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An effective irrigation system has three essential components: a main shutoff valve to turn water on and off, a timer, and a backflow preventer, which prevents water from flowing back into the main supply. Additionally, control valves direct water to separate circuits, which are made up of pipes, fittings, risers, and sprinkler heads.
Sprinkler control valves turn each circuit on or off. The valves are controlled by a remote, which operates the valves according to a preset program.
Different kinds of control valves are used in different climates. In areas where pipes aren’t likely to freeze, anti-siphon valves are installed a foot above the circuit’s highest sprinkler and include a backflow preventer. In colder areas, in-line control valves are placed underground in a protective box below the frostline; they require a separate backflow preventer. In-line control valves are also used in areas where anti-siphon valves can’t be placed a foot above the highest sprinkler; these areas are generally where there are hills or slopes.
Before purchasing irrigation components, check with your building department to determine if there are any codes that affect your sprinkler installation, such as what materials the components may be made of or whether a backflow preventer should be separate from the valves.
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