[cslynger]

I just got my first decent sized irrigation job. I'm not looking to work solely w/ irrigation as I have much more knowledge of hardscapes, but there seems to be lots of new (and old) houses that want the luxury of automatic sprinkler systems.

Couple of questions.
1. Pull or trench? Dirt is marginal, but not too bad. I own an mt55 bobcat w/ a trencher that moves right along, but I hate the cleanup involved w/ trenching. I'm thinking of trenching my mainlines (since they will have multiple pipes) and renting a puller for long laterals. Approx. 2000' feet of pipe all in all.

2. I'm connecting to well supply. Lots of sand in the water. First off...what is a prefilter? Secondly....can I install filters at the locations that I tap the mainline. I'm looking for ease of service and obviously what works best.

3. What type of backflow preventer and misc. devices can I use that will allow me to blow the line out. This is a non-potable application fyi. I want to tap the mainline (underground) but I will need to be able to blow the line out in the winter. I'm afraid that I will have a dead leg of line from the tap to the manifold, and I won't be able to blow it out. I need the guru's input on this one.

[PSUscaper]

From the type of questions you are asking, I have to ask if you really think you should be attempting this job. It sounds like you have a lot of questions that are common knowledge to a irrigation guy, so I wonder what makes you think you are one when you can't answer any of them.

Digging holes for pipes is easy. Just like buying bricks and laying them on the ground is. A lot of people think the second, and there are a LOT of screwed up brick jobs out there.

I just think you should really think twice about getting involved in this one. Maybe for you own house, but still, I would seek a professional irrigation contractor. Get a price from someone, tack on 10% and walk away with a profit and most of all, no headaches.

And what do you mean by 'tap the mainline'? I hope you don't plan on digging up the well line in the yard and tapping directly into that.

As for backflows, they have nothing to do with making it easy to blow out the system. They are there to protect the main water supply from being contaminated.

I really, really would urge you to think twice about this one.

[Utah Guy]

PSUscaper is right, i dont think you should be doing this job. First off if you have a lot of sand in your water you need a sand separator. There pretty darn pricy to. It spins the water around so the sand falls to the bottom. If you just use a regular filter you'll have to clean it all the time, if not replace it all the time. Second to my knowledge you don't need a backflow on a well system, Its not like your going to backflow into the cities main.

[martinjohn]

I would agree with PSUscaper and Utah Gut that you do not sound like you know what you are getting yourself into. There is a reason that companies specialize in what they do and there is no shame in subcontracting one of them to do the job right. It is people like you that are making a bad name and driving the prices down in the industry. This is making it harder and harder for us to sell our work at a price that gets the project done the correct way.

[HRLand]

You guys realize this thread is almost a year old?