | | of watering required in a specific area depending on |
| requires a pen, a standard size piece of graph paper, | | | | the vegetation there, sun exposure, and elevation. |
| a compass for accuracy, a tape measure with 50 plus | | | | You can also set certain sprinkler areas to turn on |
| feet of reach, a can of spray paint, lots of little | | | | and off according to a program with the controller |
| marking flags, a high end gauge for water pressure | | | | box. Each zone must be configured to stay within |
| measurement and a five-gallon container of some | | | | the limits of your water capacity depending on the |
| kind. | | | | types of sprinkler heads you use and your water |
| In addition to the pipe that moves the water, | | | | supply. |
| sprinkler systems are made of sprinklers, valves, and | | | | You have to find out your water pressure in order to |
| controllers. Sprinklers direct the water, valves control | | | | ensure that you order the correct parts with the |
| the water flow, and the controller controls the | | | | proper capacity. Water pressure can be different at |
| system. The controller is usually in a box mounted on | | | | every house, even different than your neighbors. |
| an exterior or interior wall. | | | | At the exterior water outlet closest to the main |
| With some measuring and drawing, you can soon | | | | supply line to your home: |
| estimate the types and number of sprinklers and | | | | *Locate the outside water outlet (faucet A) closest |
| valves you will need and the size and amount of PVC | | | | to the main water supply line. |
| pipe your system will require. | | | | *Locate another outlet or faucet on your house |
| Create an aerial sketch of your property. Use a scale | | | | (faucet B) and attach the water pressure gauge. |
| of one square foot of land to one square on the | | | | *Open faucet B all the way. Turn on faucet A |
| graph paper. Measure the boundary lines of your | | | | completely and look at the reading on the pressure |
| property first and draw them. Then measure the | | | | gauge. If it's higher than 35 PSI, write down the |
| parameter of your house and the distance of each | | | | number. If less than 35 PSI turn faucet A down until |
| side from the boundary lines. Then sketch the | | | | the reading reaches 35 PSI. |
| parameter of the house and do the same for any | | | | Now you can measure your water flow capacity. |
| additional structures. | | | | Check how much time goes by for faucet A to fill up |
| Next measure and draw any concrete such as | | | | your 5 gallon container at 35 PSI or the greater |
| driveways and sidewalks, then decks and fences, | | | | reading. |
| trees, shrubs and gardens. Draw the location of your | | | | Time to fill your bucket in Gallons Per Minute (gpm). |
| water meter or water source. | | | | 15 Seconds = 20 gpm |
| Sprinkler heads have varying radius sprays. 12' is | | | | 20 Seconds = 15 gpm |
| common for residential applications. Sprinklers should | | | | 25 Seconds = 12 gpm |
| be placed distances equal to the radius, in this case | | | | 30 Seconds = 10 gpm |
| 12' apart. Draw a small S where you will place each | | | | 40 Seconds = 7 1/2 gpm |
| sprinkler head. Sprinkler heads can spray in quarter, | | | | Now you know how much water you have at 35PSI. |
| half, or full circles. As you don't want to be spraying | | | | Record your results and water meter size on your |
| the sides of your house or over a fence, and you do | | | | drawing. This should be stamped or printed on the |
| want to keep the watering of concrete to a | | | | meter. |
| minimum, clearly specify where you'll need half circle | | | | With your drawing and information you are way |
| or quarter circle coverage areas for the sprinklers. | | | | ahead of the game. You can look up a professional |
| Place an "HS" for half circle sprinklers and a "QS" | | | | installer or buy parts for a DIY installation now that |
| where quarter spray sprinklers will be located. If the | | | | you have this valuable information. |
| distances are too far apart between sprinklers, areas | | | | |