How deep are residential sprinkler lines?

[NationalMatch]

In Oklahoma?

I copied this from OSU's landscaping recommendations.

Primary Mains shall be installed a minimum of 36- inches below finished grade. Mains shall be installed a minimum of 24-inches below finished grade. Headers and laterals shall be a minimum of 18-inches below finished grade

I have to replace some shrubs/trees that were damaged from winters past. One replacement is over a line that goes directly to a sprinkler head. It's not a main supply line. The system was installed in 2012 by a reputable company so, it's 18 inches below grade?

thnx

 

[SlugSlinger]

Depends, but mine are about a foot deep with drain valves that allow the water to drain for winter freezing.
The main water line from the meter to the house is about 3’ deep, as well as the lines from my aerobic septic sprinkler system.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

Why don't you contact the reputable company and ask them how deep they bury the piping?

 

[TinkerTanker]

It really varies a LOT depending on how long ago they were put in, who did it, and how much erosion has happened.
I dug up some this past week that were FOUR inches deep. On the same installation, we had some that were 14 inches deep. You just have to get a shovel and go easy. Wet the ground real good beforehand.
The only pipes that bust ultra-easy are the threaded parts directly beneath the sprinkler where it connects to the pipe. The lines are all standard PVC and not as soft.

 

[Gunbuffer]

That’s about what I see. The pvc lines are 20” ish deep and the swing pipes rings it up. To the bottom of the head.
most leaks are at either end of the swing pipe.

 

[TedKennedy]

'Twas 18" back when I wielded a sharpshooter. Been a few decades since then, though

 

[TinkerTanker]

'Twas 18" back when I wielded a sharpshooter. Been a few decades since then, though

I bet that was some fun work in Oklahoma rock and clay on a 110 degree day. Nowadays they just grab a trencher and drink a beer while it crawls along, tearing up the funniest looking tree roots.

 

[TedKennedy]

I bet that was some fun work in Oklahoma rock and clay on a 110 degree day. Nowadays they just grab a trencher and drink a beer while it crawls along, tearing up the funniest looking tree roots.

View attachment 271567

We were some lean, mean guys back then. Usually they'd use a Ditch Witch for main lines, and me and another couple guys would cut the cross lines by hand. I actually loved that job.

 

[Gunbuffer]

We were some lean, mean guys back then. Usually they'd use a Ditch Witch for main lines, and me and another couple guys would cut the cross lines by hand. I actually loved that job.

I look back on all my hard labor jobs and realize I loved Them the best

 

[Duncandl]

Looks like about 5 inches here at my house…