How Deep Are Sprinkler Lines Buried?
You don’t have to dig too deep to find out
Highlights
Sprinkler lines should be buried 8 to 12 inches underground.
At their shallowest, sprinkler lines should be 4 inches underground.
Consult a sprinkler installer to determine the right depth based on your yard and home.
Knowing the depth of sprinkler lines reduces your chances of damaging them.
Excavating your backyard? Installing an underground sprinkler system? You’ll need to know how deep sprinkler lines are buried. If your yard has existing underground lines, knowing how deep they’re buried will help avoid damaging them. And if you’re about to install a sprinkler system, burying your line at the right depth means the system will last longer without damage.
Ready to take the plunge? Let’s explore why the depth of your sprinkler lines matters.
How Deep Are Sprinkler Lines?
Most sprinkler professionals recommend burying sprinkler lines 8 to 12 inches deep in the ground. Sprinkler lines should be buried at least the depth of the pipe, which is 4 inches. But you’ll want to dig a trench closer to 12 inches in some climates and yards to cover your sprinkler system. Consult a local sprinkler installer to determine the best depth for your system based on your lawn and its watering needs.
Factors that Influence Sprinkler Line Depth
The depth of a sprinkler line is buried depends on several factors.
Climate
If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, you need to figure out the frost line in your area. The frost line refers to how deep underground the soil freezes during winter months. When a sprinkler line isn’t buried deep enough, it could freeze in the cold, leading to cracks or bursts in the line. If your area experiences extreme cold temperatures frequently, your sprinkler line should be deeper in the ground.
Traffic
If a lawn experiences heavy foot traffic or has a sprinkler line by the driveway or other paths, burying the line deeper to prevent pressure or weight from cracking the lines below is recommended.
Lawn Maintenance
The sprinkler line should be at least 6 inches deep if a lawn is aerated regularly. This maintenance schedule should prevent a mechanical aerator from puncturing a hole in the line.
Soil Type
The type of soil your lawn sits on will also impact sprinkler depth. If the soil is sandier, water drains from it faster, so the sprinkler line should be buried deeper.
Sprinkler System Type
The type of sprinkler head on your irrigation system can impact how deep a line should be buried.
Spray heads: These heads sit just at surface level and don’t need to be buried more than 4 inches deep.
Drip irrigation systems: Drip sprinkler systems can be buried between 4 and 12 inches deep.
Rotating sprinkler heads: This option has gears and a motor and needs to be buried at least 4 inches deep, but they’re often buried 6 inches deep to prevent damage to the mechanism.
Rotor sprinklers: These are high-powered and should be buried at least 8 inches deep.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find irrigation lines whether you dig or not. If you decide to dig, do so near valve boxes and around sprinkler heads. Once you find the first pipe, you can map the system from there and use spray paint or tape to mark the pipe layout throughout.
If you don’t feel like digging, aside from getting a map from the maker of the irrigation system, you can still find irrigation lines by locating the valve box and following a line back to the head sprinklers. You can also use a water-detection device or a metal detector, which will work if the lines have metal tracer wires.
If you have a broken sprinkler pipe underground, there will be some signs you can easily spot to locate it and take action. These include leaks, water spouts, flooding, consistently damp areas on your lawn, low water pressure, and grass around the sprinkler head that’s taller and darker than anywhere else in the yard.
If there are no obvious signs of a broken pipe, you can use tools such as water leak mics, leak noise loggers, audio devices that record leaks, and acoustic testing links.
Broken pipes can lead to uneven watering, plant damage, and higher utility bills. The longer you wait to fix them the more the repair cost may be.
The easier way to find buried sprinkler lines is to use the plan from the professionals who installed the system. If you don’t have professional plans, listen for running water on your lawn when you turn on the system. You may also spot wet areas, giving you an idea of where the heads are. Once you find the sprinkler heads, you’ll likely be able to connect the dots between them, revealing the system below.