What is the purpose of a water sprinkler valve?
Water sprinkler valves, sometimes called irrigation valves, are at the cornerstone of your garden watering system. Water sprinkler valves control the flow and pressure of the water, allowing you to irrigate with more precision and customize your irrigation system. Around Australia water sprinkler valves are commonly used in domestic gardens, perhaps a direct result of homeowners observing how effective water sprinkler valves have been in agricultural watering systems.
Sometimes the design and installation of sprinkler systems can seem a little confusing. The following questions are commonly asked in the design phase of irrigation systems or to help troubleshoot a sprinkler system that has been incorrectly installed:
Where should I locate the water sprinkler valve?
Usually, water sprinkler valves should be located close to the water source, then split off to different irrigation zones. Water sprinkler valves will usually be housed in a valve box, much like the one your water meter is housed in. Sometimes water sprinkler valves are located above ground allowing for ease of access. Other times they are located below ground to create a more pleasing aesthetic or to prevent tripping hazards. The choice really depends on the application. For example, it would be quite easy to hide a water sprinkler valve Adelaide box in the garden in a domestic setting, whereas underground installation of valves would be more suited to sporting fields.
Should I use a manual water sprinkler valve or an automated one?
The choice here is really between two main approaches: set and forget or sweet and simple.
As the name suggests, the set and forget approach allows homeowners to not have to touch the watering system very much after the initial design and installation of their irrigation system. Sprinkler valves are connected to an automatic controller and the system basically runs itself. An automated system basically saves you time, saves water and makes life a whole lot easier.
The sweet and simple approach means there is no electrical work involved. All you need to do is remember to turn the water sprinkler valve on manually.
Should I install a plastic water sprinkler valve or a metal one?
This is a paradoxical question as, despite the obvious durability of brass water sprinkler valves, plastic sprinkler valves are more commonly used. In general terms, brass valves will last much longer, especially if they are installed above the ground. The answer to this paradox lies in the cost. Plastic valves are generally much cheaper and still offer reasonable durability. You will need to consider the workload and location of your sprinkler valve and make a cost/benefit judgement based on your personal situation and location. For example, a sprinkler valve located in a garden in Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth would experience very different conditions to a garden in Darwin or Kununurra.
There are many other aspects to consider. We do recommend talking to a professional sprinkler system designer and asking them questions such as what size irrigation valves do I need? Should my sprinkler valve Perth remain open or closed and how much servicing and maintenance of my watering system is required?
In all cases, planning and design are key, even if you are planning on doing the installation of your sprinkler system yourself. The team at Think Water will be able to help you in the design and planning phase of your project, do flow calculations, supply you with quality sprinkler valves and even install them for you if you would prefer someone else to do the work for you.
To find your nearest Think Water store and get your project started search here: