How to Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation System

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada travels to Orlando to upgrade an irrigation system Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Time: 2-3 hours Cost: $300 Skill Level: Beginner to Moderate, depending on what’s already in place Tools List for Upgrading a Smart Irrigation System: Irrigation shovel Drip irrigation tubing cutter Shopping List: Flags Smart irrigation heads Drip tubing Landscape ring Steps: 1. Before doing any digging, always call the local utility locating service to identify underground utilities. This will help you avoid hitting or damaging them while working on the project. 2. Turn the irrigation system on. When the current irrigation heads come up, use the flags to mark their location. This will make them easier to find. 3. Dig down near each of the flags to expose the irrigation heads. Unscrew the old head and thread on the new smart heads. 4. Place a landscaping ring around the new heads to protect them from lawn tools, like a lawnmower. 5. For drip irrigation, there is a T-head that can be screwed in the same way as the other heads. Then, drip tubing can be connected through both ends of the T to create a closed loop drip irrigation line. 6. When replacing the timer, unplug the old unit from the wall. Mark the old wires and remove. Mount the new timer, attach the wires, and plug it in. Connect the timer to the home’s WiFi system for remote monitoring and control. Resources: Jenn upgraded the irrigation system with the following components: 1800 High Efficency Sprays, 42SA Simple Adjust Rotors, Emitter Conversion Kit for Drip Irrigation, and a WiFi Controller (Model ST8i). All of these are manufactured by Rain Bird (http://bit.ly/2VQnUzV). The irrigation shovel can be found at home centers. Expert assistance with this segment was provided by Ken-Lin Landscaping Inc. in Oviedo, FL and Nawada Landscape Design (http://bit.ly/28YHZAi). Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, ask this old house, jenn nawada, irrigation, lawn Watch the full episode: http://bit.ly/2P9EsQF Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1psm4fE G+: http://bit.ly/1CtsNjJ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1psm1QZ Tumblr: http://bit.ly/1CtsLbH