What You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Sprinkler System

Before you know it, spring will be here, and taking care of your lawn will once again become a priority. Keeping your lawn properly watered, especially throughout the hottest months, can be quite a chore. A sprinkler system can help ensure the health of your lawn and take the guesswork out of whether it is receiving the correct amount of water. However, there are some things to know before purchasing a sprinkler system for your lawn.

Water Issues 

One of the key things to know before purchasing a sprinkler system is that it must be connected to an outdoor spigot. If you don’t have one available, you’ll need to have one installed by a professional plumber.

Water pressure plays an important part in how your sprinkler system performs. Insufficient water pressure can wreak havoc with your system and cause areas of your lawn to be watered unevenly. Too much pressure can overpower your pumps. It is essential that your system is regulated to maximize its efficiency.

Have an Available Power Source

You need to connect your sprinkler system’s control unit to a power source. Ideally, this unit is located in a utility room or the garage. Low-voltage wiring controls the system’s solenoids. The solenoids are an important part of your system because each one is responsible for regulating a specific zone in your yard.

Dealing with Tree Roots

Tree roots can complicate your sprinkler installation. Encountering tree roots during installation may cause the installation process to take longer than expected, despite careful planning. When creating your sprinkler layout, the installation team will attempt to avoid roots that could potentially interfere with your lines and heads in the future.

What Goes into Planning Sprinkler Layout

When planning the placement of sprinkler heads, the configuration of each area that each head will water, and adjusting the water spray, consider different areas of your yard. Ensure that you take care not to excessively water areas like sidewalks to prevent them from becoming slippery and leading to liability issues. The installer will adjust the sprinkler heads to prevent the stream of water from hitting your home and patio/porch areas.

Best Time of Day for Watering

You want your sprinkler system set to water your lawn during the morning rather than at night. Watering at night can lead to mold and mildew growth because of increased moisture. By watering in the morning, any excess moisture will evaporate in the sunlight. 

The Importance of Winterization

Even in North Texas, there is always the possibility of sudden cold snaps throughout the winter. Before purchasing a sprinkler system, remember that it will require winterization and startup in the spring. Winterization prevents damage from the freezing of water that may be present in the system’s water lines and valves. Water expands as it freezes and can cause lines to burst. Springtime startup is a good time to make any adjustments and replace any malfunctioning parts in your system.

If you keep in mind these things to know before purchasing a sprinkler system for your lawn, you will have a more satisfactory experience.