LAWN SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Installing Your Lawn Sprinkler System

At Fournier Irrigation, experience has taught us that when a lawn sprinkler system is designed properly it can save time, effort and money. Our automatic systems save more water than when you manually roll out your hoses, water by hand, then move on to the next spot. They are more efficient than setting out hose-attached sprinklers and relocating them from one spot to the next.

As each yard has different watering needs, we design and construct your lawn sprinkler system using a step-by-step designing approach.

1. We Determine Your Watering Needs

The average residential yard in this area is one-fourth to one-third of an acre but each yard has its own unique layout. We walk your property with you to determine your watering needs. You show us your property lines and tell us if your irrigation system should include plants, trees, or flower beds.

We examine your basement to determine the best way to access your water source.

2. We Design Your System for Proper Water Distribution

Water pressure and flow calculations are an important element of proper design. Your property has one of two types of water sources:

1. Municipal Water – otherwise known as city water. Your lawn sprinkler system requires just the right amount of water pressure to operate efficiently. The first thing we do is test your static pressure. If the pressure is too high, we install a reducing device to lower it. If it is too low, we install a booster pump to raise it. Additionally, we determine water flow by the size of your water service line to your home, meter size, and type and size of the pipes in your basement.
2.  Residential Wells – If you don’t have city water, you have a well. We test your well for output (gallons per minute). This lets us know how strong your pump is. We then contact your local health department to get information on the well regarding the depth and yield.  The yield is the amount of water that flows into the well from the surrounding rock and soil in a given time.

As residential properties don’t usually have the water volume to operate all the sprinklers at once, we set individual sprinkler heads in zones based on our calculated water pressure or well water flow rate. Otherwise, you must run your system for longer periods.

3. Our Plumber Establishes a Water Connection

Irrigation is a licensed plumbing trade in Connecticut, however, our license does not allow us to do the interior work necessary to connect to your water source. We work with a P-1 licensed plumber to comply with Connecticut licensing requirements. He connects to your water pipe, installs a shut-off valve and then exits the pipe through your home’s sill plate.  

4. Our Crew Installs the System Components

Our crew typically takes one to three days to install your outdoor system components. We use a vibratory plow which simplifies the installation process. When we operate the plow, a blade slices a narrow opening into the ground while simultaneously pulling the irrigation pipe into place. This trenchless process usually leaves your yard with little disturbance. However, this part of the project can be more difficult if the soil contains rocks or strong tree roots.

After we finish installing the irrigation pipe, we attach the sprinkler heads and valves to create irrigation zones. For most residential installations, we end up with six to seven zones throughout the yard.

We place your system controller in a location that receives a strong Wi-Fi signal and is also within five feet of a 120v power outlet. We complete the controller setup by connecting your zone valves. Controller installation and zone connections don’t require an electrician.

5. Cleanup, Adjustments, and Walkthrough

As vibratory plows allow our crews to avoid messy trenching operations, cleanup is much simpler. We rake out any debris pulled up with the plow and then tamp down any high spots with a motorized plate compactor. We fill low areas with topsoil and reseed all disturbed areas. Our installation crew returns your lawn to the condition it was in before we started.

When all components are installed and cleanup is complete, we turn on the water. We then flush out all pipes and nozzles and adjust all sprinkler heads. Adjustments are critical to making sure your sprinkler system waters only the areas you specify. If we discover water overshooting onto driveways, walkways, or other structures, we make sprinkler head adjustments.

Before we leave your property, we walk through the yard with you and explain all of the components. Our goal is to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with your new sprinkler system and that we have met all of your expectations.