Sprinklers 101: The Key Parts of the Sprinkler System
Let’s demystify how your yard sprinkler works
Highlights
A sprinkler system is more than just the sprinkler heads.
The system relies on several parts that work together to direct water flow.
Some parts, like the master valve and backflow preventer, are safety features.
A sprinkler system costs about $1,670–$3,550.
When you think of a sprinkler system, you probably imagine the sprinkler heads spraying water gracefully across the lawn and maybe the timer, which you set to water grass at the best time of day. But there are so many more parts to your sprinklers. When it’s time to winterize your sprinkler system, cap a sprinkler head that you no longer need, or repair a leaking irrigation pipe, it’s helpful to know all the different parts of the sprinkler system and how they work together.
Sprinkler System Parts
Whether you’re considering installing a sprinkler system for the first time or need to identify a specific part for repair, knowing all the different parts of the sprinkler system can help you better understand what you’ll need to purchase.
1. Water Source
Yard sprinklers need to pull water from somewhere. Depending on your property, you may get water from a main line connected to a municipal water source, a well, or a pump.
2. Irrigation Meter
Your water utility provider usually sets up the irrigation meter, which measures water usage using the sprinkler system. In some places, especially areas prone to drought, like the southwestern U.S., water restrictions determine how much water you can use for residential irrigation.
3. Controller or Timer
The entire sprinkler system relies on a controller to determine when the water will spray out onto the yard. You can program the controller or timer to spray water at certain times. This controller then opens or closes the valves when the program time starts or ends.
4. Valves
The valves control the water flow. When they are open, the water can flow through to the sprinklers. When closed, the sprinkler system is off until the next programmed watering time.
Valve Box
Valves are often stored underground in a valve box. The valve box typically has a green lid and protects the various valves the sprinkler relies on.
Master Valve
The master valve is a protective feature that can override the timer programming if it senses a problem with the sprinkler system. If the control valves, more on those soon, aren’t functioning, the master valve will stop the water from flowing to the irrigation system, which could cause a leak or damage the pipes.
Shut-Off Valve
The shut-off valve is essential for turning the water supply to the sprinkler system on and off. For instance, if you need to cap a sprinkler head or perform minor repairs, you’ll want to shut the water off to prevent the sprinklers from spraying you while you work.
Control Valves
The control valves manage water flow for various zones. For instance, your garden may be in a zone that gets watered less frequently than a zone for the grass in the front yard. Control valves can open when the timer starts to allow water to flow to certain zones of sprinklers, and these valves close when the timer ends.
Backflow Preventer
A backflow preventer, sometimes called a pressure vacuum breaker or an anti-siphon valve, is a device with two valves that protect your home’s drinking water from being contaminated by non-potable water that you may use for cleaning or watering the lawn outside. Like the other sprinkler valves, the backflow preventer can be found inside the valve box.
5. Pipes
The pipes run underground and carry the water from the water supply to the valves and then to all the sprinklers around the yard. For sprinkler systems, you’ll typically have PVC pipes. Sprinkler line depth is about 7 to 10 inches, which protects them from damage.
6. Risers
The risers are small, threaded tubes connecting the PVC pipe to each sprinkler head. These risers can also be capped with threaded PVC pipes if there are sprinkler heads you no longer need.
7. Sprinkler Heads
The sprinkler heads are the part that sprays water around the yard or garden. There are many different types of sprinkler heads, including pop-up sprinkler heads that spray water lower to the ground, rotary nozzle heads that can rotate to spray water around a large area, and impact sprinkler heads, which make a slight ticking sound as they spray and are great for homes with hard water.
8. Sprinkler Caps
Sprinkler caps are optional parts that can plug individual sprinkler heads if you find too many sprinklers per zone in your yard. These caps, which are often included in the sprinkler system kit, screw into the sprinkler head to stop water from coming out of that individual sprinkler head. You can also use threaded PVC caps that screw into risers to stop water flow.
How the Sprinkler System Works
The sprinkler system directs water from the water source through control valves managed by the controller or timer. When the timer is ready, the water flows through the open control valves, pipes, and sprinkler heads. When the controller signals the timer is done, the control valves shut, stopping the water from flowing to the sprinkler heads.
If you have different zones set up, the controller can signal for control valves for one zone to open and allow water to flow while it signals to the control valves for a separate zone to close and stop watering that area.
Cost of Installing a Sprinkler System
Installing a sprinkler system costs about $1,670 to $3,550, depending on the type of sprinkler and the size of the area you want to irrigate. You can also set up different zones, about $500 to $1,000 per zone, which allows you to water different sections of your property at different times. This can be convenient for giving all your different plants and grass the right amount of water, but installing additional valves and sprinkler lines costs more.
Installing or Troubleshooting a Yard Sprinkler
Whether you need to troubleshoot a malfunctioning sprinkler or you want to install a new sprinkler system, hire a local sprinkler installer near you. Although some repairs, like capping a sprinkler head, can be easy to DIY, finding a leaking pipe or digging trenches to lay new sprinkler lines is a big job. Avoid destroying your lawn and causing water leaks by leaving this work to the pros.
Frequently Asked Questions
A sprinkler system consists of many parts, including a water source, irrigation meter, controller or timer, several types of valves, pipes, risers, sprinkler heads, and sprinkler caps. These parts work together to operate your yard’s sprinkler system, and one of them breaking down or not working properly can cause a problem with the system as a whole. Contact a local sprinkler company for help identifying parts of the sprinkler system in the event of an issue.
The most essential components of a sprinkler system are a steady source of water and a network of distribution pipes. The entire system cannot operate without these two parts. That’s why it’s essential to work with a professional sprinkler installer to ensure the system’s pipework and connection to a reliable water supply are in working order.