Parts of an Irrigation System

How Your Sprinkler System Works

Underground, there’s a lot going on with your sprinkler system. Having a basic knowledge of your irrigation will help you make better decisions about home improvement projects, like where it’s safe to dig. At TriState Water Works, we want to help homeowners prevent leaks and broken connections.

There are four main parts of an irrigation system:

  1. Controller
  2. Electrical
  3. Plumbing
  4. Backflow

Parts of an Irrigation System

Parts of an Irrigation System: Controller

The irrigation controller is the brain of your sprinkler system. There are several brands and styles of irrigation controllers, and we’ve shared a video with the 3 Most Popular Lawn Sprinkler Controllers.

At the most basic level, the irrigation controller manages when the sprinklers run and for how long. It’s often installed in your garage. If you are a Plus Program or Basic Program customer, TriState Water Works programs your controller during Spring Start-Up. If you’ve upgraded to Smart Watering, your system automatically adjusts for the weather. You can also turn the system on or off from anywhere using the app.

Parts of an Irrigation System

Parts of an Irrigation System: Electrical

The electrical system connects the controller with valves and sprinkler heads to control the flow of water. Wires are buried in the ground and act similarly to nerves in a human body. If a wire is broken, then its connected zone will stop working. This problem commonly happens when digging in the lawn or landscape beds. TriState Water Works customers may want us to come out and Mark Before You Dig when planning any major projects, like installing a pool or patio.

There are also possible upgrades to the electrical system that give the controller more data:

  • Rain sensor – A simple device usually installed on a gutter that prevents the system from operating in the rain
  • Flow meter – This smart watering upgrade sends detailed information to the smart controller about water usage, helping pinpoint problem areas and leaks

Parts of an Irrigation System

Parts of an Irrigation System: Plumbing

Finally, we come to the water portion of your sprinkler system. Water flows in to your property from the water main via a supply line. The water meter is attached to the supply line, to measure your water use for your water bill. Before the supply line reaches your home, a connection is made for the irrigation system to use.

This sprinkler connection line has its own shut-off valve, which can be used to work on the sprinkler system without affecting your home’s water supply. You should know where this valve is and how to shut it off. We made a video with instructions for How to Turn off the Water to Your Sprinkler System.

Ultimately, water flows to your sprinkler heads and waters your lawn and landscaping. There are different kinds of sprinkler heads for different scenarios:

Parts of an Irrigation System

Parts of an Irrigation System: Backflow

The backflow device is an important safety element for your sprinkler system. It prevents potentially contaminated water from your yard from washing back into your main water supply line. Groundwater could contain bacteria, parasites, chemicals and other dangerous contaminants. The county will send you a letter when this device needs to be inspected. Maintaining a backflow device is legally required when you have an irrigation system.

We released a video with more information: All About Your Backflow Preventer for Irrigation.

Parts of an Irrigation System Video

Rainbird has a helpful video for How an Irrigation System Works.

Do you have concerns about your sprinkler system? TriState Water Works are your prompt and proven irrigation experts. We maintain and service all brands of sprinkler systems. Contact us to learn more.