Underground sprinklers. Water where your yard needs it.

One yard. More than one zone.

A zone is one part of a sprinkler system. The heads in that part run together. One zone might water the front grass. Another might water the back.

Zones let the system split the work. The water supply can only feed so many heads at once. Parts of the yard may also need different amounts of water. A sunny lawn and a shaded bed may not need the same schedule.

Read more: Rain Bird: sprinkler terms

Starting at $900 per zone

The starting price is per zone, not per sprinkler head. A zone can have more than one head. The full system price depends on the plan for your yard.

Do not guess the zone count from the number of lawns you have. One large lawn may need more than one zone. A quote should show what is planned and what work is included.

What shapes the system plan

Two yards of the same size can need different plans. Shape matters. So do the water supply, plant beds and the way each space is used.

Tell us what you hope to change later. A new bed, lawn or path may affect where pipes and heads should go. It is easier to discuss that before the ground work starts.

• The area and shape of the lawn.
• The water flow and pressure at the property.
• Grass and beds with different water needs.
• Sun, shade and slopes.
• Paths, fences and other things water should miss.

The main parts, in plain words

These are common sprinkler system parts. Your quote will confirm the parts used for your job.

Read more: Rain Bird: how sprinkler parts work

How it knows when to water

The controller runs the times you set. Each zone can have its own run time. Some systems can use sensors or other controls. Ask which options fit your yard; no add-on is assumed in the starting price.

A timer does not mean the lawn never needs a check. Watch for water on paths, puddles, dry spots or heads that do not spray well. Change the schedule when the lawn or weather changes.

New sod may need a different plan from an older lawn. Make sure you know which areas the settings cover.

• Care for new sod ↗

Adding sprinklers to an existing yard

A system can be planned for an existing lawn. Pipes still need a route in the ground. The way to install them depends on the yard and access.

Tell us what must stay: beds, mature plants, paths, trees and the lawn you want to keep. Ask how the work area will be left when the job is done. Do not assume every lawn repair is part of a system quote.

If you also want new sod, discuss both at once. The order of the jobs matters when work goes under the new grass.

• Plan a new lawn ↗

Before work starts

Start with your lawn layout and water source. Note where you want water and where you do not. Show the route into the yard and anything below the ground that you know about.

Underground lines must be considered before ground work. Utility locates do not always cover private lines, such as a line to a shed. Confirm the locate plan and any private lines before work begins.

• Agree on which lawn and bed areas the system covers.
• Confirm the zone plan, parts and price.
• Discuss the water connection and any required checks.
• Confirm access, ground work and lawn repair details.

Read more: Utility Safety Partners: ground work in Alberta

During the installation

A typical installation puts pipes, valves and heads in their planned places. The system is linked to water and a controller. Each zone needs a check so the heads cover the right area.

Your job may have a different order based on the yard. Ask us what access we will need. Keep pets, toys and loose items out of the agreed work area. Timing is confirmed for the job, not promised by this guide.

Know how to use it

Before you settle into a watering routine, make sure you know how to stop the system and change the timer. Keep a simple note of what each zone waters.

Ask what to check if a head stops working or a patch stays dry. Also ask about care before freezing weather. System design affects what that care involves. This page does not include a winter service package.

A system can save you moving a hose around. It still needs the right settings and care. It is not a promise of lower bills or a lawn that needs no work.

Tell us how you water now

Do you move a hose each day? Are some parts hard to reach? Is this a new lawn with no watering plan yet? Those details help explain what you need.

Rent a Rake started in 2006. We serve the six communities listed below. Send your town, the areas to water, any existing system and your plans for the yard.

• Request a sprinkler quote ↗
• See services in Olds ↗