A great innovation that has improved the lawn maintenance for many home owners are irrigation systems in Calgary. An irrigation system is an automated piping system which delivers water to grass and other plants that are maintained on a property. Whether you are interested in installing your own irrigation systems in Calgary or looking to hire a professional, it’s good to understand how the system works. This will help you understand any maintenance that may be required, and how to prepare for the installation.
It all begins with the water main. In most residential areas water is delivered to a home through a large water main line that runs along the street a number of feet underground. This water is provided by the city and comes down this line clean and ready for use.
Each individual home is linked onto the water main through a smaller pipe line. On this line is a water meter which allows the city to track how much water is being used per home. This helps determine payments and charging for the water used, because (though it’s usually cheap) water is not free.
Many that live in a rural situation will acquire through other means, usually an individual well system and electric pump method. Irrigation systems in Calgary rural areas will function essentially this same way, but with a few changes.
The line into the home is then tracked on how much water is used. It’s just after this meter that a sprinkler or irrigation system is attached to the line. The main irrigation line comes directly off this line and is included in the cost for water per month. Once irrigation systems in Calgary have been installed on your property, don’t be surprised when the water bill goes up, especially in summer months.
From this point, a special until is installed. There is a danger of water flowing backward from the irrigation system and cause contamination to enter the home. A back flow prevention device is installed. This device creates a gravitational setup that will prevent water from back flowing from the irrigation system. The line takes a ninety degree turn, directly up, it then kinks and passes through a valve device. The line then descends down to the sprinkler lines. This “n” shaped device uses gravity to ensure that water won’t flow backwards. Water can’t flow against gravity. Without the device, when the sprinkler isn’t flowing, the pressure going into the house would actually pull in reverse on the system.
The next device that must be installed is a pressure valve. Water is moved by pressure. Just like if you squeeze on a water bottle, the water will flow out the top of the bottle. Squeezing puts pressure on the water and it flows away from pressure.
The main line from the city, and the line going into the home are pressurized. The release valve of the irrigation system is activated by an electrical signal. This comes from a control console attached, typically, to the side of the home. (This device is often installed in the garage as well.) This allows the valve to open and pressurized water will course through the sprinkler system and be released by each individual sprinkler head. The water is then delivered to the lawn and any plant life or flower beds that are included in the irrigation system.
Each sprinkler head is designed to squelch the water pressure and force the water into small streams of water that are easily spread through the air. Rather than using a large flow, small streams of pressurized water is used to spray in all directions, evenly spraying the lawn.