Pittsburgh Sprinkler Systems

While southwestern PA certainly gets its fair share of rain, there are always times and situations that pop up where you might need some help keeping your lawn green or your garden growing in Pittsburgh. Sprinkler systems are a good choice to provide that extra push when it is necessary. In order to keep certain varieties of plants flourishing, a sprinkler system might even be a necessity. There are several different varieties of sprinkler available for residential purposes, and picking the right one will not only keep your plants thriving, but will also keep your water bill manageable.

Types of Sprinklers
There are three basic kinds of sprinklers on the market, and each has a situation where it works best. The first is a simple spray head sprinkler; these emit lots of water, but each head sprays only a small area. This type is often seen watering trees and frequently pops up when active and shrinks into the ground when not in use. A basic spray sprinkler system works best on land that is relatively flat and where the soil absorbs water quickly.

Greenhouses commonly use a drip sprinkler system. Pittsburgh residents who don't have a large yard and only need to keep a small area moist (such as a flower bed or a small garden) might choose this option. Drip systems resemble a hose with a few small holes poked in it; rather than producing a large spray of water, they emit a small stream of moisture that can be focused on specific plants. These systems don't use much water, making them an environmentally friendly choice, as well as an economical one.

Rotating sprinklers shoot a long jet of water and, as the name suggests, the heads can rotate in a full circle. These systems are the preferred way to water a very large area or an area that has many different hills and slopes. It is no wonder why rotating sprinklers are used so often on golf courses.

Keeping a Pittsburgh Sprinkler System Efficient
Since there is a lot of natural moisture in Pittsburgh, sprinkler systems might not be needed as often as they are in some other areas of the country. You do, however, want your grass and plants to always have the water they need to thrive. One of the best ways to use a sprinkler system effectively and efficiently is to put it on an automatic timer. By setting the timer according to the kind of weather that's expected and changing it when precipitation patterns change, you don't have to worry about over or under watering.

Installing an automatic sprinkler system in Pittsburgh is certainly not the only way to maintain efficiency. For those who don't mind doing the job manually, however, it is important to water on a regular schedule. A lapse of a few days can have an affect on some species, and a lapse of a few weeks could lead to some real problems.

Pittsburgh Sprinkler System Prices
To install a top-of-the-line system in and around Allegheny County, you could end up paying as much as $2,000. If your Pittsburgh sprinkler system is for a smaller plot of land, and you don't mind forgoing some of the whistles and bells, you can have an automated system installed for $800 or less. This kind of job can be done by a DIY, but, as the project involves laying pipe and a knowledge of water pressure and behavior, it can get pretty intense for an amateur.