Orbit 50024 In-Ground Sprinkler Kit with B-hyve Wi-Fi Hose Faucet Timer
Our score: 7.2/10 out of 101-zone · Batteries power · 6 sprinklers or emitters
No Canada price yet
Sprinkler system kits
A sprinkler system kit puts pop-up sprinklers, buried tubing and fittings in one box, and the ones sold to homeowners run from an outdoor faucet rather than the main water line. That makes them a weekend job, but it also sets their limits: the faucet must supply enough flow for every head at once, and most kits can't be extended. Measure your pressure and flow before you choose.
Before you buy
- Measure flow and pressure Time how long the faucet takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket and check the pressure with a gauge, then compare both with the kit's minimum. How to measure pressure and flow.
- Call before you dig Contact 811 in the US, or Click Before You Dig in Canada, before you trench. It is free, and the notice needed varies by state and province.
- Ask about backflow rules A faucet kit still needs backflow protection, and the device your town accepts varies. Check with your water utility before you connect. Backflow prevention explained.
Not sure a faucet kit is enough for your yard? Our guide to choosing between a hose-faucet kit and a full in-ground system walks through lawn size, flow and the work involved.
Top picks
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Best overall
Rain Bird 32ETI Self Install Automatic Sprinkler System
Six rotors, a timer and drain valves: a whole lawn system in one box
- Covers 3,000 sq ft
- 1-zone
- Batteries power
No Canada price yet -
Best budget
Rain Bird 32HE Sprinkler System with Click-n-Go Hose Connect
Four pop-up rotors fed by a click-in hose connector, no timer to buy
- Covers 3,000 sq ft
- 1-zone
- None (manual) power
No Canada price yet -
Best for large yards
Orbit 50021 2-Zone In-Ground Sprinkler Kit with Hose Faucet Timer
Two zones and 12 sprinklers from one faucet, push-fit tubing
- Covers 2,500 sq ft
- 2-zone
- Batteries power
No Canada price yet
More kits
2 kits, sorted by our score
Orbit 50020 In-Ground Sprinkler Kit with Hose Faucet Timer
Our score: 7.1/10 out of 10Covers 1,250 sq ft · 1-zone · Batteries power
No Canada price yet
Sprinkler system kits questions
Can I run an in-ground sprinkler kit off my outdoor faucet?
Yes, for a small or medium lawn, if the faucet supplies the kit's minimum flow and pressure. Rain Bird's 32ETI and 32HE, for example, need at least 6 gallons a minute and 40 psi. Large lawns usually need a valve-based system on the main line instead.
How do I check my water pressure and flow?
With no other water running, screw a pressure gauge onto the faucet for the static pressure. For flow, time how long the fully open faucet takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket: 300 divided by the seconds is gallons per minute.
Can I add more sprinklers to a kit later?
Usually not. Rain Bird says adding heads or tubing to the 32ETI hurts its performance. If you expect to grow the system, plan a valve-based layout with a controller instead.
Do I need to call 811 or Click Before You Dig for a kit?
Yes. Even a shallow trench for kit tubing can hit a buried cable or gas line. The service is free. In the US call 811, in Canada use Click Before You Dig or your provincial one-call center, and wait for the lines to be marked.
Why won't my sprinkler heads pop up?
Usually the faucet can't supply enough pressure or flow for that many heads, a head is clogged, or the faucet isn't fully open. Check the pressure and flow against the kit's minimum, clean the head's screen, and split the heads into two zones if needed.
What do I do with a faucet kit in winter?
Follow the kit's guide. Rain Bird's 32ETI uses drain valves at the low points so the buried tubing empties, and its timer comes off the faucet to be stored indoors. Rain Bird suggests a contractor if the lines need a blowout.
Guides
- The best DIY sprinkler system kits: all five boxed kits compared, with the flow and pressure each needs.
- Hose-faucet kit or a full in-ground system? How to decide before you dig.
- How to measure water pressure and flow: the gauge and bucket tests every kit asks for.
- How deep to bury sprinkler pipe and how to winterize a sprinkler system.
Other categories
- Drip irrigation kits: emitters and dripline for beds, raised beds and containers.
- Sprinkler controllers: smart and plain timers for in-ground systems with valves.
- Hose timers: battery and smart timers that screw onto a faucet.
Image credits: Paul J Everett, CC BY 2.0
