Sprinkler head types, amount of sun, and soil type all have an effect on how much water an area needs and once you remove a valve and physically combine two zones you will lose your ability to water those two sections differently.
How many zones does my sprinkler system need?
That’s because your controller has the capacity for 16 sprinkler system zones, whether or not your yard actually needs that many. At RainMaster, we typically install controllers that have more capacity than you need right now, to allow room for adding more zones later if your landscaping needs change. Irrigation systems can be confusing.
How do sprinkler zones work?
Your zones are automatic. But exactly how do sprinkler zones work? Let’s take a look. 1. What Exactly Are Sprinkler System Zones? Each area of your yard gets divided into sections called zones, set up with different sprinkler heads to make sure water efficiently covers the whole area.
How do you draw a sprinkler zone plan?
Draw Your Sprinkler Zone Plan You can plan your zones accordingly by: Determining how much water pressure your system can distribute to each zone, and Based on the required pressure to operate each sprinkler, determine how many spray heads you can put in each zone.
Why do I need multiple zones for my lawn?
Most properties with any kind of yard require multiple zones because their water pressure isn't adequate for one zone to cover it all. Also, dividing the yard into zones allows more control over what areas of the lawn get more or less water (due to differences in shade, sunlight, etc.).
How to keep sprinkler zones organized?
Why do you need to organize sprinkler zones?
How to figure how many sprinklers to use?
How to plan a sprinkler system?
How much overlap is needed for sprinklers?
Can I connect 2 sprinkler valves together?
DOUBLER will allow you to operate two sprinkler valves independently on one set of field wires . Add a new valve without trenching in new wire by connecting the new valve AND the nearest operating valve to the DOUBLER. The DOUBLER will operate both valves separately on one hot wire and the common.
Can one sprinkler valve control two zones?
When I built the system, I thought the irrigation controller would allow me to power multiple zones at the same time, and that each valve - could be plugged in and used as a zone. Unfortunately, that's not how it works — only one zone is powered at a time, and multiple valves can be wired to a single zone.
What causes multiple irrigation zones to work at the same time?
Water is coming out of multiple zones at the same time: For the valves to stay open in one zone, while shutting outlets in other zones, there needs to be a minimum amount of water pushed through the valve.
How many sprinklers can I have in one zone?
If your home's water capacity was 10 GPM, you could place 3 heads per zone.
Does each sprinkler zone have its own valve?
An irrigation system is typically divided into several zones, each of which feeds sprinkler heads in a different area of the lawn or garden, and each zone is controlled by a valve that receives signals from a centrally located controller.
How much does it cost to add a zone to a sprinkler system?
The cost to add a zone to an existing sprinkler system is $300 to $700, depending on the zone type, sprinkler head type, and site conditions. Adding a sprinkler zone requires installing a new valve and may require upgrading the controller.
How long should I set each zone of my sprinkler system?
Water Thoroughly: Rotor zones should run for about 30-40 minutes per zone and spray zones 10-15 minutes per zone.
Why are two of my sprinkler zones not working?
If your sprinkler system isn't working in all zones, chances are the problem is localized to the one or two zones that aren't working. Each zone has its own valve, so that's a good place to look. Head out to each valve and see if it is opened fully, broken, rusted, or stuck. Turn valves to the left to open them more.
Why does one of my sprinkler zones have no pressure?
Often when your sprinkler system was running fine, and then one zone began to lose water pressure, the culprit is a leak in the zone's lines or a leak at a nozzle or two. Leaking nozzles won't produce the same water pressure and need to be replaced, which is fairly simple.
Can I add another sprinkler head to existing zone?
Adding Irrigation / Sprinkler Risers: You can add new risers to an existing zone in two ways: either along an existing line of PVC pipe or on a new line you branch off of from an old line.
How long do sprinklers need to run for 1 inch of water?
To determine how long you need to water to get one inch, place a plastic container in your yard and set a timer. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water. This formula works best with healthy, well-cultivated soil.
How do I know how many sprinkler zones I need?
