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chad_smith628

DIY Irrigation System

Guam Yankee
5 years ago

Hi, I'm in the process of installing my own underground pvc sprinkler system. I'm looking for an alternative to a backflow preventer that is typically installed by a professional. I was quoted around $2,400 for installation, including the initial break from the main line. Also, they are required to be inspected annually.


So what's my next best option if installing straight from the faucet? Also, I am aware that faucets aren't designed to be on all the time...suggestions to fix this are welcome too. Thank you!


And one more also...here's a bit of info about my property and system plans.


My main line is 3/4 inch copper

System has 65 psi and 12.5 gpm

I'm planning on going with 1 inch pvc

Property is 1/3 acre, Washington State Seattle area

My control box is capable of 16 zones, and I'm thinking I may need all 16 (Skydrop brand)


I feel pretty good about doing most of the installation, it's just that first part that I'm not really sure how to proceed.

Comments (2)

  • suezbell
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    With a 1/3 acre lot, do you have enough lawn and/or garden and so little rainfall that you can justify the costs of an underground sprinkler system or is you purpose for having the system something other than or in addition to watering your lawn/garden such as being able to turn them on to run off neighborhood pets/pests?

    If your objective is just to water your lawn/garden, are you interested in considering possible alternatives?

    You might consider creating an underground drainage system for your gutter downspouts beneath the area in need of additional water.

    If most of your lawn/garden is on one or two adjoining sides, you might create as a separate project (at a centrally located site) one or more outdoor faucets. These can be placed within an insulated (even lockable) box visually hidden within in some decorative garden feature.

    Planned in advance, you could link the use of these two projects: Enable your faucets to be used as faucets in the usual way (by adding a hose pipe) and/or enable your faucets to add water to your drainage/irrigation system during times of low rainfall,

    There are pipes with holes in the bottom intended to be placed in a gravel filled drainage ditch that could work for irrigation. Not sure if adding soaker hoses within such pipes so you could, as needed, fill them with your outdoor faucet would meet your needs -- but, given the cost of an actual sprinkler system, it is something that might be worth considering even though you might well end up needing to turn your faucet on and off manually, rather than with an electronic control -- but I suspect outdoor faucets don't need annual inspection or fees for it.

    Guam Yankee thanked suezbell
  • Guam Yankee
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Thank you for the response.

    Yes, I live in the Seattle area, but for about 3 months in the summer, there are periods of almost no rainfall and really hot sunny weather. So...the irrigation system is used the most during the summer.

    The property is really hard to describe. It is up on a hill. It is next to a wooded area and there are several very large pines on the property. The main lawn sits south of the house, but really most of the property has vegetation of one type or another and needs watered at least during the summer. There is a multi-tiered orchard as well that has apple and pear trees.

    As for the cost, I don't really think it's going to be horribly expensive since I'll be doing all the labor.

    My objective is simply to water my lawn...never even considered the pet/pest thing.

    The underground drainage system, which I hadn't considered, sounds possibly more complicated than a sprinkler system. There is already a drainage system in place and I don't really want to mess with it. It is probably already set up to do what you said. Although, sidenote, I bet it is in need of some maintenance. I've noticed that one of the drains is clogged at the downspout. Should I dig that up to clear it?


    Thanks again.