Preparation

• 1). Insert a flag or marker into the yard for each sprinkler location.
  
  
• 2). Spray paint or lay down string on the grass to mark the area for trenching.
  
  
• 3). Dig trenches, by hand or with a trenching machine, in the ground 8 to 12 inches deep.
  
  
• 4). Lay out the PVC pipes, fittings and sprinklers along the trenches in the places where they'll be installed.
  
  

Connection to Main Line

• 1). Twist the main line water valve until it's turned off. Make two cuts to the main line after the main line water valve is closed using a PVC pipe cutter just big enough to insert a slip-type compression T. Avoid cutting the section too big. Unscrew both ends of the compression T and slide the ends onto each open end of the main line. Roll Teflon tape onto the two open ends of the compression T in the direction of the threads and slide the T between the two main line sections. Screw the two T connectors onto the threaded ends of the T to secure the T to the main line. Use a wrench to tighten every fitting but do not exceed a turn and a half.
  
  
• 2). Wrap Teflon tape around three PVC fittings and screw one into the open end of the T. Screw the two others onto both ends of a shut-off valve. Cut a 3-inch section of PVC pipe and sand down the ends until there are no rough edges. Wipe the ends of the PVC section with a PVC primer and wipe inside the connected fittings and outside the section ends with PVC glue. Slip the section into the open end of the T fitting and twist it about a quarter turn to secure it. Slide the shut-off valve and its fitting onto the open end of the PVC section. Allow 10 to 15 seconds for the glue to set before letting go.
  
  
• 3). Twist the shut-off valve to the off position. Turn the main water supply back on if you wish. Install a back-flow prevention valve just after the shut-off valve at this time, if your plan calls for it.
  
  

Valve Manifold Assembly

• 1). Sand, prime and glue the PVC pipe, which serves to connect the shut-off valve to the water valve manifold. Slide the pipe into the open end of the shut-off valve. Place the wire from the irrigation controller alongside the pipe in the trench. Tape the wire to the pipe to secure it.
  
  
• 2). Cut three 3-inch sections of PVC pipe and lay them out among the water valves along with the fittings necessary to construct the water valve manifold, as planned. Wrap Teflon tape around the two fitting threads and screw them into the two water valves. Identify the inlet on the water valves, in which the water supply must enter; sometimes the inlet is marked "Flow." Sand, prime and glue the two PVC fittings and three pipe sections. Slide the PVC sections into each fitting, give each a quarter turn to seal it well, and adjust each fitting so the manifold sits flat on the ground.
  
  
• 3). Expose the two wires from each valve and strip the ends of each wire with a wire stripper. Select three wires from the irrigation controller wire, including the white one, strip the ends and fold the other wires back. Note the colors of the wires. Take a wire from each valve and twist the two wire ends together along with the white wire, which is known as the common wire.
  
  
• 4). Take the remaining wires from each valve and twist each with one of the color-coded wires from the controller wire. Twist wire connection easy caps onto each wire union and ease each of the caps with their wires into a waterproof wire nut or grease cap for protection.
  
  

Sprinkler Installation

• 1). Sand, prime and glue the designated pipes from each lawn zone into its water valve. Connect all laid-out pipes and fittings together, one by one, after sanding, priming and gluing each.
  
  
• 2). Install a fitting between the PVC lines at each sprinkler mark. Screw on a swing-pipe assembly to the fitting until tight. Tightly screw the sprinkler housing onto the other end of the swing pipe by hand. Repeat this step until the entire sprinkler system is put together.
  
  
• 3). Shovel the dirt into the trenches, burying the PVC pipes. Confirm that each sprinkler housing is vertical in the dirt with the head level to the ground.
  
  
• 4). Place the valve manifold box over the water valves and shovel dirt into the trench around the box.
  
  

Timer

• 1). Slide the previously used color-coded wires from the controller wire into the corresponding irrigation controller zone terminals.
  
  
• 2). Slide the common wire into the terminal marked "Common."
  
  
• 3). Hook up the controller to its power supply and program schedules.