Irrigation System Installation & Considerations

When you think about the costs revolving around a new sprinkler system, you really need to look at the entire picture to determine whether it is right for you. Not everyone values the convenience and ease a sprinkler system brings to a homeowner. Some people prefer to hand water their property due to the small size of their yard or with a sprinkler attached to the hose. However, when you have a normal size or large yard, the answer becomes rather obvious. After being exhausted from your day at the office, the last thing you want to do is water the yard. The time it takes to water the yard two to three times a week just eats away your personal time from relaxing or spending time with the family. The average American spends well over 40 hours at work. We don’t need to add more work when we get home.

Okay, so obviously an irrigation system installation is a huge convenience and time saver. It’s important that the homeowner weigh out their options. For example, the difference between the usual automatic sprinkler and a drip irrigation system. The two are similar in that it waters the grass, but drip irrigation systems work more specifically to reduce the amount of water you use on your property with as much as 20-50% reduction in water use. Drip irrigation uses less water than other automated sprinkler systems because it provides water straight to the roots. This is important because that’s where you want you the water to reach for your landscape to thrive. Unlike like other sprinkler systems, drip irrigation prevents water run-off and evaporation. You may not think about it, but when you water your lawn the water will run-off or evaporate before your roots got very much water. This is why we water our lawns longer without this type of irrigation system in place. If you are trying to conserve water and save money spent on water, you should consider getting the drip irrigation system.

A typical lawn needs one inch of water weekly. The worst option to accomplish this is by hand watering or using a hose with a sprinkler. You will overwater, underwater, and either way, you kill your grass. Not to mention, increase the cost of water with a less efficient means of accomplishing this task. There’s also the huge amount of time you used to do this inefficient task. I still suggest a sprinkler system to hand no matter what type you go with. You don’t over and under water the way you do by hand. Save more money and time. Automatic sprinkler systems are 60% effective compared to drip irrigation. As explained, is due to the runoff of water and evaporation. To get the best bang where it matters most will be with drip irrigation, fully utilizes all water and drops on the roots of the plant.

In addition, you get a reduction of eliminating weeds and mosquitoes when you have this type of irrigation system. Weeds and water-borne bugs prosper from overwatering. This overwatering occurs when you attempt to water your lawn yourself or if your sprinkler system needs to be fine-tuned. When you have a drip irrigation system, there is no stagnant water, so there is no crazy weed growths and swarming mosquitoes. The choice is glaringly obvious.