New irrigation zones
From about $1,250 per zoneBest suited to straightforward projects with good access, reasonable trenching, compatible existing infrastructure, and limited hardscape or specialty work.
Family Owned, Licensed & Insured · Southeast Michigan Irrigation Installation
New Sprinkler System Installation, New Zones & Irrigation Design
Hunter HydroTech LLC designs and installs irrigation systems around the actual property—not a generic zone count. We build new sprinkler systems, add zones, install drip irrigation, plan smart controllers, backflow-fed city-water systems, and lake or pump-fed irrigation for Southeast Michigan homes and businesses.
Custom project pricing for new construction, established homes, finished landscapes, bore-shot projects, waterfront properties, larger residential systems, and commercial irrigation.
Built for quality, coverage, and serviceability—not the lowest possible bid.
We quote installation projects around the real labor, equipment, water source, hardscape, access,
materials, and site conditions required to build the system correctly.
Custom Zone Design
Head spacing, flow, pressure, landscape type, and property layout drive the design.
Established-Property Capability
Bore shots, roots, hardscape, finished lawns, tight access, and existing landscaping.
City Water & Pump Systems
Backflow-fed municipal systems and lake or pump-fed irrigation.
Professional Components
Quality valves, pipe, heads, wiring, controllers, fittings, and system components.
A sprinkler installation should be priced around the property—not a cheap per-zone shortcut.
Two eight-zone sprinkler systems can require completely different amounts of labor and equipment. One property may be open new-construction dirt with easy machine access. Another may be an established home with mature trees, finished landscaping, driveways, sidewalks, patios, fencing, underground utilities, tight gates, bore shots, roots, restoration, a backflow upgrade, or a lake-pump system.
Hunter HydroTech designs around the actual water source, pressure, available flow, landscape, pipe runs, sprinkler spacing, hardscape, controller location, valve locations, pump or backflow requirements, and future serviceability. That produces a better system—and a more accurate project price.
New installations also connect directly with our smart-controller installation, backflow replacement, pump-system work, valve and manifold service, and sprinkler repair.
Sprinkler Installation Pricing
What does a new sprinkler system cost in Southeast Michigan?
Hunter HydroTech does not price every property at one flat amount per zone because the cost to build each zone changes with the site. The numbers below are practical starting expectations—not guaranteed quotes for every property.
Finished homes & difficult sites
Often $1,500+ per zone equivalentMature roots, finished lawn, landscaping, bore shots, restricted access, long pipe runs, restoration, controller work, and manifold changes can materially increase labor.
Higher-complexity systems
Can reach $2,000+ per zone equivalentLake intakes, pumps, suction lines, pump-start relays, filtration, power coordination, large piping, multiple bores, difficult access, and large-property layouts can increase the total project substantially.
Project pricing matters more than one zone number.
A complete quote may include the controller, station modules, backflow assembly, pump equipment, bore work,
valves, manifolds, electrical-control components, plumbing, special fittings, restoration, drip zones, sensors,
or other infrastructure as separate line items or as part of the total installation package.
Installation Options
Complete systems, new zones, drip, controllers, pumps & major revamps
Installation work ranges from one added zone to a complete irrigation system with the water source, controls, valves, piping, heads, backflow, pump equipment, and specialty work required for the property.
Complete Sprinkler System Installation
Custom residential and commercial irrigation systems designed around the actual property, water source, landscape, pressure, future service access, and long-term maintenance.
New Zone Installation
Add rotor, spray, or specialty irrigation zones for dry areas, backyard expansions, new landscaping, additions, pools, patios, gardens, and coverage improvements.
Drip Irrigation Zones
Low-volume irrigation for planting beds, shrubs, trees, gardens, narrow landscape areas, foundation beds, and specialty watering needs.
Smart Controller & Timer Setup
New installations can be built around modern controllers such as Hunter Hydrawise, Rachio, or Orbit B-hyve when the selected platform fits the system and customer.
Pump-Fed & Lake-Fed Irrigation
Design and installation planning for irrigation pumps, suction and intake components, pump-start relays, filtration, discharge piping, pressure, and zone demand.
Backflow-Fed City-Water Systems
New municipal-water irrigation can include the irrigation shutoff, backflow assembly, mainline, valves, controller, field wiring, and properly designed sprinkler zones.
