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Sprinkler System Installation Costs in Eau Claire, WI & Minneapolis, MN

7 MINUTE READ

If you order a cheeseburger and discover the cost could be anywhere from $2 to $180, something’s not right. Even extra pickles shouldn’t make that huge of a difference.

But when you look at the cost of installing a sprinkler system in your yard, you might be surprised at the wide range of prices. There are a lot of factors involved, from the size of your yard to the expertise of your installer.

How much does a sprinkler system cost? And why? It’s pretty interesting.

Let’s dive in.

How Much Does a Sprinkler System Cost?

Let’s get right to the number you want to know. The cost to install a sprinkler system in your yard is between $6,000 and $30,000 or more, depending on the size of your property and the water source.

a lawn trenching machine excavating for a lawn sprinkler installation

Wait, what? That’s a huge price difference. Obviously, your irrigation company will give you a more precise estimate once they visit your property.

Here are some examples:

  • The cost for an average-sized city lot under 20,000 square feet: $6,500 - $10,000.
  • The cost for a half-acre lot of 20,000 to 40,000 square feet: $9,000-$11,000.
  • The cost for a lot of 40,000 square feet or more: Starting at $11,000.

Irrigation system costs can vary so widely because a ton of factors go into the cost.

Let’s take a look:

The Size of Your Yard

The more materials, the more labor it takes to put them in. That increases the cost.

You might think the sprinkler system installation cost will be cheaper for a tiny city lot, but it could actually cost the same as a sprawling acre lot.

Read Our Guide to Irrigation Installation & Maintenance

Small lots often need many tiny sprinkler heads to efficiently reach all the nooks and crannies in your yard without wasting water by over spraying.

In a small yard, we may need to cover 10 feet, not 30 feet, and do it without wasting water.

It’s all about materials and labor.

The Importance of Design in Irrigation System Cost

The price of your sprinkler system should include expert design. But not every irrigation company offers this.

This is huge. You have to install a sprinkler system right the first time. If it’s wrong, it’s expensive to fix. Sometimes it even means starting over.

Be careful of sprinkler system companies that skimp on the number of irrigation heads or the number of zones to reduce the amount of materials and labor, so they can offer a lower price.

irrigation technician installing a lawn sprinkler control box

They might install two heads where there really should be three. They might install four zones when five would do a better job.

Once the job is done, all the spacing is set. In order to fix it, you may need to dig up and reposition 50 to 100 irrigation heads and install more zones. That’s a massive, expensive task.

Don’t underestimate the importance of skilled, expert design.

At RainMaster, our team includes trained and certified irrigation designers.

That’s not required in our industry. Actually, anybody can claim they know how to do it, put their name on a truck, and sell you an irrigation system. But do they really understand hydraulics and electrical systems? These two areas really come into play with designing and installing a great irrigation system.

In fact, so many people claim to be “irrigation services,” it gives a false impression that it’s an easy job that any guy in a truck who charges $2,000 can do. When you ask “How much does irrigation installation cost?” and the answer is $2,000, you’ve got the wrong guy.

You may not realize your installer doesn’t really know what they’re doing until it’s too late — when some of your irrigation heads are barely spraying water or spraying all over the place.

How much water is being sprayed on streets, driveways, and corners of buildings because of poor design? How much water are you wasting — and paying for — because of an unskilled sprinkler installation?

You may never know how much lower your bills could be. You could be saving a lot of water with proper design and installation. We’re talking about hundreds to thousands of gallons of water each year. That’s huge.

Does Your Irrigation System Cost Include Plumbing?

When you hire RainMaster, your sprinkler system installation cost includes the cost of the plumbing needed to install your system.

irrigation installation technician loading irrigation lines into a truck

Most irrigation companies don’t include plumbing. You need to hire that done on your own.

A licensed plumber has to install the water line that runs from inside your house to the outside so we can hook up the irrigation.

It’s an extra hassle to arrange to have that done, and at considerable cost. At RainMaster, we arrange to have the plumbing done and you’ll see that reflected in your cost. That makes things easier for you.

What Else Does Sprinkler System Cost Include?

The best lawn sprinkler and irrigation companies in Eau Claire WI and Minneapolis MN will make all this easy for you.

RainMaster customers get expert design by certified irrigation designers; plumbing services included; and water-conserving irrigation heads and nozzles.

Your Irrigation controller is included in your sprinkler system cost. This is the brains of your sprinkler system. We use smart controllers as standard equipment. Most companies consider that an upgrade.

You’ll get a follow-up inspection visit a month after installation to check your irrigation system and make any adjustments if needed. That’s included in your irrigation system cost.

What else is included in RainMaster’s sprinkler system installation cost?

Proper irrigation programs aren't just one-and-done jobs. With RainMaster, your new irrigation installation offers peace of mind with additional details, including:

  • Three-year parts and labor warranty.
  • Our ”No dry spots“ guarantee. If there’s a spot that isn’t getting water, we’ll readjust and take care of it.
  • A sketch of your irrigation system design so you know where everything is located in your yard.
  • A tidy yard. Your grass will be repaired and grass seed spread as needed after installation.
  • Top-of-the-line products. Every manufacturer that sells irrigation system parts has more than one level of products, of varying quality. We believe in not giving you entry-level sprinkler heads, valves, or controllers. You expect the best.

Make sure your Eau Claire WI or Minneapolis MN lawn sprinkler and irrigation company offers expert, ongoing maintenance service for your irrigation system.

irrigation technician and customer inspecting a lawn sprinkler system

Many companies don’t service their irrigation systems, just focusing on installation. It takes additional skills to service irrigation systems. RainMaster has you covered.

Plan Ahead to Save On Sprinkler System Cost

Planning ahead for your sprinkler system installation can save you money.

How?

  • Get the right size well pump when you build your house.
  • Ask the plumber to stub out the plumbing for an irrigation system when building your house. Since the plumber is already there installing plumbing for the rest of the house, it will cost less than hiring it done separately later.

Another note about planning ahead: once customers decide they want a sprinkler system, they usually want it installed as soon as possible.

irrigation technician calibrating a series of lawn sprinklers

Depending on the season, the best lawn sprinkler and irrigation companies in Eau Claire, WI and Minneapolis MN are booked at least a month ahead.

Why Going Cheap Initially Can Ultimately Cost You More

It’s tempting to cut costs now, but it will cost you more down the road.

Poor spacing of nozzles and heads can be expensive to re-do. Inefficient heads cost you more in your water bill every time you water. 

If installers use wire and nuts that aren’t waterproof, they often corrode, causing expensive electrical problems down the road. We use waterproof fittings to avoid electrical problems.

Irrigation installation is invasive - done incorrectly, it can damage other parts of your landscape. Why are your lawn and all your expensive new landscaping plants dying? Maybe your system’s spacing is all wrong, or you don’t have enough zones. Water isn’t reaching everywhere it should be.

Our installations avoid these issues and correct them when needed.

Trust Your Sprinkler System to RainMaster

Not all irrigation companies in Eau Claire, WI and Minneapolis MN make things easy.

Your choice makes the difference. Choose RainMaster, and we make it easy, from start to finish:

One less phone call, one less to-do. Don’t worry about scheduling the plumbing or routine maintenance. Our automatic scheduling takes care of that.

Getting a great return on your sprinkler system investment really comes down to the choices you make. We’d love to help you get the lawn you deserve.

Want to learn more about installing a lawn sprinkler system? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision and enjoy your backyard again! 

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Topics: Irrigation

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