Dig for Your Sprinkler System The trenches will be relatively shallow, usually 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your area's freeze cycles and frost severity. The trench must also be deep enough to allow the sprinklers to retract underground to prevent breakage from lawn machines.
Sprinkler lines should be buried below the grass roots, and deep enough the sprinkler heads sit flush with the soil surface or slightly above grade. The depth varies depending on factors but typically ranges from eight to 12 inches.
Q: How Deep Do You Bury Sprinkler Wire? A: Like the pipes, you should bury the conduit at least 6 inches deep. Depending on your municipal code, you may be required to dig them deeper. This will protect it from shovels and tillers.
To make sure you avoid the sprinkler lines when digging, it's best to use a sprinkler valve locator, which may be available in your local hardware stores. Once the batteries are placed, turn on the power. Similar to an ordinary metal detector, also perform the test to assess if the equipment is functional.
A: My recommendation is to bury sprinkler lines 8-12 inches. I usually try to keep a standard depth of 10" because it provides more safety if I need to do some type of ground work so I don't have to worry about hitting lines. A walk-behind rototiller generally won't go deeper than 8".
Dig for Your Sprinkler System
The trenches will be relatively shallow, usually 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your area's freeze cycles and frost severity. The trench must also be deep enough to allow the sprinklers to retract underground to prevent breakage from lawn machines.
Check for a System Map
While it might seem obvious, the easiest method for quickly locating sprinkler lines is to refer to a system map. Installation companies often prepare a detailed map that shows the exact location of sprinkler heads and service lines.
You can also use underground wire cable locator NF-826 to find the underground sprinkler wires without digging and it's the easiest way. Let's dig a little deeper. Table of Contents: Part 1: What Is A Sprinkler Valve Box and A Sprinkler Valve.
Narrow your search area by looking at your sprinkler system map or by turning on the water, watching for flooding areas, and listening for water trickling underground. Mark areas with possible missing sprinkler heads with flags or sticks, then use your metal detector in those spots.
In consequence, it's only natural you'd want it to last as many years as possible without major intervention. Generally speaking, the life expectancy of a sprinkler system is about 20 years, on average.
Dig trenches following the string. Mark the sprinkler locations with flags or the stakes. Typical trench depths range from 6 to 12 inches.
However, as a general rule, most safety codes require burial at 24 inches. This depth provides adequate protection and minimizes the risk of damage.
With the Orbit Branded 7-Strand sprinkler wire (100 ft.), the wire strand is 50 feet in length, and each wire will adequately handle one solenoid valve up to a maximum distance of 800 feet. We use and recommend an 18-gauge sprinkler wire.
Spoke with my colleague: California Plumbing Code 2007 Edition (news to me): Section 609.1 states: Minimum cover shall be 12" below finish grade or minimum 12" below the local frost depth. So, 18" below finish grade will be fine and I know on occasion, you get frost in Danville (rarely).
Locate the valve box – A little light excavation should locate the box. Once found, clean off any dirt and open it. If you have more than one irrigation circuit, each one will have its own valve box. Note in which direction the sprinkler line goes.
The number of sprinkler heads per zone depends on the water pressure and flow rate of a system's water source. A traditional system may have a dozen rotors and 8 to 10 spray heads. An Irrigreen system only needs one sprinkler head per zone.
Check the Blueprint. Most irrigation systems have a map or layout showing the sprinkler heads' location. This blueprint is an invaluable tool for pinpointing the exact locations of the sprinkler heads, helping you avoid unnecessary digging.
If you do not reroute your irrigation system before laying down concrete, you can accidentally block your drip lines. Any blockage to your drip lines can cause the system to malfunction.
Once you identify any wet areas, shut off the water and dig in those places to expose the pipes. Now, open the water once again. You will see a gush of water or small bubbles on the line with the leak, depending on how big the crack on the pipe is.
Other secondary private utility lines can include site lighting, storm sewer lines, irrigation lines, underground storage tanks (USTs) and vent pipes. The 811 One Call system will generally not mark secondary utilities and will not provide the depths of any utilities as part of their locate.
Rent a valve-locating device. These devices detect lost valves by tracking the wires from the controller to the lawn irrigation system valve site. A valve-locating device contains a transmitter, a receiver, two lead wires, and a grounding stake. It transmits a beeping signal along the wire to find irrigation valves.
Measure the Distance Between Two Active Sprinkler Heads
Most of the time, sprinkler heads are placed evenly in a pattern across your yard. Use the tape and measure the distance between functioning sprinkler heads. You can locate any buried or missing sprinkler heads by knowing the exact pattern between the two heads.
Today, the best tool for the job is ground penetrating radar (GPR) as it accurately maps metal and PVC pipes. Traditional pipe locators use electricity and magnets to locate underground pipes.
Most residential sprinkler systems are done using the square pattern. Layout can actually be quite simple. I generally walk around a property with a measuring tape or wheel and place flags according to available products based on distance.