There is no doubt about it – you can save a tremendous amount of money by installing a lawn sprinkler system. But it will be a fairly large time investment and require a lot of planning. And it is not a one man job. Sure, one man can get it done, but not without a lot of frustration. It’s nice to have a least one other person in the yard with you to help you to dig trenches, lay connected pipe into them, and to get them adequately covered up. Installing a lawn sprinkler system is a labor intensive project.
The first thing you need to do when installing a lawn sprinkler system is to get your hands on a good set of instructions. With all of the do-it-yourself publications on bookstore shelves and free handouts at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s, you’ll find that ther
e is no shortage of easy step-by-step instructions for this seemingly difficult job.
Once you have the instructions, you’ll want to call your local utility companies and have them come to your property and mark the lines. You don’t want to hit a gas line or break a water pipe. Cable and electric companies also need to be contacted. If you skip this crucial step before installing a lawn sprinkler system, there could be tragic consequences. At the same time you are calling the utilities, make a call to your city’s building inspector to find out about local ordinances and to inquire about the need for a building permit. This requirement varies according to local policy.
Once you have taken care of the red tape and reviewed the instructions for installing a lawn sprinkler system, you’ll want to get a pad of paper and a pencil out so that you can start drawing up your plans. Much like a road map leads you to where you are going, having a written plan will help you to stay on the right path once you are knee-deep in dirt installing a lawn sprinkler system. As you lay your plans, account for all existing landscaping and any that may be added. For example, if you are planning to put in a pond someday, think through where that might be put. You don’t want your water pipes running through that area – it will be too difficult to alter it once they are actually packed into the ground.
The final step of the planning stage is to make a list of the supplies you’ll need and to shop for the best prices. Take your drawings and yard measurements with you when you shop. They will provide everything a salesman needs to give you accurate information.