Home Depot has
Rain Bird Easy to Install In-Ground Automatic Sprinkler System on sale for
$66.95.
Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member
CoralReward482 for sharing this deal.
Features:
- Project involves digging to bury sprinklers and trenching the lawn to bury tubing using a spade shovel or half-moon edger
- Sprinklers retract into the lawn for a clean, uncluttered appearance and easier mowing
- Covers medium size lawn areas from 1000 - 3000 sq. ft., with average residential water pressure and flow
- Recommended minimum water flow: 6 GPM
- Working temperature: 32 degree Fahrenheit (min) - 110 degree Fahrenheit (Max). timer should not be exposed to below freezing temperatures (32 degree Fahrenheit)
- Sprinkler pattern (adjustable): 40 to 360 degrees
- Eliminates constant hassle of hose and sprinkler adjustments
- Waters your lawn automatically the whole season
- Includes:
- 125-ft of Distribution Tubing
- Fittings
- 6 professional grade high-efficiency 32SA pop-up rotary sprinklers
- Automatic 1ZEHTMR hose-end timer
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Top Comments
I ran this set all last year and even added a 7th nozzle for a small strip of grass. Adding the 7th nozzle caused the pressure in my system to drop enough that some of the heads would intermittently fail to pop up.
That said, it is an easy system to install and use, the drains allow you to skip any complicated winterization procedures beyond just shutting your water off (and I disconnected the hose), and the poly tube makes it easy to set the system up above ground and test placement before digging. I will say there probably won't be enough barbed fittings or tubing for most people's application, and they can be tough to find.
1) You're going to need help. It's not fun to dig this thing by yourself. And call before you dig. This will take about half a day to dig. We didn't burry this very deep, 6 inches for the line and about 12 for the sprinkler heads. Use whatever tool you're comfortable with. We went with 6 inches because it was easier to cut the ground with a shovel and lay in the line. You're going to need to get pass roots and rocks which isn't fun if you dig deep. Burry the sprinkler flush with the ground, else your mower will hit it. Use rocks to stabilize, and cover with dirt. This is basically a heavy object expected to stand upright on a hose.
2) There's a reason why they limit this setup to 6 sprinklers. They're set at 1GPM on each of those heads. Most homes will have 8-9 GPM rating. Adding one more is pushing it.
2a) The 32SA heads you buy at the store....MUCH MORE POWERFUL. I don't know why but I feel like these that come with the kit has less distant than the store bought one. I checked, same model and everything but once you replace the head, you'll see.
3) Definitely add drainers. They included 2 (?) in there but they can be bought at home Depot for about $4 a piece. I don't need to blow out my line at the end of the season with multiple drains.
4) Add a smart hose timer. You'll thank me later. Recommend Orbit BHyve. They're finicky in the app but they're dependable as in it'll last season after season.
5) If you need an Y splitter at your faucet from the house, DO NOT buy those common brass ones. They'll reduce your rate by about 1GPM. The backflow preventer on this already reduced it by half a gallon. Instead buy the Melnor splitters. Bigger diameters and won't cause reduction.
6) DO add a water hammer. The noise once this thing shuts off sounds like someone used a sledge hammer on the side of your house.
7) This system is meant for a small yard. About 3000 SQ ft. You try to water this with a 6000 sq ft yard like I did, you'll end up with redundancy and inadequate watering in areas. My GPM is at 8 with everything setup. I installed an extra head and regret it after one season. It was hit or miss; sometimes the sprinkler head would pop up and other times it wouldn't. Added to that, certain areas got more water and other areas got very little. It'll "cover" but not cover equally. I split my backyard up into 2 zones and was much happier.
8) $66 is a steal. But you can do it cheaper and better once you figure out what parts you need. This is but a kit. If you wait until end of season, you can buy parts for much cheaper.
If you have any questions, just leave a comment..I'll check back on this to answer.
Just fyi, this has been an expensive hobby to continue. Did the back yard, and then had to split it into two zones. Then did the front yard. Added 3 smart timers. Then did the two gardens. Added timers on that. Then the grass seeds. Smh.
1: Self draining. Basically when pressure is low, the lines will mostly empty. This, if done properly, will remove need to winterize the lines.
2: Rent a trenching saw from local big box store and bury lines deep. This will allow you to fill, if needed, with soil that is free of rocks. Also burying lines deeper protects against freezing and accidental breakage when digging in the yard.
I have clay/rocky soil.....and a lot of trees... doing by hand would be a nightmare!
3: Get utility to come mark area you're planning to dig, especially if using a trenching saw.
4. Get a digital wi-fi controller... they're often being sold on SD for $75-150.... %100 worth it when making sprinkler adjustments or needing to customize watering (like when re-seeding).
