of water. Here is an overview of the steps involved in installing a sprinkler system.
1. The first step in sprinkler installation is to build a manifold. A manifold is a group of control valves connected to a PVC pipe, spaced around 3" to 6" apart.
Water comes to the manifold from the supply line and is then routed through the proper control valve to the circuit by the controller. The manifold can be mounted above ground or buried underground with the control valves projecting above the
ground.
2. Secondly, dig V-shaped trenches at least 8" deep for the pipe. The trenches should be straight and level. For tunneling under a sidewalk, connect a piece of galvanized pipe to a garden hose and to wash away the soil, turn the water on
full force. Then cap the PVC pipe with duct tape and drive it through the hole.
3. Next, tap into the water supply line by installing a tee at any one of three locations:
1) Just after the water meter in the basement
2) Just behind an
outside hose bibb
3) Along the main supply line before it enters the house, but past the outside meter.
Install a valve as an emergency shut-off and having the ability to drain the system for the winter. Install the shutoff valve just after the
connection to the supply line and then run pipe to the manifold. After the PVC connections are secured, turn the water on for some time to flush the system.
4. Next, install antisiphon valves onto the control valves in order to prevent
contaminated water from coming back into the supply lines.
5. After that, lay the pipe in the trenches and begin making connections. Before installing each threaded riser tee the riser should be screwed in place temporarily. While installing the
riser tees, hold a carpenter's square against the riser so that each riser will be at a 90-degree angle to the ground.
6. After the pipes are assembled and the connections are secured, install the risers and cut them carefully to ensure that
the sprinkler heads are at the correct height. Then attach the sprinkler heads.
Lastly, mount the controller and run low-voltage wires to the control valves. Set the watering controls for each circuit and test the system by opening and shutting each circuit.
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