Automatic sprinkler prices and installation costs.

Many people cite convenience as the biggest advantage of having a home automatic sprinkler system installed. It cuts out having to water their garden by hand or regularly moving and relocating a hose to get the job done. An automatic sprinkler system is by far the most cost effective way to deliver just the right amount of water, in the right place, and at the right time, with no run off. Investing in an automatic sprinkler system can also make your house more attractive to potential buyers in the future, as it saves time and effort and keeps the garden looking good all year round.

Factors that affect automatic sprinkler system costs.

There are maybe three main factors which can influence the overall costs of installing such a lawn sprinkling system. The individual components such as the sprinkler heads, hoses, connections and timer unit, the time required for the installation and cost of labor in your area to carry out the job. You’ll also need to consider the maintenance costs for repair and winterization processes over the long term.

Costs of automatic sprinkler system components.

In order to irrigate a typical 1,600 square foot lawn you’ll need PVC conduit, risers, sprinkler heads, connections and a timer for the installation. An underground system will run around $1.20 per square foot for a typical system. The physical parts or components typically make up about 25% of the overall costs associated with an automatic sprinkler system. The electronic timer / controller will cost around $475, piping or conduit and heads around $800, and the plumbing connection around $550. The remainder will be on installation costs, and labor in the region of $1100. Trenching machinery will normally be required which could cost around $225 per day if it has to be rented and the time to fully install a 40 x 40 zone is normally between 10 and 12 hours if done by a professional with experience. Adding a similar system in the back yard would require much of the same work to be done, but probably without any further plumbing connection costs or the need for a separate timer/control unit.

Automatic sprinkler system maintenance costs.

The winterization process for sprinkler systems effectively eliminates any water trapped in the PVC conduit so as to avoid it being affected by frost or even ice during the winter season. This process will typically cost around $100 per season and is ongoing for the life of the system. Automatic sprinkler system repair costs run between $30 to $60 per hour, and depending on the problem can be quite expensive as leaks can sometimes be difficult to locate and may involve digging up the PVC conduit. Sprinkler lines installed just below the sod line are usually less expensive to fix as leaks are much easier to detect.

Adding an automatic sprinkler system to take care of your lawns and garden can free up a lot of time for other more important activities. Generally, once the system is installed it is trouble free, although over an extended period of time you should expect to deal with occasional plumbing problems or leaks. However, taking the costs over the lifetime of the system, it’s a minimal outlay for a lot of convenience, not to mention adding functionality to your home.

You can find out more about installing and automatic sprinkler system costs by getting several quotes from local companies before you decide exactly what you want.


To get a better idea of costs, here are some automatic sprinkler estimates from professionals.

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