With simple math, you can determine how many heads in each zone and then take the total number of sprinklers you need, and divide that by your head/zone number and that will tell you how many zones you need.
Does each zone have a solenoid?
What's a Solenoid? Every sprinkler valve has one — a coil component that uses electrical signals from the irrigation controller to open and close each valve, letting water move through the system.
How many zones are in a valve box?
Most irrigation systems have nine zones or less. It's pretty common to have 6-9. Part of it boils down to your water source, and how much water it can pump out.
What is a station on a sprinkler system?
Stations – Each station on your controller operates a valve that releases water to an irrigation area or “zone” in your garden. Zone – An irrigation zone is the area in your garden that is connected to the same valve. Examples include a lawn “sprinkler” zone or a shrub “drip” zone.
Why are some sprinkler zones not working?
If just one zone isn't working, the problem is usually an electrical issue or a defective controller or solenoid. To check the controller: Ensure the zone wires are firmly attached to the controller terminals, the transformer is plugged in, and the circuit breaker in the main panel is on.
How to keep sprinkler zones organized?
When planning your zones it's important to keep them organized. Coordinate your zones so that they are small areas of land in groups that are near each other . This will not only help you keep your zones structured, but it will also make it easier to identify and fix them if you ever have a problem with them. Now execute your design!
Why do you need to organize sprinkler zones?
Organizing sprinkler zones not only makes your life easier , but it also helps your system perform at its very best. Before you begin your sprinkler installation make sure that you have thoroughly done your research about how to set up sprinkler zones. This will not only help conserve water and money but it will also help your system ...
How to figure how many sprinklers to use?
With simple math, you can determine how many heads in each zone and then take the total number of sprinklers you need, and divide that by your head/zone number and that will tell you how many zones you need.
How to plan a sprinkler system?
You can plan your zones accordingly by: 1 Determining how much water pressure your system can distribute to each zone, and 2 Based on the required pressure to operate each sprinkler, determine how many spray heads you can put in each zone.
How much overlap is needed for sprinklers?
If you live in a climate with moderate precipitation, you can get away with less coverage, but for dryer areas we recommend 100% overlap, meaning water from one spray head sprinkler reaches neighboring sprinklers. You want to frequently check the spray radius of the sprinkler heads in your lawn to make sure that you have ample coverage for your landscape. Nozzles can break or can change direction, which messes with your results.
Can you use a controller on multiple zones?
Yes, this should work. Simply jumper the wire from one controller zone to the other as you propose. Even if the controller could turn on more than one zone at a time it wouldn't matter since they share a common power source.
Can a controller open two different zones?
The controller states it will not water more than one zone at a time no matter the settings, so I think I'm OK that the controller will not try to open the same valves from two different zones.
How to keep sprinkler zones organized?
When planning your zones it's important to keep them organized. Coordinate your zones so that they are small areas of land in groups that are near each other . This will not only help you keep your zones structured, but it will also make it easier to identify and fix them if you ever have a problem with them. Now execute your design!
Why do you need to organize sprinkler zones?
Organizing sprinkler zones not only makes your life easier , but it also helps your system perform at its very best. Before you begin your sprinkler installation make sure that you have thoroughly done your research about how to set up sprinkler zones. This will not only help conserve water and money but it will also help your system ...
How to figure how many sprinklers to use?
With simple math, you can determine how many heads in each zone and then take the total number of sprinklers you need, and divide that by your head/zone number and that will tell you how many zones you need.
How to plan a sprinkler system?
You can plan your zones accordingly by: 1 Determining how much water pressure your system can distribute to each zone, and 2 Based on the required pressure to operate each sprinkler, determine how many spray heads you can put in each zone.
How much overlap is needed for sprinklers?
If you live in a climate with moderate precipitation, you can get away with less coverage, but for dryer areas we recommend 100% overlap, meaning water from one spray head sprinkler reaches neighboring sprinklers. You want to frequently check the spray radius of the sprinkler heads in your lawn to make sure that you have ample coverage for your landscape. Nozzles can break or can change direction, which messes with your results.
