There are two basic kinds of sprinkler systems: manual and irrigation. The manual sprinkler system is the method by which you manual place sprinklers around your yard and activate them as desired. With the manual system, you may even use a basic hose to water your lawn and garden. The irrigation system is basically a series of sprinklers that are permanently laid out in your yard through a network of pipes. These sprinklers then come on according to a timer that you set.
If you are considering investing in a sprinkler system for your home, then read the tips below for the best advice on how to choose the system that is right for you.
Manual Sprinkler System Pros and Cons
There are many pros of a manual sprinkler system. You can water your lawn whenever you desire. If it rains, then you do not have to water your lawn. You control where the lawn is watered. No water will be wasted on the sidewalk, if you so not want it to. You can also choose not to water your lawn if there is a summertime drought in your area. Finally, if you control the amount of water distributed, you can more easily control your monthly water bill. With a manual sprinkler system, you control the amount of time and money you spend watering your lawn.
The cons included with a manual sprinkler system vary by person. Some people do not enjoy watering the lawn and find it to be just another chore on the endless list of chores. You will have to haul a hose or sprinkler in and out of your garage or shed. You will also have to monitor the system to make sure it is not super-saturating your lawn.
Irrigation Sprinkler System
The irrigation sprinkler system is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. This sprinkler system is automatic, so you will never have to worry about making sure the lawn is watered. The sprinkler heads are stored permanently in your yard. You will never have to worry about transporting heavy hoses across your lawn and you will never get caught in the path of the sprinkler water as you set it up. Also, the best time to water a lawn is either in the early morning or late night. However, most people do not have time to wake up early to water the lawn and many people are asleep by the time the lawn needs to be watered at night. Furthermore, the irrigation system is ideal for large lawns because it decreases the amount of time needed to water each section of the lawn.
There are also cons to the irrigation sprinkler system. In order to install the system, you have to tear up huge portions of your lawn so that water pipes can be run to deliver water to the sprinkler heads. You also have less control over the amount of water that is released. If it rains, for example, your irrigation system will still water your lawn, expending more water and money that is necessary. The irrigation system is expensive to install and expensive to maintain, making it out of the financial reach of most homeowners.