Key Considerations for Efficient Irrigation System Installations
Recent innovation in smart irrigation technology has given us intelligent products that help professionals install more efficient irrigation systems. However, while it’s become easier to rely on these products to provide practical solutions and help with decision making based on computed data, it’s as important as ever to remember the basics of irrigation design and site preparation that lead to the success and efficiency of any irrigation installation project. In fact, the site design should determine the technology and products used, rather than the high-tech system determining the site design. A solid understanding of the specific needs of a site will save you time and resources, protect the environment, help retain your client roster, and increase your bottom line!
it’s as important as ever to remember the basics of irrigation design and site preparation that lead to the success and efficiency of any irrigation installation project
Efficient irrigation starts with a solid understanding of the site details. Considerations such as soil quality; turf, shrubs, and trees; climate; water availability; and topography will help determine the flow rate, zones, and type of irrigation system that will be most efficient for the project. An understanding of the specific needs of the site will help you figure where, when, and how much to water. With this information you can now decide the most appropriate irrigation system, whether it’s high-efficiency nozzles or gear-driven rotors for turf areas, landscape drip or correctly sized micro-sprays for shrub beds or slopes, or pressure-regulated valves.
The next phase in your efficient irrigation installation is to review additional technical considerations of your system by following these steps:
- Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s specs on sprinkler head spacing
- Select nozzles that are match precipitated
- Never mix fixed spray sprinklers and rotary sprinklers in same zone
- Zone sprinklers in like areas
- Inspect all pipes for leaks
- Check for misaligned nozzles or rotors
- Look for broken spray heads and replace if necessary
Once you have taken the time to understand all the details of the site you can now look at the newest innovations on the market. Smart irrigation systems, when used correctly, give amazing functionality and data at your fingertips using applications on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Additionally, these smart irrigation tools use built-in intelligence to determine proper timing and water amounts and provide troubleshooting analysis for your system. Remember that while these innovations are helpful and impressive, they may not work for your customer’s unique situation, so let the site requirements determine the best solution.
To learn more about irrigation installation tips or to explore other industry resources visit our Knowledge Center. If you are an irrigation professional in the Colorado or Wyoming area and would like to partner with CPS distributors to help your business grow, visit our Become A Customer page.
