Homeowners in Central Florida who enjoy keeping their lawn and landscape beautiful love the convenience a sprinkler system provides. However, some people are reluctant to install them because they think irrigation systems are complicated and difficult to use. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Read on to learn how these incredible devices make caring for your grass and plants an effortless task.
Get to Know Your Sprinkler System
Parts of a Sprinkler System
To understand how sprinkler systems work, it’s important to know all the parts that work together to make the magic happen!
Valve Box – This is the housing of the system, which is kept underground. It protects the valves that control the system.
Control Valves – These are connected to the valve box and a timer to regulate the flow of water throughout the system and the different sections of your yard.
Timer – This controls the flow of water by communicating to the valves when it’s time for them to open or close.
Master Valve – This component acts as a failsafe to prevent water from being wasted. When a problem happens within the system, it is triggered and responds by shutting off the water.
Shut-off Valve – Located in an area protected from freezing temperatures such as a garage, it enables the system to be winterized. It also acts as a backup in case the master valve fails to engage.
Water Source – The local water supply, a well, pond, lake, etc.
Water Pump – This moves the water from the source to the sprinkler heads and regulates the water pressure.
Sprinkler Heads – These pop up from the ground and release the water onto grass and plants.
Pipes and Risers – Horizontal pipes located underground that carry the water from the source to the risers leading to the sprinkler heads.
Water Meter – Measures the amount of water used in each irrigation zone of the yard.
Backflow Preventer – Stops the pressure in your system from becoming higher than the supply.
Flow Meter – This component is found on premium systems. It measures the amount of water being used in each zone, then communicates this information with the smart controller, which determines if part of the system is malfunctioning.
All Irrigation System Parts Work Together to Keep Your Lawn and Landscape Plants Healthy
To get the sprinkler system working on its own daily, you need to tell it what you want it to do by programming it.
First, determine an irrigation schedule. Keep in mind that this will change throughout the year depending on the season. In Central Florida, spring and summer are typically rainy, especially during the afternoons, so your system will need to be set to come on in the early morning to give everything a drink before the day becomes scorching hot. Fall and winter tend to experience less rainfall, so your sprinkler system will need to come on more frequently, but for a shorter duration because your grass is dormant.
Program the sprinkler system to turn on routinely by setting the start time of the timer for a specific hour of the day. Then, set the timer it to turn off the irrigation system automatically by choosing how many minutes it will run. You can also choose the days you want the system activated.
You’ll need to set a schedule for each zone of your yard because different types of grass and plants might exist in each zone and may require varying amounts of water.
It’s always a good idea to check your sprinkler system every so often to make sure it’s working properly. If you’re not sure your system is running like it should, call us or complete our request service form and we’ll be happy to take a look. We can also help you program your sprinkler system!
Now that the sprinkler system has been programmed, the water pump will turn on according to the day and hour scheduled on the timer and release water from the source, which will rush through the main line to the different pipes and risers. The water pressure will cause the irrigation heads to pop up and quench your thirsty grass and plants.
Once the specified minutes have passed, the water pump will turn off and the lack of pressure will cause the sprinkler heads to stop spraying water and retract. Once the lawn has dried, you can safely mow your grass without damaging the sprinkler heads.
Automatic sprinkler systems save precious water, money, and time!
When you have an automatic sprinkler system, you can enjoy a green lawn and lush landscape without wasting water and money because the amount of water is regulated to keep your usage and bill low. You’ll also have more free time because you won’t have to water your grass and plants by hand!
If you don’t yet have a sprinkler system, it can be tricky figuring out how to install the hardware, pipes, and sprinkler heads. This is the reason why it’s best to hire an expert. We understand how to install the water pump, how deep to bury the pipes, how to arrange the irrigation zones, and how to program the timer. We’ll even contact Florida Public Utilities to have the lines on your property marked and pull the necessary permits. All you need to do is relax until it’s time for us to teach you how to use and maintain the sprinkler system!
As irrigation professionals, you can rest assured that we follow Florida Statute 373.62 to the letter, so you won’t face fines or penalties for your irrigation system activating when rainfall is plentiful.
If you have questions about irrigation installation, upgrading your current system, need assistance with sprinkler repair, or want information about irrigation in the Orlando area, we’re here to help!