DIY Rain Bird Yard Sprinkler Systems

Preparation

• 1

  Insert flags or other markers into the ground where the sprinklers will go.

• 2

  Lay string or spray paint on the ground where you'll dig the trenches.

• 3

  Dig the trenches about 8 to 12 inches deep by hand or with a trenching machine.

• 4

  Lay out the pipes, fittings, valves and the sprinklers beside the trenches.

Main Line Connection

• 5

  Twist the valve of the main water line until the water is turned off. After the water valve, cut a section the size of the slip-type compression T with a pipe cutter. Twist the ends of the T off and slip them on the two open ends of the water line. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the compression T and insert the T in the space between the two main line ends. Screw the T ends onto the compression T. Always tighten fittings with a wrench one and half turns and no more.

• 6

  Wrap Teflon tape around PVC fittings and screw the fittings into either side of a PVC shut-off valve. Cut a 3-inch PVC section. Always sand down the ends of PVC pipe until all the rough edges are gone. Brush the ends of the PVC section, the inside of the compression T opening and the inside of one of the two fittings of the shut-off valve with PVC primer and then PVC glue. Insert the section into the compression T and the shut-off valve to the section. Twist each a half turn and hold them in place for 15 seconds.

• 7

  Prime and glue the pipe going from the shut-off valve to the water valves and insert it into the open end of the shut-off valve.

Valve Manifold Insertion

• 8

  Cut a 3-inch section of pipe for the valve manifold. Wrap Teflon tape around the two fittings for the valve manifold and screw them into the "Flow" inlets of the two water valves.

• 9

  Prime and glue the PVC section, the fittings and the open end of the pipe from the shut-off valve connection. Insert the pipe into the opening of the first water valve fitting, insert the section into the other side of the first water valve fitting and then slide the only fitting opening from the second water onto the section. Twist the pipes and the unit until the connection is solid, and hold them in place for 15 minutes. Confirm that the valves sit flat on the ground.

• 10

  Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of two PVC fittings and screw them into the outlet sides of the water valves.

Yard Installation

• 11

  Prime the ends of the pipes that lead from the water valves to the two sprinkler zones of the yard. Brush glue on one end of each pipe and slide them into the outlet fittings of the water valves.

• 12

  Prime and glue the remaining PVC pipes and fittings of the sprinkler system together, one at a time.

• 13

  Install a fitting into each PVC pipe at the exact location of every sprinkler housing. Screw a swing-pipe assembly onto the fitting, tightening it by hand. Twist the sprinkler housing onto the assembly, tightening it by hand. Repeat this, until each sprinkler is connected to its zone line.

• 14

  Fill in the trenches with dirt. Ensure that each sprinkler housing is vertical in the ground and that its head is level with and slightly above ground.

• 15

  Place the valve manifold box on top of the valve manifold and fill in around the box with dirt. Put the lid on the box.