A Concise Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation Systems

This is the short version — the page most homeowners want before they speak with a contractor. It covers what a sprinkler system actually is, what goes into one, and what life with it looks like over fifteen years.

What is in the system

Underground polyethylene pipe runs from your home's water service to a series of buried valve boxes. Each valve feeds a zone of sprinkler heads. A controller mounted in the garage or basement opens valves in sequence on a schedule.

Types of heads

Pop-up spray heads for tight areas, pop-up rotors for open lawn, drip emitters for flowerbeds and vegetable gardens.

Installation

A designer walks the property, measures water pressure, and maps zones around the planting. Trenchless pipe-pulling installs the system underground with almost no disturbance to existing sod.

Operating it

Programmed once and revisited a couple of times a season as conditions change. Modern Wi-Fi controllers let you adjust from your phone.

Maintenance

Two visits a year — spring start-up and fall winterization — plus the occasional tune-up or repair.