Sprinkler system installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What sprinkler system installation is

A sprinkler system installation designs watering zones, trenches the lines, sets the heads and valves, wires a timer controller, adds a backflow preventer and tests coverage so the lawn and beds get even water. People hire it for a new lawn, to replace an old or failing system, or to bring a yard with uneven watering into a plan that works.

Signs you need it

  • Dry spots, brown patches or soggy areas show up in the lawn because the coverage is uneven
  • Water is being hand-carried or hose-dragged to parts of the yard that need it regularly
  • The existing system is old, has many broken heads or has leaks that keep reappearing
  • A new lawn, a new bed or a grade change has made the old zones no longer fit the yard
  • You want a timer that can run zones on the schedule the plants need, without you adjusting it every week

What the pro does

  • The installer maps the yard, the water supply, the soil and the sun and shade in each zone, then draws the zones and head layout
  • A permit or utility check is handled where needed, and buried lines are located before any digging
  • Trenches are dug for mainline and lateral pipe, with the lines laid to the depths the installer specifies for the pipe type
  • Valves, heads and the backflow preventer are set, and the controller is mounted and wired to the valves
  • Each zone is run and checked for coverage, leaks and head spacing, and the controller is programmed and explained to you

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Lawn and bed area, and how many zones the layout needs
  • Soil type and rock, which change how hard the trenching is
  • Water supply pressure and flow, which decide the pipe size and the number of zones
  • Backflow preventer requirements and any testing the area requires
  • Controller type, such as a basic timer or a smart controller with a weather input
  • Trenching distance and how much paving, plant or structure has to be crossed
  • Restoration of turf, beds and hardscape after the trenching is finished

What a written quote should spell out

  • The zone layout, with the number of zones and the head type used in each
  • The pipe type, sizes and the depth specified for mainline and laterals
  • The valves, heads, controller model and the backflow preventer model
  • Permit, utility locate and any backflow testing that the job requires
  • Restoration of the lawn, beds and any paving that is disturbed
  • The warranty on parts and labor, and who to contact if a zone fails

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you design the zones, and will you show me the layout before you dig?
  • Which backflow preventer do you install, and who tests it after installation?
  • What pipe type and depth do you use, and why for my soil and traffic?
  • What controller do you install, and can I change the schedule from my phone?
  • How do you locate buried lines and the existing system before trenching?
  • How do you restore the lawn and beds after trenching, and what do I need to do to help the grass recover?
  • What do you test before you leave, and will you walk the zones with me?

Red flags

  • They dig without locating buried utilities or the existing lines first
  • They skip the backflow preventer or treat it as optional without explaining why
  • They install heads at spacing that leaves dry gaps, then say the grass will fill in
  • They will not show the zone layout before the work starts
  • They run mixed heads, such as spray and rotor, on one zone without a plan for the flow

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can plan the layout, pick the heads, and sometimes install a simple drip kit on their own. Call a licensed irrigation contractor for tapping into the water supply, connecting the backflow preventer, trenching, and any wiring to a controller, since these involve pressure, water systems and electrical work that can cause serious damage. Do not work on a line that is live or pressurized, and shut off the supply before you open a valve box.

Licenses and permits

Sprinkler and irrigation installation is commonly done by a licensed contractor, and the backflow preventer and its testing may be covered by separate rules. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local water utility or permit office before you hire or install.

Sprinkler system installation questions

Does an in-ground sprinkler system need a backflow preventer?

Many areas require one to keep irrigation water from flowing back into the drinking water supply. Ask the installer which device they use, where it is placed and who tests it, and check your local water utility or permit office for the rules that apply to you.

How do I know my zones are set up right?

Ask the installer to run each zone and watch the coverage, checking that heads overlap and that no zone is spraying the house, the walk or the street. A well-built system should give even coverage across the whole lawn.

Should I buy a smart controller?

A smart controller can adjust watering to weather and to the zone, and it can be changed remotely. Ask the installer what it will and will not do, and what happens to your schedule if the internet goes out.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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