SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

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I wanted an irrigation system installed at my house and decided to DIY after a very expensive quote. I was told $6500 for an 8 zone design, no way. Rainbird helped with their design service which got me headed in the right direction. So now that I have purchased most of the components I would like some review before I cannot return or exchange anything.

I have city service with about 60psi at 14gpm delivered with a 1" galvanized line. I am having a landscaping company tap into the water main and provide me with a 1" SCH40 PVC connection after the backflow preventor. Including all the "in yard" trenching, the cost is $650. Good price? I think it is ok, but I don't have a comparison.

My design uses 15 zones, most of which are for my extensive flower beds and side yards. Rainbird designed 16 zones, but I feel 15 works well and maybe even 14 if I can regulate my flow rates. Average water usage per zone is 12gpm, working at about 40psi at the furthest head. Using the 100DVF valves in four manifolds, 3x4 valves and 1x3 valves. Rainbird suggested two 8 zone controllers, but I went with the 16 station ESP-LXi. I am not planning on drains considering I am north of Seattle and we rarely ever get below freezing. Should I have a Tee installed to blow out the lines?

I am using Rainbird 1800 spray heads for the beds and side yards. For the front and back yard I am using R-50 rotors. There are some tall bushes I have and I was thinking inside the bush using a 12" pop 1800 which is suspended about 20" out of the ground. This way the head retreats back into the bush when done, instead of a little nozzle poking out of the bushes every 8 feet or so. Plus, this would accommodate further growth and pruning.

Each zone is limited to no more than 13 gpm, given throw distances this did necessitate the 15 zones (14 if I work it). The lot is 16,000 square feet with about 4,500 of that being residence and 5,500 being beds. One of my questions is line size. Looking at the prices for SCH40 1" and 3/4" PVC there is about a $0.80/10' difference. Given I need 1600' of pipe would it be alright to drop to 1" main line and 3/4" service or "zone" line. This would save me about $400 in fittings and pipe. With that, what is the benefit of going from SCH40 to Class 200 PVC? In that there is another $0.40/10' savings. Maybe I shouldn't be looking for cost cutting routes if I want a good system, but money is money and I don't have tons of it. Already I am looking at about $1800 for the whole deal, which is better than the $6500 for contractors.

At first glance what do ya think? I usually research the piss out of everything that I do. I consider myself a very capable person, usually opting to DIY everything unless I have potential to really mess up (e.g. tapping into the mainline). Thanks for any input, it will be appreciated!

-John

Thanks for the input so far!

I have the landscaping guy comming in a few minutes to talk over the mainline tap and where to trench. I cannot wait for hm to complain about my design considering he is losing $6000 of business because of it. They are a good company though so it shouldn't be so bad.

I have come around about the PVC issue. It makes sense to me now. There is no reason to skimp on it and I can afford it, I just usually try to penny pinch like crazy. I will be using SCH 40 for the mainline and then Class 200 for the servicing lines. Anybody know of a cheap place on the internet to get fittings? I found a place called LASCO which seems to be a crazy deal, but I think you have to be a retailer though . . . darn.

Thanks again and I will be frequenting the forum for awhile.

-John