Hi my name is John and I own an irrigation business in Seaford, Delaware. The name of my company is The Rainmaker. If you have never installed an irrigation system before you better hit the books first! If you think this job requires little or no skills you better
Think Again!
First off, when designing a system you better understand about flow rates and static pressure/fiction loss. Also, you will want to ask yourself will I be using well pump or city water for my irrigation system?
Will I be running pipes under walkways or a driveway. You will need to know where you're electric; gas, sewer and phone lines are located before digging! What kind of backflow preventer will be required by your township to keep contaminates from getting into your water source?
What type of controller will you use? You may want to consider a rain sensor as well! How many zones will I need to irrigate my property? Will you have any drip irrigation for your gardens if so you may need a pressure regulator? This is just a few things you need to think about before starting.

You are required by Federal law to install a backflow preventer approved by your local codes. I met a lawyer once who installed his own system on his vacation to save money. Back surgery and two weeks out of work really cost him. As Clint Eastwood says, "A man has got to know his limitations."

We build, design, do plumbing & gas, fish ponds & irrigation, & electrical. For the record, We "never" liked nor used PB (polybutylene) nor do we care much for PEX (except in hydronics or special circumstances); we use K or L copper, and now prefer FGG (FlowGuard Gold CPVC, from Noveon Corp.). We do "real" venting in houses, comercial & restaurants, we use 4 inch building whenever possible. As regards IRRIGATION: yes, anyone can do it--but You better be willing to invest time & energy. Rules of thumb: try not to exceed 5-7 Rotors on a one inch line with a 30-50 pressure switch ; we use bladder tanks on all systems too; if a homeowner is a "dig-a-holic/gardener we may go with stronger Schedule 40 pipe in lieu of the thinner wall SDR-21, or even weaker wall systems. Yes - "kmow Your Limitations !!" Know your equipment; pressure, etc. Can You get by with low water systems (Xeriscaping) ? Lots of possibilities.....

I AM A FEMALE IRRIGATION PROFESSIONAL AND HAVE DESIGNED AND INSTALLED ALL FACETS OF IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS-FROM 250 ACRE THREE PHASE CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS COMPLETE WITH 10" PVC AND 150 HP MOTORS TO MICRO IRRIGATION FOR FARMS AND ORCHARDS ALL ALONG THE SOUTHEAST-WHERE DROUGHT IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR PRODUCERS-I HAVE ALSO DESIGNED AND INSTALLED TURF OR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION. ALL OF THIS TO MAKE THIS ONE POINT FROM A SOURCE I FEEL IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED. THE POINT MADE BY THE FIRST GENTLEMAN IN DELAWARE PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL -IRRIGATION-PROPERLY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED IS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL-THE PROBLEM IS, THERE ARE VERY FEW PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE...IE THE COMMENT ABOUT USING ALL 1" LINE TO RUN 5 OR 6 HEADS-THAT COMMENT ALONE WOULD TELL ME TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT GUY!!! THERE IS A WAVE OF DO IT YOURSELF WEEKEND WARRIORS THAT THINK THEY CAN TO THIS-EASY-TRUTH IS-THE MISTAKES MADE WITH IMPROPER IRRIGATION CONTINUALLY COSTS THE HOMEOWNER IN PLANTS AND LANDSCAPE MATERIALS THAT JUST SUDDENDLY DIE(OVER OR UNDER WATERED DUE TO LACK OF PROPER DESIGN AND SOIL CONSIDERATIONS)WHEN I DESIGN A PROJECT IT IS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HYDRAULIC DESIGN, PROPER WATER FLOW AND SOIL TYPES..IE-YOU SHOULD NEVER DESIGN TWO EXTREME SOIL TYPES LIKE CLAY AND SANDY LOAM ON THE SAME ZONE-WHICH IS COMMON IN THIS AREA. AND FINALLY-SINCE I ALSO HAVE A NURSERY AND GROW PLANTS-THE DEMANDS OF HIGH WATER AND LOW WATER USE PLANTS ARE THE KEY TO PLANT SURVIVAL UNDER WATER...SO AS FOR THE COMMENT BY THE EDITOR OF THE MAGAZINE THAT SAID TRY IT EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING...WELL, I SEE THOSE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME TAKING THAT ADVISE OVER THAT OF A TRUE PROFESSIONAL...BOTTOMLINE...YOU CAN PAY ME NOW, OR YOU CAN PAY ME LATER, YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR...HOPE THIS HELPS THE INDECISIVE FEW OUT THERE.....

After doing GC work and years of doing my own DIY projects, those that most women won't even entertain doing and most men reluctantly admit not-knowing how, I have a list of projects that are well worth paying the pros to do. At the top of the list is installing an irrigation system. Tho the process is simple enough, the research, design,installation and running for parts takes so much time that hiring the guys who do it for a living is well worth the cost. What took me a month of hot,sweaty weekends to do on my own a team of installers would have completed in two or three days. The cost is nominal, all things considered. Plus, they will trouble-shoot any issues that arise...even long after the 30day guarantee runs out. This one is a definite...contract and PAY!!