I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Thanks,

MC

On Oct 24, 12:04*am, "MiamiCuse" wrote:
I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. *I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. *I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? *So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. *I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? *This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. *How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. *I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. *How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Thanks,

MC

Gee How can anybody even try to make a guess without knowing how many
heads, of what gpm, and water pressure.

On Oct 24, 1:04*am, "MiamiCuse" wrote:
I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. *I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. *I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? *So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. *I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? *This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. *How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. *I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. *How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Google 'lawn irrigation tutorial'. There's a guy who has a great web
site with all sorts of planning information. Your question can't be
answered without more information.

R

MiamiCuse wrote:

I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Thanks,

MC

If you plan to replace lines and heads, the simplest thing to do is to
use one of the manufacturers free design services. You send them the
dimensioned sketch of the yard, water supply info, etc. and in a week or
two they send you a full design with all the piping and sprinkler head
specs. Get this design and then just use the portion of it you need, and
as other areas need repair, just refer to the plan again for what to
replace things with.

On Oct 24, 8:28*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 24, 1:04*am, "MiamiCuse" wrote:





I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. *I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. *I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? *So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. *I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? *This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. *How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. *I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. *How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Google 'lawn irrigation tutorial'. *There's a guy who has a great web
site with all sorts of planning information. *Your question can't be
answered without more information.

R- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


One thing is for sure, you don't need 1 1/2" pipe to water a 75 X 25
area. The 3/4" is what would typically be used. So, you can go
ahead and change it if you want. but if what's there works except for
the heads being shot, you're not improving anything, just making more
work.

As to exactly how to place the heads, what kind to use, etc, there are
varying theories and websites that have guides and info.

On Oct 23, 10:04*pm, "MiamiCuse" wrote:

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? *So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. *I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? *This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. *How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?


Toro has a pretty good sprinkler installation guide, he
http://www.torodesign.com/iguide2/intro.html

The process is pretty generic - space heads for full coverage,
determine GPM (gallons per minute) needs vs. supply capacity, split
heads into circuits, start digging and gluing.

For best coverage, the spray patterns should overlap completely - i.e.
if the head says 15' spray radius, the heads should be about 15'
apart.

Determining you water pressure and flow capacity in GPM will tell you
how many heads you can put on one circuit - add up the individual GPMs
of all the heads - should not exceed the supply GPM, if it does, add
another circuit.


Jerry

Yes I did look at some of those web sites for the calculations.
However the problem is I have two runs that serves different parts of
the yard and I have yet to discover all the heads and there are areas
that the two runs partially overlap and I do not know which head is
from which run. I fixed a few heads last weekend and once they are
fixed I then realized I have another stretch somewhere else that when
along the perimeter of the property line then under the driveway and
back up on the other side of the sidewalk.

So what I am trying to say is it's impossible for me to know all the
heads and all the run and branches at this time without me digging
them all up, so I am trying to use the best judgment I can to fix a
partial section of it by knowing that the existing configuration works
so trying to isolate the subsystem and establish it's boundary
conditions. The water supply is from a well pump.

MC

wrote in message
...
On Oct 24, 8:28 am, RicodJour wrote:
On Oct 24, 1:04 am, "MiamiCuse" wrote:





I have a few busted sprinkler heads so I decided to dig a trench along the
line and examine the line. I was amazed that in a stretch of 60' the pipe
went from 1-1/2" diameter to 3/4" to 1" then back to 3/4" as it goes
downstream. I think over the year sections of pipes were being repalced or
modified.

I assume the changes in the diameters like this would cause unnecessary
pressure loss or even un-uniform pressure for each sprinkler head on that
line? So I am planning to replace them all with a long stretch of pipe with
the same diameter. I am not sure what diameter to use, should I stay with
1-1/2" or reduce it to a smaller diameter? This line runs down the middle
of a side yard about 25' wide and 75 feet long but the run is only 60'. How
far apart should I space the sprinkler heads if I used 360 degree heads?

Another question is at the end of that 60' run is a big tree occupying the
end of that yard, and the root system is such that I cannot trench any
further. I am wondering if it's ok (will there be enough pressure) to put a
big 360 degree impact rotor sprinkler head on the end of the pipe run to try
to cover the area of the tree, but I don't know if it's going to have enough
pressure to run that rotor sprinkler at the end of the line. How can I
determine that without actually gluing up everything to try it?

Google 'lawn irrigation tutorial'. There's a guy who has a great web
site with all sorts of planning information. Your question can't be
answered without more information.

R- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


One thing is for sure, you don't need 1 1/2" pipe to water a 75 X 25
area. The 3/4" is what would typically be used. So, you can go
ahead and change it if you want. but if what's there works except for
the heads being shot, you're not improving anything, just making more
work.

************************************************** ***********8

I went with 1" pipe for all my longer runs. A 3/4" pipe with many heads on it
would have a lot of pressure drop. Unless the pressure is very high, the OP may
have problems by the end of the line.

wrote in message
...
Yes I did look at some of those web sites for the calculations.
However the problem is I have two runs that serves different parts of
the yard and I have yet to discover all the heads and there are areas
that the two runs partially overlap and I do not know which head is
from which run. I fixed a few heads last weekend and once they are
fixed I then realized I have another stretch somewhere else that when
along the perimeter of the property line then under the driveway and
back up on the other side of the sidewalk.

So what I am trying to say is it's impossible for me to know all the
heads and all the run and branches at this time without me digging
them all up, so I am trying to use the best judgment I can to fix a
partial section of it by knowing that the existing configuration works
so trying to isolate the subsystem and establish it's boundary
conditions. The water supply is from a well pump.

MC

I would think your best plan would be to repair the system using your best
information from the existing heads and pipes. Then try it out and figure
out what needs to be changed or added. I have done that a couple of times
and it worked for me. Oversize pipes or sections of pipes do not cause any
problems.

Don Young