Sprinkler System

[Dick Green]

I'm thinking about a sprinkler system for my home. The land area is aproximately 8000 sq. ft. The cost to have it sub-contracted is about 1500 bucks.

Should I do it myself? I've never done it before. Is it something that can be learned from a trip to home depot?

[Jon Holdman]

For reference, I used Schedule 40 to the valve boxes, then poly to the heads. 1" for rotors, 3/4" for sprays and the soakers in the gardens. I used to pressure reducers. On just past the backflow preventer to drop from about 100 PSI to 60, then a second in front of the sprays and soakers to get down to 30. I used Hunter PGP rotors and Rainbird sprays. Mostly Hunter valves. I bought the valves and heads from Sprinkler Warehouse. Much better prices and selection than anywhere local. They're in your neck of the woods, Dick.

I didn't use risers at all, but instead use swing joints on all the heads. Better, I think, to deal with the freezing/thawing we get here. Don't screw then street ells too tight. Cracked street ells have been my biggest problem.

There's a lot of digging. I was really tired of digging before I was done. Do invest in some decent shovels. In particular, a narrow "trenching" shovel.