You’ve decided to build your sprinkler system since we’ve had an arid summer.

Are sprinkler systems worth it? They’re worth it if you take pride in a healthy lawn and landscapes.

Plus, in-ground sprinkler systems are designed to save money on your water bill and conserve water. While it’s a big investment upfront, you’ll notice your utility bills decreasing with the water savings you get from an outdoor sprinkler system.

But where do you start when buying sprinkler parts? In this post, we’ll be discussing the basics of purchasing sprinkler system parts.

Steps You Need to Take Before You Shop for Sprinkler System Products

You need to take some measurements and note other considerations before you buy sprinkler products for your irrigation system. Here are the steps to take before you buy any spray heads or controllers:

• Know your soil: Do you know what kind of soil you have? Is it clay, sandy, or loamy? The soil type determines how often you need to turn on your in-ground irrigation system.

 
For example, if you have sandy soil, you’ll need to water more often than a homeowner with clay soil that holds moisture longer than sandy soil.
 

• Know your property’s size: How many square feet is your lot? If it’s a small lot, buy sprays that don’t rotate. You’ll need rotors for large properties because they rotate and cover more area.

 

• Know your property’s shape: Your property’s shape determines how you design your in-ground sprinkler system.

 

• Buy sprinkler parts that will meet your city’s watering restrictions: If you live in a municipality with water restrictions, you’ll need to program your outdoor sprinkler system to only turn on and off on certain days at specific times.

 

• Look for sprinkler products with a solid metal connection: You only want to purchase quality-made sprinkler parts to ensure a well-built and efficient irrigation system that lasts a long time.

 

• Know how much money you have for building an outdoor sprinkler system: How much can you spend on sprinkler parts? Does the water need to reach as far out as possible, or can you get away with a smaller watering system based on what you can afford?

4 Sprinkler Parts to Build a Basic In-Ground Sprinkler System

Once you have the above basics, it’s time to list the sprinkler system parts you need to buy. Here are some factors to think about

1.  Do you need a rotor or a spray? Rotors pop up and rotate in your yard. Rotors work best in larger areas and are available in various radii, flows, and inlets. 
You want to determine the range that the rotors need to spray, such as medium areas, up to 32’, or large areas, from 20’-50’.
 
You also need to determine the pop-up height; your height choices include: 2”, 3”, 4”, 6”, or 12”. Make sure to match the inlet size at ¼” or ¾”.
  
Alternately, sprays pop up but don’t rotate. And sprays work best in smaller yards.

 2.  How to buy sprays: Buying spray heads is the same as buying rotor heads. You first need to determine the range:

• 4’-8’
• 9’-12’
• 12’-15’.

Next, determine the pop-up height:

• 2”
• 3”
• 4”
• 5”
• 12”.

For the last step, determine the spray pattern:

• Adjustable up to 360°
• Fixed 360°
• Fixed 180°
• Fixed 90°.

3.  Your next purchase will be a sprinkler nozzle: A sprinkler nozzle fits the spray head and is available in different spray patterns. 
Sprays come with one nozzle, but you can buy other nozzles as long as they are for their intended purpose. For example, rotor heads go on rotors, and spray heads go on sprays. You mustn’t mix and match.
 
You can find five sprinkler nozzles at K-Rain with various nozzle types, arc, radius, thread, and spray patterns. All nozzles perform differently and include:

• Rotary nozzle series
• Fully adjustable rotary nozzles
• HE KVF adjustable nozzles
• KV nozzles
• Fixed pattern nozzles.

 4.  A controller is the last sprinkler product you need to buy to set up a basic irrigation system: A controller powers the sprinkler system. Controllers have different features but allow you to set start/stop times and when each zone will run. 

The controller has different features, including outdoor WiFi, indoor WiFi, outdoor conventional (non-WiFi), and indoor conventional (non-WiFi). You can manage a WiFi controller from your mobile device.

Where Can You Buy K-Rain Sprinkler System Parts?

At K-Rain, we make it easy for you to find the right sprinkler products for your watering system.

If you’re a DIYer, you can find manuals for K-Rain sprinkler systems on our website. You also can find a contractor for designing and installing your K-Rain rotors, sprays, spray nozzles, and controller.

You can buy your K-Rain sprinkler parts at our online store or your local Home Depot and Lowe’s. If you have questions about your K-Rain sprinkler parts, call our customer service at 800-735-7246 or fill out our contact form.

Source:
HomeDepot.com, Best Sprinklers for Your Lawn and Garden.