Residential Sprinkler System Design

How to Use the Sprinkler Design Service

1. Print the following two forms from our website:

Graph Paper

Hunter Design Handbook (PDF: 784 KB)

You can also drop by our store to pick up our Sprinkler System Design brochure and graph paper..

2. Gather the information requested below in steps 1 through 6 and complete the questionnaire and drawing as instructed. Upon completion, mail or fax the completed questionnaire and drawing to us. PLEASE ALLOW 2 WEEKS TO PROCESS YOUR DESIGN. Once you receive your design, follow the instructions in the Installation Guide to complete your project.

Getting Started

You'll need a pressure gauge (order one here), string and a pencil or pen, a 5 gallon bucket and a tape measure.

Check your water pressure:

Screw the pressure gauge onto the nearest faucet to the water meter. Make sure no water is running anywhere inside or outside your house. Turn on the faucet with the gauge attached. The gauge shows your water pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI). You may also call your local water company to find out your water pressure.

Write the pressure reading on your information sheet.

Check your water meter size:

The meter size ( 5/8",3/4" or 1") is usually stamped on the outside of the meter. If you can’t find the size, just call the water company, they’ll know.

Write the meter size on your information sheet.

Check the size of your service line:

Find the pipe that runs from the water meter to your house. Wrap a piece of string around the pipe, mark it, then measure how much string it took to go around the pipe. Check your string length on the table below to find your service line size. For example, if your string measures 4" and you have galvanized pipe, your service line is 1 inch.

Determining Size of Service Line:

Write the service line size on your information sheet.

Measure your home’s water capacity (flow):

Get a measurable container, like a 5 gallon bucket, make sure no other water is running in or outside the house, turn the faucet on all the way and time how long it takes to fill the container.

Our 5 gallon bucket took 17.5 seconds to fill so; number of gallons divided by number of seconds to fill x 60 seconds = GPM (5 divided by 17.5 x 60 = 17.14). Round your answer down to the nearest whole number. Our example gives us 17 GPM.

Note: For pump systems, check with your well and pump dealer or the owner’s manual of your pump to determine its pressure and flow capacity.

Write your water capacity on your information sheet.

Measure your lot:

Include lawn, sidewalks, driveways, and walkways and don’t forget the house. It’s a good idea to sketch everything on a piece of scratch paper, and write in the measurements before drawing your final plan on the graph paper supplied. Then, just transfer everything, to scale, to the graph paper.

Mark your meter or pump location with a box, your desired timer with a circle, and desired manifold locations with an X.

On your graph paper, each 1-inch square will be 25 feet. Write it on your information sheet (important). Maximum lot size for our Design Service is 240 x 300 feet.

Dimensions we need to complete your drawing:

• Lot Dimensions
• All House Dimensions
• Distance from street to outside corner of garage
• Distance from side Property line to outside corner of garage

Dividing your lot into sections:

Divide your layout into sections, pick out the different areas like, the front lawn, side lawn, flowerbeds etc.

Be sure to label all areas of your yard that you want watered. GreenTouch will make sprinkler head recommendations. If you have special watering requirements, such as wanting bubblers, label these areas. For the types of sprinkler heads that are available, refer to our online Underground Product Catalog. Also, if you have a particular area you want watered separately, such as gardens, roses, etc., mark that area ‘separate valves.’

Group similar types of plants together, like shrubs and ground cover. If you have big differences in the amount of sun different areas get, you may want to group them, too.