My lines are buried 1.5-2' deep... They're not self draining, but I've NEVER winterized. Only had one line break, but it was due to a tree root. My manifold is inside an attached garage... I just drain it and shut off water in winter.
My $.02! I'm not a professional, but have a happy, healthy lawn that I'm proud of.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank enz1ey
I ran this set all last year and even added a 7th nozzle for a small strip of grass. Adding the 7th nozzle caused the pressure in my system to drop enough that some of the heads would intermittently fail to pop up.
That said, it is an easy system to install and use, the drains allow you to skip any complicated winterization procedures beyond just shutting your water off (and I disconnected the hose), and the poly tube makes it easy to set the system up above ground and test placement before digging. I will say there probably won't be enough barbed fittings or tubing for most people's application, and they can be tough to find.
I ran this set all last year and even added a 7th nozzle for a small strip of grass. Adding the 7th nozzle caused the pressure in my system to drop enough that some of the heads would intermittently fail to pop up.
That said, it is an easy system to install and use, the drains allow you to skip any complicated winterization procedures beyond just shutting your water off (and I disconnected the hose), and the poly tube makes it easy to set the system up above ground and test placement before digging. I will say there probably won't be enough barbed fittings or tubing for most people's application, and they can be tough to find.
Are these heads good enough as a more advanced system later if I want to upgrade the controller and add more/separate zones later and don't want to redo this zone?
Are these heads good enough as a more advanced system later if I want to upgrade the controller and add more/separate zones later and don't want to redo this zone?
You can certainly keep these and then upgrade the sprinkler bodies and/or nozzles quite easily down the road. The only knock I'd have on this is the tubing size, this kit uses 1/2" poly tube where you'd typically want something like 3/4" to supply a higher volume of water to so many sprinkler heads. It's not a huge deal, however, if your area is on the smaller side. Basically in the future if/when you upgrade/add components, you will just need to adapt the 1/2" poly tube to your new valve/manifold which will be controlled by your new controller.
I am actually in the beginning stages of doing this myself. I have made some landscape changes to my yard, so I am leaving a few of these originals in place, and in other areas I will be replacing the sprinkler body which is as easy as digging up the old body, unscrewing it, and screwing a new one in place then burying it. These are decent sprinkler bodies though, so the only reason to replace them is if you want to change to a spray valve instead of a rotor.
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With a system like this, I can't find any documentation on the psi limit of the timer and fittings, really the timer that I'm concerned about. I'm interested in purchasing, but would hate to go through the whole process too have trouble soon after. Any knowledge there?
1: Self draining. Basically when pressure is low, the lines will mostly empty. This, if done properly, will remove need to winterize the lines.
2: Rent a trenching saw from local big box store and bury lines deep. This will allow you to fill, if needed, with soil that is free of rocks. Also burying lines deeper protects against freezing and accidental breakage when digging in the yard.
I have clay/rocky soil.....and a lot of trees... doing by hand would be a nightmare!
3: Get utility to come mark area you're planning to dig, especially if using a trenching saw.
4. Get a digital wi-fi controller... they're often being sold on SD for $75-150.... %100 worth it when making sprinkler adjustments or needing to customize watering (like when re-seeding).
My lines are buried 1.5-2' deep... They're not self draining, but I've NEVER winterized. Only had one line break, but it was due to a tree root. My manifold is inside an attached garage... I just drain it and shut off water in winter.
My $.02! I'm not a professional, but have a happy, healthy lawn that I'm proud of.
With a system like this, I can't find any documentation on the psi limit of the timer and fittings, really the timer that I'm concerned about. I'm interested in purchasing, but would hate to go through the whole process too have trouble soon after. Any knowledge there?
Working water pressure: 15 psi (minimum) - 90 psi (maximum)
I would recommend install a pressure reducing valve.
1: Self draining. Basically when pressure is low, the lines will mostly empty. This, if done properly, will remove need to winterize the lines.
2: Rent a trenching saw from local big box store and bury lines deep. This will allow you to fill, if needed, with soil that is free of rocks. Also burying lines deeper protects against freezing and accidental breakage when digging in the yard.
I have clay/rocky soil.....and a lot of trees... doing by hand would be a nightmare!
3: Get utility to come mark area you're planning to dig, especially if using a trenching saw.
4. Get a digital wi-fi controller... they're often being sold on SD for $75-150.... %100 worth it when making sprinkler adjustments or needing to customize watering (like when re-seeding).
My lines are buried 1.5-2' deep... They're not self draining, but I've NEVER winterized. Only had one line break, but it was due to a tree root. My manifold is inside an attached garage... I just drain it and shut off water in winter.
My $.02! I'm not a professional, but have a happy, healthy lawn that I'm proud of.
*bonus points if you could tell me what I need instead
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