Most residential and commercial irrigation systems are “on land” systems, which means that everything is buried in the ground. With pipes, sprinklers and hidden irrigation valves, you get a cleaner and more presentable landscape. We specialize in irrigation systems to keep your outdoor area looking lush year round, all while saving you money.
Water source and pipes
The beginning of a sprinkler system is the water source. In general, it is an access to an existing water line or a pump that draws water from a well or a pond. Water travels through pipes from the water source through the valves and to the sprinklers. The pipes from the water source to the irrigation valves are called “main lines”, and the lines from the valves to the sprinklers are called “side lines”. The majority of the pipes currently used in irrigation systems are plastic pressure pipes HOPE, MOPE, PVC, EX, Poly, Poly NSF, due to their ease of installation and resistance to corrosion. After the water source, the water usually travels through a check valve. This prevents the water in the irrigation lines from being retracted and contaminating the clean water supply.
Controllers, Zones and Valves
Most irrigation systems are divided into zones. One zone is a single irrigation valve and one or a group of sprinklers connected by pipes. Irrigation systems are divided into zones because, in general, there is not enough pressure or flow available to operate the sprinklers in a whole yard or athletic field at the same time. Each zone has a solenoid valve controlled by an irrigation controller. The irrigation controller is a mechanical or electrical device that signals an area to turn on at a specific time and keeps it turned on for a specific period of time. “Intelligent controller” is a recent term used to describe a controller that is capable of adjusting the watering time on its own in response to current environmental conditions. The intelligent controller determines the current conditions by means of historical climate data for the local area, soil moisture sensors (water potential or water content), weather station or a combination of these.
Sprinklers
When an area is activated, water flows through the sidelines and finally ends up in the heads of irrigation sprinklers. Most sprinklers have threaded entries for pipes on the bottom of the sprinklers, which allows an accessory and pipe to fit. Sprinklers are usually installed with the top of the head aligned with the ground surface. When the water is pressurized, the head will emerge from the floor and water the desired area until the valve closes and extinguishes that area. Once there is no more water pressure in the sideline, the sprinkler head will retract towards the ground.