What to know before installing an automated watering system?

How is it that some irrigation systems provide a perfectly even lawn that remains water efficient for years, whereas others inevitably end up with dry spots, water waste and higher water bills soon after installation? In most practical situations, the disparity is in design quality, zoning accuracy, and/or installation standards offered by a seasoned irrigation systems installers who will ensure that the system is planned and calibrated for the particular land, soil, and pressure settings in the landscape.

 

Real world field perspective (irrigation installation experience).

In the real irrigation installation world, the most important thing between a system that works and one that constantly has an issue is very often more a matter of brand and/or technology.

The majority of issues that installers have to handle in the field are related to:

• This includes inadequate planning of a system prior to installation.

• The Property is zoned incorrectly throughout the property

  • inconsistent water pressure

Lack of knowledge and misconceptions about soils and landscapes

In reality, automated irrigation systems seldom fail because automation is wrong. They fail because the system was not optimally designed to the actual behavior of the land in real conditions.

“A good system always takes into account:”

• soil absorption rate

• water pressure stability

• plant water requirements

• Exposure to the sun in different areas

• Overall layout and slope of property

If these are not addressed, even the best automated system won't be able to provide consistent performance.

What is an Automated Watering System and How does it work?

The automated watering system provides controlled watering to various sections of a garden or landscape without requiring manual input.

A typical installation will consist of:

• irrigation controllers

• solenoid valves

Grasp how to install sprinkler heads or drip lines.

• underground pipe networks

Sensors to monitor soil or weather conditions. Soil or weather sensors.

The controller controls the duration and frequency of each zone according to the programming or via sensors.

In practice, though, it is found that there is a difference between the performance related to automation levels, and the performance based on the accuracy of the system design and balance throughout the property.

The most critical step in the installation process is planning. Planning is the most crucial step before the installation.

Based on experience gained in the field, most of the problems with irrigation do not occur after the system is installed; they occur as part of the planning process.

Some typical planning problems in actual projects are:

• lawns that are broken up into unequal areas

Equal amounts of water is being applied to sites having totally different soil types.

The following factors will also affect the size of the sprinkler pad:

Sub-optimal garden designs that were not based on slope and/or drainage. Garden designs that were not slope and/or drainage appropriate.

If planning is poor, automation is just the repetition of the same errors each day.

A good system is planned to provide water to each area as needed, and not just on a set schedule.

How directly soil type relates to irrigation performance.

Soil type is one of the most important, but overlooked, factors in actual landscape and irrigation installations.

Installers continuously modify the design of systems according to:

OVERSTABILIZED: sandy soil: fast draining, requires short watering sessions often.

clay soil is slow to absorb water and has a higher likelihood of water pooling and runoff.

The loamy soils do better given that they are able to retain moisture well, and they also have an optimal efficiency.

When soil conditions are neglected, then you get the following common problems:

• runoff of water rather than absorption

• Soil is dry under the surface of the root area

Shallow rooting caused by too much watering

That is why it is always prudent for experienced installers to determine soil conditions prior to finalizing a system design.

What many people don't realize is that water pressure is actually quite an important matter.

One of the most common and frequent causes of uneven irrigation in actual field installations is water pressure problems.

If they are too tight:

• water does not atomize into a fine mist as it should

• coverage becomes inconsistent

Evaporation of water causes the loss of water.

In the case of low pressure:

• There is not enough reach in the sprinkler system

• Dry spots develop throughout the grassland.

• zones perform inconsistently

Installers usually use:

• pressure regulators

• pump adjustments

This is referred to as flow balancing across zones.

Even with a good system design, if pressure control is not done properly, the system will not function properly.

Watering systems can be automated in various ways.

Depending on property conditions and usage needs different systems are used:

• Sprinkler Systems

• Ideal for open spaces and lawns.

Common problem: lack of even coverage if zoning is not correctly designed.

• Drip Irrigation Systems

• Ideal for the garden or planted areas.

Common benefit: water delivered at root level with maximum efficiency.

• Sensor-Based Systems

• Automate with soil/weather information.

Common problem: Overwatering may result from inaccurate calibration.

• Smart Controller Systems

• Automatically adjust watering programs.

• Best combined with appropriate zoning and installation.

• Because Zoning determines long-term system success.

The most significant performance decision in real irrigation design is zoning.

The following criteria are common for zone division for a typical installer:

• sunlight exposure

• plant type and water needs

• soil conditions

The slope and drainage flow of the land. Slope and drainage flow of land.

One of the common field issues is to water the entire property using a single watering pattern, resulting in a non-uniform performance.

Proper zoning ensures:

The amount of watering given to lawns and garden beds varies.

• shaded areas are not overwatered

The slope areas are watered slowly to prevent water running off.

Efficiency improvements achieved by smart controllers (when correctly configured).

Field experience indicates that smart controllers are effective only if they are set up properly, and technology is being employed in modern irrigation systems.

When properly set up, they:

Minimize the amount of water used that is not necessary.

• adjust watering based on weather conditions

• improve seasonal efficiency

In real world problems, however, it is necessary to consider:

• zones are incorrectly programmed

• soil data is not entered or calibrated

All factory setups remain unchanged.

Technologies just can work to improve efficiency, but it depends on the underlying system design being correct.

The most common mistakes before installation:

The most common installation errors are:

The failure to properly inspect the site.

• ignoring soil testing

• incorrect pipe sizing

• poor sprinkler placement

• mixing incompatible watering zones

Automation to the exclusion of good design

The majority of irrigation problems are the result of planning mistakes, not equipment problems.

The impact of installation quality on long-term performance

The reliability of the system in the field is directly dependent on the quality of the installation.

The following are common issues due to poor installations:

Underground leaks that are not detected.

Asymmetric uplift on the zones

The failure of the system to run due to early wear and failure.

• inefficient water distribution

A system installed correctly should run quietly, smoothly and infrequently.

The maintenance and long-term performance of the system.

All systems, no matter how well-designed, need routine maintenance.

Common support works in a field are:

• cleaning clogged sprinkler heads

• Inform the customer of any leaks found underground and assist them in locating and fixing them.

• Changing watering times according to the seasons

• Adjusting controllers and sensors to optimize their performance.

Without proper maintenance, systems slowly become less efficient, typically only realized by a rise in water bills or a fall in lawn quality.

Key Takeaways (field experience summary):

• The priority of system design over the automation technology is emphasized.

• The type of soil and water pressure directly affect performance.

• The system will perform evenly if zoning is used.

• Poor installation will cause long term inefficiency.

• For smart systems to function correctly, they need to be correctly configured.

• Regular maintenance - Preserves long-term efficiency

• Real success is all about planning and not just the equipment!

Frequently Asked Questions

The first thing you need to do when installing an irrigation system is?

Correct planning, such as soil testing, zoning planning and water pressure assessment.

Does automated irrigation systems save water?

Yes, but… if properly designed and installed for the property.

What are the reasons for irrigation systems to fail after being installed?

Failure is not normally caused by equipment failure, but is due to poor zoning, incorrect pressure or installation problems.

What is the frequency of irrigation system maintenance?

Generally once per season, depending on climate and usage.

Do you need a professional to install it?

Yes. The quality of the system design is directly linked to its long-term efficiency and performance.

Conclusion

For actual irrigation installations where it comes to the long-term success of installing a system, plans and field conditions are way more important than the automation technology itself. Proper design, correct zoning and installation of systems ensure that they will be consistently efficient, have healthier landscapes and also lower running costs due to both soil and water pressure. Those which are not usually need to be continually adjusted and never work well in the long term.