keg1997

We're looking to install a sprinkler system in our yard. The yard is just over 1/2 acre and I'm also looking to have a well dug to supply the water. Supposedly, I'll want a deep well b/c a shallow well will provide high iron water that will discolor our concrete sidewalks and driveway. We have some installer coming to give us some estimates over the next few days. Any experiences out there or specific questions that I need to ask?
TIA

doopstr

Wow, a well just for the sprinkler? Sounds expensive. Can't you just hook it into your tap water?

Scrib

I have one, but I go off of city water. Well + irrigation = iron stains. I don't think there's an easy way yo get around it.

I ended up getting a second water meter installed just for the irrigation. Therefore, all the water that goes out into the yard is not charged the sewage tax. Saves quite a bit of money.


Oh and get a Toro system. Can't be beat.

keg1997

Yeah, our water in my town is very expensive (at least compared to other localities) b/c we have high flouride and they are putting in a multi-million dollar reverse osmosis plant.
To give some perspective...our water bill has been $300 for 2 months. That includes some pretty heavy "spot" sprinkling (not the whole yard). People in my neighborhood who have separate water meters but get their water supply from the town have bills that are $500-600 for 2 months. In my mind (depending on how much the well is), I'll get my money back in due time.
As for the iron stains, I've heard that if you go deep enough, you're good, or you can get an additive to your well to counteract the iron...

Scrib

I was writing checks for $200 a month this summer... Like $170 for irrigation and $30 for indoor water, sewage and trash... $300 every two months doesn't sound all that bad.

And FWIW, I'm 10 miles from lake michigan, so a water source isn't an issue. Then again, I was watering everyday and averaging about 65,000 gallons a month.

keg1997

Hmmm, our last bill was for 40,000 gallons so we're a bit higher....I'll give ya reports on what the well will cost to dig but I'm quite interested in looking at that option.

doopstr

How often and for how long do you run the sprinklers? Also, what time of day?

TBone2004

Early morning is best. Some people seem to do it everyday which is not good either. Water it deep (longer rather than shorter time)

JWhite1301

There is alot of good info in this thread. We have a 1/2 acre lot. We looked at the second meter option, but found one a bit better, IMO. They wanted 500 for the meter. I talked to the city and they had this option: they avg my sewer bills for Dec, Jan, and Feb. This is the lowest usage times of the year. This avg is then charged to us for the remaining nine months. It works out well.

We water at 6am. 25 mins on the lawn (each zone) and 15 on the beds. We water M, W, F, Sat. Our water bill is usually around 120 for this. (including sewer).

We have a rainbird system with Toro heads. I agree Toro heads are the best. I think the Rainbird is the best control though. The total system, installed, cost: 3500.

Hope this helps.

fsttyms1

Dont know about your area but wels here are expensive to have put in. Around here they are 3500-5000 on average. The deaper they have to go and if they run into big boulders and stuff the price goes up.

Unless you are close to a water source where you could drive in a sand point, or already have a well, i would go with the 2nd meter route

Scrib

My second meter cost me about that... $479 I think.

However, it was worth it. The town cuts the sewage rates in the summer, so people without a second meter benefit and don't have to pay as much as they normally would. However, this starts in June and stops at the end of August. Before that, you get nailed with sewage tax on irrigation water and same goes for September and after. It's nice not to have to worry about when you can and can't water...

pmptx

I love AZ. I have about 2 acres and am planning to put in a system. I have been debating well or not, but my city does the Dec, Jan Feb avg as sewage for year, so there is no sewage benefit. However, I am hearing rumors of the municipalities here putting meters on wells. I call

SDCGTSX

Desertscape? Rock lawn?

doopstr

How much can I expect to pay to have a system installed? How much could I save my doing the install myself? I'm not sure I want to attempt that though.

I have about .5 acre.

Scrib

Ask yourself how you would install it. Would you dig the trenches by hand? Good luck if you do. How would you get the heads under the driveway and sidewalk?

I'm all for do-it-yourself projects. But I also know my limits.

pmptx

We did 2 acres with beds, foundation drip, master valve, rain and freeze gauges and drip for all the trees for about 10 K, that is 24 zones.

Scottman111

The builder I work for uses Toro. I'm pretty good friends with the guy that installs/maintains them and he's never said anything bad about them...

GunnmeTaLCURA04

I wish I could help you with the cost of it (meaning give you idea's on how much it would be and all)

In my home we have a well. When we moved in, it was there already. And it great idea in the long run. This will SAVE YOU LOTS OF MONEY..

I had another thread goign on electric part of my water pump. We measured the depth of our tank, and it was around 23-34 feet. The pole did not go any further.

We have no issues with stains and we do not have 1/2 acre..well i dont even know how much we have, but we have 26 sprinklers. lol. We run it about every other day or 3 times a week for about 20 minutes.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

We're just under 1/2 acre, but the front of the yard had irrigation installed by the builder, so we didn't pay extra for it, so can't help you there.

We just had the backyard done in two zones. Since the pool area takes up most of the yard it wasn't that cheap. We had a drip run to all of the plants in the back on one zone, and 5 sprinkler heads cover the remaining yard area on a seperate zone. We also added two hose bibs in the backside of the yard to make it easier if we need water behind the pool area. We paid about $1300 total for all of that.

We also had one of the zones in the front yard replaced with drip since the sprays in the beds the builder setup were setup for their basic landscaping and we did all new landscaping last summer. Since we made the switch the plants are already growing soooo much better since every single one is now getting water to the roots. To switch it out cost $400.

FYR the sprinkler heads are Toro and the controller is a Rain-Bird. Currently we have 6 zones, which handles everything we need front and rear of the house.

Scrib

8 zones... Plumbing and everything was $3300.

Msnowdon

Anyone make a wireless system.

Michael

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Ooops, forgot to add that we had a rain-sensor installed also. That too is Rainbird...

Scrib

Wireless, as in?

The rain sensor I have is wireless. But the controller that ties into the valve boxes isn't. I'm sure that will be coming, but considering 95% of an irrigation system is made up of PVC, valve and backflows, I don't think a wireless controller will help much.

doopstr

I did some garbage picking the other day. Someone tossed out a $20 Melnor sprinkler. (I bought the same one a month ago) I took it home and it had a major leak at the connection point. I tossed in a 10 cent washer and its fixed. So now I have two sprinkers. Maybe I am good to go now.

mnd643

What kind of irrigation system did you install??? PVC is usualy only used on commercial or large residential jobs where the water pressure is 100+. Most residential jobs call for 1" poly pipe for mainline and zones, some call for 1.25 or 1.50 inch main (depending on pressure again). A wireless controller would be used for large jobs on golf courses, college campus', parks, etc etc...

Scrib

Perhaps it was poly...

It's a toro system and the pipe is flexible and black.

You're probably right.

05TLTony

What are your thoughts about lawnbelt? Lawnbeltusa.com. It looks like a good cheaper alternative compared to the traditional sprinker system.

mnd643

You get what you pay for....soooo...If your gonna DIY, you should at least get decent rotors (toro, rainbird, Hunter/nelson) and a 12 pack...