Question
QUESTION: Jim, I have had serveral estimates to have a sprinkler system installed. This is my first home , the estimate I am leaning toward going with will be using  a mixture of 11-Hunter Pro-4 spray heads and 23-Hunter PGP/PGM Rotors w swing joints and 7- Hunter SRV 1" electric Valve and 7- 6" round valve boxes. 1- 12" Oval Valve Box, 1- 1" PVC Ball Valve (Cutoff valve) Now, I gave all that infomation to you because I read in another response you told someone else it was important to have the spray heads and rotors on different valves. Does this estimate appear to be accurate? My yard is large but honestly I dont know the size or the number of zones. The report says my meter size is 5/8 and my PSI: 65. The cost is  3000.00. Does this sound fair?

ANSWER: Dear Robin, I hope this helps. You are right, it is important to keep your spray heads and your rotor heads on different valves. I would imagine with the pressure situation, they would probably put the spray heads on either one or two valves by themselves, and rotor heads on the remaining 5 or 6 valves. I would ask and make sure that they are not going to combine rotor heads and spray heads on the same valve. The price of $3000.00 sounds very reasonable, given the information you provided. I see that they show a Ball valve or cutoff valve to shut the system off. You might want to make sure that they are installing a vacuum breaker (normally this is required by city or county code) this unit (vacuum breaker) is installed for safety reasons to keep any water from the sprinkler system, from being able to syphon back to your house water and contaminate it. I would check with the city or county, and make sure that the contractor  installs this unit for you for safety reasons. Good luck and let me know if I can be of anymore help,thanks and have a great day.

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QUESTION: Jim would a Vacuum breaker be the same a backflow device? If so there is a Febco DCA device 1" included.  You mention pressure situation, what were you referring to? Do I not had alot of pressure for the amount of heads that I will have installed or is that just not alot of pressure?
Thank you so much for your help!
Robin

Answer
Hey Robin, yes you are correct, a vacuum breaker is also referred to as a backflow device. The Febco would be a vacuum breaker, sounds like you are covered. A system can work fine at 65 pounds of pressure, as long as the right number of heads are installed on each valve, and I think the number of heads to valves looks just fine. Make sure before you give the final payment, that the heads spray good, that all the areas get covered, and you get a guarantee in writing. I hope this helps, good luck and have a good day.