TRENDS
TRENDS
Irrigation Installation Basics
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to add onto the system in the future, it won’t be able to perform very well if it doesn’t have any overage in it.” Dig In The calculations are complete, the plans are drawn, and the supplies are on-site, but there is one key step standing in the way of the trencher hitting the dirt. “Before you start any job, you want to call for a line locate,” says John Watson, operations manager at All About Irrigation in Flowery Branch, Georgia. “Don’t do any digging before you call for a line locate to mark all your utilities.” Take Pride in the Details Each step of the irrigation installation process comes with a specific set of best practices, and that includes the final steps of installation. While the process of securing the fittings may seem straightforward, Watson says there is a specific technique to ensure the best long-term outcome. “Make sure to bottom your fittings out, then clean, prime, and use the proper amount of glue, quarter turn the fittings, and wipe excess glue off the fitting,” he says. Invest in Your Business The reality of the past 18 months is that supply chain issues have created equipment shortages, which have led to price increases. Contractors who are experienced estimators will build enough profit into their bids to absorb these unforeseen costs. “Expenses change, and you should be aware that that will happen and plan accordingly,” Slack says. “You should be able to accommodate it without having to go back to the customer.”
irrigation professional? Check out “How to Get into the Irrigation Business” on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 9 AM for the best tips and advice from a panel of successful irrigation contractors.
Use these 5 tips to strengthen your installation process.
BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN
Installing an irrigation system that is well-designed, effective, efficient, and built to last is every contractor’s ultimate goal. These simple tips from irrigation professionals will help you navigate the process, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure that your irrigation system installation is able to withstand the test of time. Do Your Homework Before the trenching begins, there is plenty of work to be done to ensure that the end result checks all the boxes. A designer needs a variety of data in hand before an efficient and effective irrigation system design can take shape, says Keith Klusmeyer, a landscape and irrigation designer at Bergman Nurseries in Quincy, Illinois. “You’re going to need the gallons per minute the system is capable of running, the static pressure of the system with nothing running, and the service line and service meter size,” Klusmeyer says. “Once you have that info, it makes the overall design process easier to come up with.” There are a few different ways to determine the water capacity on a job site, from a pressure gauge that attaches to the spigot, to the old-fashioned bucket test, to some basic number crunching. “You can stick a bucket under the faucet and time how long it takes to fill up a 5-gallon bucket or you can go in and do the math,” Klusmeyer says. “What size
Arizona. He encourages irrigation professionals to think big when it comes to design and installation. Allowing for the ability to expand a system in the future requires a small investment up front, but it saves tremendous time and expense when and if a system requires expansion. “Overdo it when it comes to design, and overdo it when it comes to installation,” says Slack. “If you need
is your service line coming in? What size meter do you have? That will give us an idea of our gallons per second.” Plan for Expansion Installing an irrigation system that fills the current need is good, but installing a system that can accommodate the needs of tomorrow is excellent, says Andy Slack, the owner of Slack Landscape and Irrigation Consulting in Buckeye,
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2022 issue of Irrigation & Lighting magazine. Read the full article online at irrigationandlighting.org. Lauren Sable Freiman is a freelance writer based in Cleveland and can be reached at laurensable@gmail.com.
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