Water sprinkler systems can be a lot of fun to design and install. If you have basic electrical, plumbing and mechanical skills—and don’t’ mind a bit of digging—you’ll find that they’re not too difficult, either. That is, unless you happen to have a yard that presents challenges to irrigation. Unfortunately, some irrigation challenges also create hazards. Your system has to be installed intelligently for the best results and you’ll have to pay attention to sensible safety standards to make the system a delight and not a danger.
Water sprinkler systems are easiest to install on grounds that are flat overall. This prevents water from pooling, sprinkler heads from spraying directly into inclines and other problems. When you’re laying out the system, pay attention to where water is likely to flow after it hits the ground. The number one situation that leads to excessive runoff is when a sprinkler head is spraying onto a hard surface that is above the general lay of the land. Sprinkler heads that spray directly into the slopes of hills and rises will oftentimes create a sloppy pool of water at the base of the rise.
Maintaining water sprinkler systems is a large part of their success or failure in the long run. At the beginning of every irrigation season, and several times during it, make sure that the sprinkler heads are all working correctly. In areas where there is a lot of foot traffic, be on the lookout for bent or broken sprinkler heads. While the terrain can present challenges, people are oftentimes more hazardous to a sprinkler system than is the lay of the land itself. If your system is installed in a yard were people walk through a great deal, consider getting underground sprinkler heads to avoid trouble.
When you get pools of water in the yard, it will test your electrical skills. Water sprinkler systems have to be wired correctly to ensure that they function as intended and to eliminate the hazards associated with mixing water and electricity. When you install your valves, get a proper connector to use at the wire splices. These connectors are grease-filled, which creates a housing for the splice that is impervious to water. This is particularly important in areas where water tends to pool and where the valves and valve boxes are in areas where saturation is likely.
Water sprinkler systems that are in very dry areas entail their own challenges. If your system is set to run during the day in such areas, you’re likely evaporating more water than is going into the ground. Part of working with the terrain is using your control box in a constructive way. Set it to irrigate at times of the day when the water won’t evaporate before it’s absorbed by the ground; preferably at night. In areas where regular rainstorms can be expected, consider getting a controller that can change the watering amounts based on the weather to avoid overwatering.
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