How to Determine Sprinkler Heads per Zone
The first thing you need to determine when it comes to sprinkler system design is what your water pressure is. To do this check no water is running in the house, get a pressure gauge and find where your home’s water meter is located. Screw the gauge to the closest faucet, and then turn it on. This will show you what your water’s PSI is. Measure the water flow by getting a measurable container and a stopwatch.
Homeowners should map their yards to decide where they want the sprinklers to go, based on the distance and which way the spray will go. Take note of which plants and areas need to be watered. This information should be taken down and kept handy. Consider also the different sprinkler heads, which are spray heads which are ideal for shrubs, rotating heads that offer 360-degree watering, and bubblers or drip heads, which are ideal for areas that do not need as much water.
Now, add the GPM flow rates for all heads, and then divide the result by the GPM of your home’s water supply. This last number will tell you how many zones you need. For example, you have 20 sprinkler heads, and each one needs a GPM of 1.5. So this means you need a total of 30 GPM.
However, if your sprinkler system can only handle 16 sprinkler heads, you will have at least 2 zones to cover the entire area. But, this is not an exact science, and adjustments will often have to be made. If any of the sprinklers are weaker than others, you may have too many in one area.
Additional Sprinkler Head Tips
Each zone of the sprinkler system will run its heads simultaneously. If you have too many though, each one’s pressure is less, as the system can’t be controlled head by head.
If you would like to make an appointment to discuss a sprinkler system design, please do not hesitate to contact Taylor Irrigation at (817) 736-2811 now, if you live in the Burleson, TX region.