Understanding the fundamentals of automated sprinkler systems helps utilize their full potential!
There are a wide variety of features associated with automated irrigation systems. Becoming familiar with the various components of an irrigation system enables your ability to fine-tune watering schedules. It also helps in more effectively addressing the specific watering needs of your property. And, from a broader perspective, understanding your automated sprinkler systems helps conserve water, save on utility bills, and maintain a lush and healthy landscape throughout the year.
Irrigation Controllers
Think of the system’s controller as the “brain.” This is where a system’s watering schedule is programmed. When it’s time to turn the system on, the controller sends a signal to a specific “zone” valve, which opens water flow to that zone’s sprinkler heads. The controller progresses through a sequence of opening and closing zoned water flow for a specified time period until it completes watering all zones on the property.
The system is divided into zones to maintain adequate water pressure to power each of the sprinkler heads in the zone. If all sprinkler valves were simultaneously opened, the system would only have enough pressure to allow a trickle of water to drip from each sprinkler head. Zones maintain sprinkler pressure.

The Rachio 3 makes managing your sprinkler system easy – thanks to Rachio’s WiFi-enabled mobile app.
Beyond the basic opening and closing of zones, there are advanced control systems that offer several other advantages – including the newest generation of Wi-Fi-enabled controllers. One popular model, the Rachio 3, takes system control to the next level with weather condition tracking, automatic seasonal adjustments, water usage monitoring, and much more. An added bonus of the Rachio control system has the ability to remotely monitor and control the entire system via Rachio’s mobile app.
Main and Lateral Lines
Next up: the underground pipes that carry water through the system. The main line connects the water source to the control valves. From there, lateral lines carry water to the various zones on the property. The journey ends as water exits through the sprinkler heads. The system’s pipes are buried below ground. Having a system pipe diagram provides an idea of where the pipes are located – which allows homeowners to keep an eye out for any changes (think water bubbling to the surface away from a sprinkler head) that may indicate a break in a pipe.

Zones make tailoring watering schedules to any property’s specific watering needs simple.
More About Watering Zones
Zones are crucial in automated sprinkler systems. When irrigation installers design a system, they map out the property and divide it into specific watering zones based on several factors. Designing the system into zones is necessary for several reasons.
First, splitting a system into zones helps maintain adequate water pressure, which is key to running a system efficiently and effectively. Most homes and businesses do not have enough water pressure to run every sprinkler head in the system simultaneously. Separating the property into watering zones makes better use of available water pressure and eliminates wasting water due to indiscriminate coverage.
Zones also allow the system to address specific watering needs within a property. Sun exposure, plant type, slope, and soil type all affect the amount of water that any specific zone will need. For instance, a large grassy zone with high sun exposure requires more water than a shady, landscaped bed of leafy ground cover. Watering zones give homeowners the ability to customize water schedules to provide every area of a property with exactly the right amount of hydration for its unique characteristics.

Different zones and plantings will require different sprinkler heads for proper watering.
Sprinkler Heads
There is a wide range of sprinkler heads that can be used within an irrigation system, each having its own purpose. Sprayers are ideal for small lawns, spreading water in a fixed pattern of various arcs depending on the need of the space. Rotor heads are better for midsized to large lawns. These heads rotate and distribute water in a large radius – and can be adjusted for distance with various arc patterns. Drip and bubbler sprinkler heads are best for landscaped gardens or around shrubs and trees. Heads such as these deliver water directly to the root systems and minimize waste from runoff or evaporation.
System installers consider the size, slope, and contents of each zone when selecting sprinkler heads. To choose the appropriate sprinkler head for the application, irrigation professionals consider coverage needs and the water pressure available to meet those needs. The newest sprinkler head models – from top manufacturers like Hunter and Rain Bird – can significantly reduce water waste with technology that enables low precipitation rates – a feature that gives the dispersed water time to fully absorb into the soil instead of becoming costly runoff.

Reduce sprinkler head damage by clearing debris from heads often.
Maintenance
Maintenance is essential to ensuring the efficiency and health of a sprinkler system. For starters, every system should be inspected twice a year by irrigation specialists who check for leaks, clogged or broken sprinkler heads, and valve or controller malfunctions. When these issues go unnoticed, they can lead to further damage to the system, not to mention expensive water bills.
To help system performance, homeowners can also apply simple maintenance procedures. Clearing debris from sprinkler heads, replacing filter screens, monitoring water pressure, and realigning sprinkler heads are easy steps that any homeowner can take to help keep their system working properly. Irrigation pros can advise homeowners on any of these procedures at system startup in the spring.
Interested in learning whether an automated underground sprinkler system might be the right choice for your property? Schedule a no-obligation consultation with the sprinkler pros at Heinen Landscape and Irrigation. Heinen has been KC’s leading irrigation specialist for over 30 years and the Heinen team has the knowledge and know-how to design, install, and maintain custom, high-efficiency underground watering systems. What are you waiting for? Let’s get growing!