How to Build a DIY Sprinkler System and Water Your Whole Yard at Once
If the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, here’s how you can fix it
A lush green lawn is the perfect stage to highlight your home or blanket your backyard. But who has the time to stand around with a garden hose? You could attach a sprinkler to the end of that hose, but it won’t cover your whole yard, leaving you with sad, straggly brown patches. If you want truly terrific turf, you’ll need to do what the pros do: install a sprinkler system that evenly distributes water over every square inch. You could hire a professional to do the job, but if you want to save money and get your hands dirty, a DIY sprinkler system is the way to go.
Why Should I DIY a Sprinkler System?
Grass is a thirsty plant. Too little water, and your lawn looks half-dead. But too much, and you risk fungus and turf disease. Installing a DIY sprinkler system gets the right amount of water to your lawn and solves several other problems, too. Here are just a few of the benefits you can take advantage of with a DIY sprinkler system:
Control Your Water Usage
A sprinkler system is designed to deliver exactly the right amount of water to your lawn and garden at the right time. You control how much water you use, which can help you save money on utility bills. And if you live in an area with drought restrictions, a sprinkler system can help you comply with any irrigation requirements or regulations.
Hands-Off Watering
Learn how to install a sprinkler system so that you can water your lawn while sitting on your couch. Adding a timer valve to your system lets you enjoy fully hands-off lawn watering.
Customize Your Design
You have full control over the sprinkler system design, including the layout, the different parts of the sprinkler system, and even the piping and location of the valve box. And when you do it yourself, you can change it as needed—add a line to your vegetable garden or dial back the water headed to your succulents.
Save Money
You can save money, eliminate markups for parts, and get rid of labor costs when you install a DIY sprinkler system yourself.
How to Prep for DIYing a Sprinkler System
Before you begin, there are a few things you absolutely must do. The first is to check on your local building codes to find out what the requirements are for irrigation systems in your area. You might need to use a particular pipe diameter or design your plan in a way that doesn’t cause excessive runoff, for example. Or, it might be that you need to hire a licensed professional to complete the installation, instead. You’ll also need to secure the proper permits, if required.
The second can’t-miss step is to call 811 before you dig. After calling, the utility company will come and mark key utility lines like plumbing, gas, and electric so that you don’t risk damage or bodily harm when you start digging. Call ahead of time so you can give plenty of notice for these companies to stop by your property and mark the lines.
How to Make a DIY Sprinkler System
Here are the must-know steps for creating a DIY sprinkler system.
Note Your Home’s Water Details
You need to know a good bit of information about your home’s water before you choose the right system:
What is your water pressure (in pounds per square inch, or PSI)?
What is your water flow rate (in gallons per minute, or GPM)?
What size is your water meter or well pump?
Are you required to have backflow prevention installed, and if so, what type?
The answers to these questions will help you design an efficient system and select the right parts. Some pre-packaged sprinkler systems you install yourself are manufactured to work best with a specific household GPM and PSI.
Choose Your System Style
Decide how elaborate you’d like your system to be and what you’d like it to look like. The two main options to choose from are an above-ground sprinkler system, where the hoses lay on top of the turf, and an in-ground sprinkler system, where the piping is buried underground.
1. Above-Ground DIY Sprinkler System
Above-ground systems are relatively simple to connect and install. They consist of a timer, an adapter to fit your outdoor spigot, a series of hoses or piping, and pop-up sprinklers connected to the ends. You can choose PVC pipe or a simple garden hose for your piping. You simply fasten the system to your outdoor water source and connect the hoses and sprinklers, taking care to space them evenly for optimal spray coverage.
While these systems are more affordable and easy to add, the drawback is that the hoses or piping will be visible in your landscape and more susceptible to damage from frost, pests, sun exposure, and lawn equipment.
2. In-Ground DIY Sprinkler System
A DIY in-ground sprinkler system will be most similar to a professionally installed option, but it will require some extra digging, planning, and effort.
For this option, you’ll need to carefully design your plan to reach each section of your yard, accounting for slopes, trees, fences, and hardscaping. Next, you’ll dig the trenches for PVC or polyethylene piping—up to 12 inches deep if you live in an area subject to hard freezes. Mark your sprinkler locations and lay the piping, making sure to use the proper fittings and sealant for your pipe material. Don’t forget to install a valve box for easy access to (and control of) the valves.
Connect the sprinklers to the piping and then connect the system to your water source, adding a backflow preventer if necessary.
Tips for DIY Sprinkler Systems
Here’s how you can ensure a successful installation:
Choose a programmable timer that you can customize to your sprinkler system layout, lawn zones, and watering restrictions, if any.
Match your sprinkler head type and zone layout to your home’s PSI to avoid unpleasant drops in water pressure.
Monitor your system regularly for clogs and leaks, which will affect the health of your lawn (not to mention your water bill)
If you live in a cold climate, you must winterize the system ahead of the colder months. This may include draining and blowing the lines and detaching or turning off the timer. Insulation for exterior components is vital, too.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
A DIY lawn sprinkler system can save you money compared to hiring a pro, especially if you choose a simple above-ground system. Hiring a pro will typically cost $50 to $100 an hour just for labor, and installing systems like these can take 10 hours or more. However, there are some reasons you might want to have yours installed by a professional, instead.
For instance, if your local building regulations require irrigation systems to be installed by licensed professionals, you’ll have to hire a pro. Work done by your local sprinkler company may come with a warranty, which will come in handy if a component breaks or the system fails for any reason. With a DIY system, you’ll have to find the problem and make the repairs yourself.
Also consider your soil; hardpan, dense clay, rocky soil, crushed gravel, and other difficult landscapes make digging trenches back-breaking work. Hiring a team of experienced pros with the proper tools and equipment can save you hours of sweat and sore muscles, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
To map your sprinkler system, sketch a rough blueprint of your yard, noting features such as fences, trees, and driveways. Keeping the coverage area of your sprinkler heads in mind, plot them on your map, making sure to space them so that there’s a bit of overlap (this keeps dry patches at bay). Some companies provide design services that will help you account for your particular water flow and pressure needs so that the farthest sprinklers still have enough pressure to do the job.
The number of sprinklers you need depends on the size of your lawn and your home’s water pressure and flow rate, as well as the performance of the sprinkler head. For instance, a pop-up sprinkler head may have a spray radius of 32 to 45 feet, depending on your water pressure and flow, so you may need additional sprinklers for low-flow and low-pressure systems.