How to Install an Automatic Lawn Sprinkler Pump

Turn off the electricity to the irrigation system’s automatic timer. Depending on the wiring, you may just need to turn off the timer and unplug it, or you may need to turn off power at the breaker box. Turn off the water to the irrigation system as well.

Set the pump’s motor near the timer box. Wire it into the timer box with the wiring included with the pump, following the manufacturer’s directions. Typically, this involves wiring white wires to white, black wires to black, red to red and green to green. Fasten the ends of all wires with wire nuts and cover the ends with electrical tape.

Measure the depth of the water where you plan to install the pump’s intake, or foot, valve. Subtract 4 feet from that amount. Adjust the location of the foot valve’s placement if necessary. Cut a piece of PVC pipe that fits into a male-threaded coupler to this length with a hacksaw. Follow the pump manufacturer’s recommendations for pipe size.

Screw a male-threaded PVC coupler into the opening on top of the foot valve. Wipe PVC pipe glue around the outside of a length of PVC pipe. Insert the PVC pipe into the coupler and twist it 1/4-turn to seat the pipe in the coupler.

Wipe pipe glue around the inside of one side of a PVC elbow joint. Attach the joint by turning it 1/4-turn.

Measure the distance from the location of the foot valve to the pump. Cut PVC pipe to that length.

Insert a second male-threaded PVC coupler into the receptacle on the pump. Tighten it by hand then continue to tighten it 1/4-turn with the pipe wrench.

Connect the pump and the elbow joint with PVC pipe sealed in place with pipe glue. Lower the foot valve into the water.

Thread a discharge tee into the top of the pump then add the plug that comes with it. Set a bucket to catch any water coming out of the discharge tee. Turn on the electricity to the control box and the pump. Allow some water to flow out of the discharge tee to clean out the PVC piping. If water doesn’t flow, follow the manufacturer’s directions for priming the pump. Turn off the electrical supply.

Measure and cut enough PVC pipe to connect the pump to the irrigation system. Insert a third male-threaded PVC coupler into the discharge tee. Fasten the PVC pipe to the coupler and the irrigation system with pipe glue.

Turn the electricity back on to the irrigation system. Watch to see that the sprinklers all work properly. Set the timer box to meet your irrigation needs, following the manufacturer’s directions.