System Revamps & Rebuilds
Major upgrades for older irrigation systems involving new manifolds, wiring, heads, controllers, backflows, pumps, mainlines, zone reconstruction, and coverage redesign.
Commercial Irrigation Installation
Larger irrigation layouts for businesses, commercial properties, HOAs, multi-zone landscapes, and sites requiring bigger valves, piping, controllers, pumps, or backflow assemblies.
Irrigation Design
The system is won or lost before the first trench is opened.
Proper sprinkler design connects water-source capacity, flow, pressure, head spacing, nozzle selection, valve sizing, pipe layout, controls, and service access into one working system.
Water Source & Available Flow
City water, well water, and pump-fed sources behave differently. Available gallons per minute, pressure, pipe size, pump capacity, and water-source reliability determine what each zone can support.
Head-to-Head Coverage
Sprinkler heads should be laid out so the spray or rotor pattern reaches neighboring heads where practical. Poor spacing creates dry areas and uneven watering from day one.
Rotor, Spray & Drip Selection
Large turf, narrow lawn strips, planting beds, shrubs, trees, and specialty areas need different precipitation rates and watering methods instead of one head type everywhere.
Zone Flow & Pressure
Every zone has a flow demand. Too many heads on one valve, oversized nozzles, undersized pipe, or weak source pressure can leave heads unable to rise or water evenly.
Valve & Manifold Placement
Valve boxes should be serviceable, documented, and placed where future repairs do not require tearing apart finished landscaping whenever possible.
Controller Capacity & Future Expansion
The timer should support the installed zone count, pump or master-valve requirements, sensors, WiFi needs, and reasonable future expansion without immediately becoming undersized.
Hardscape, Bores & Property Access
Driveways, sidewalks, patios, fences, retaining walls, gates, established landscaping, and limited machine access can change the installation method and labor required.
Michigan Seasonal Serviceability
A well-built system should be practical to start up, repair, adjust, winterize, locate, and upgrade through many Michigan watering seasons.
Established Home vs. New Construction
Site conditions can change installation cost more than the zone count.
This is why we look at the property before treating any per-zone number as final.
New Construction / Open Dirt
When sod is not installed, concrete is not poured, landscaping is unfinished, and machine access is open, irrigation installation can be more efficient because trenching and layout are less restricted.
Established Home & Finished Lawn
Existing homes usually require more care around landscaping, mature roots, fences, patios, driveways, utilities, finished turf, and restoration. Labor and project risk are higher than open-ground construction.
Bore Shots Under Hardscape
Getting irrigation pipe or wire beneath sidewalks, driveways, walkways, and other hardscape may require bore shots rather than open trenching. The number, distance, soil, access, and existing utilities affect cost.
Heavy Roots & Mature Landscaping
Large roots, established trees, dense shrub beds, retaining walls, and older landscapes can slow trenching, limit machine access, require hand work, and increase restoration effort.
Lake / Pump-Fed Properties
Pump-fed systems can require intake and suction planning, pump sizing, filtration, relay wiring, discharge plumbing, power coordination, priming access, and additional troubleshooting compared with a simple city-water installation.
Commercial / Large Properties
Larger systems may require bigger mainlines, larger valves, commercial controllers, more wiring, multiple bore shots, higher-flow water sources, larger pumps, and more installation time.
Our Installation Process
From property evaluation to final zone testing
- Evaluate the property and water source. We review the lawn, beds, trees, slopes, hardscape, access, available pressure and flow, controller location, backflow or pump needs, and the areas that actually need irrigation.
- Build the zone layout. Rotors, sprays, drip areas, valve groupings, pipe routes, bore locations, and specialty zones are planned around coverage, flow demand, landscape type, and future service access.
- Quote the complete project scope. The proposal can separate core irrigation zones from controllers, backflows, pumps, bore shots, specialty plumbing, sensors, or other project components when that makes the scope clearer.
- Install pipe, valves, wiring, heads, and controls. Trenching, bores, hand work, manifolds, field wiring, controller components, sprinkler heads, drip, backflow or pump-related work are completed based on the approved design.
- Pressurize and test the system. Every zone is operated and checked for leaks, head operation, pressure, coverage, valve function, controller response, and pump or backflow performance.
- Adjust, program, and explain the system. We set controller schedules, adjust sprinkler coverage, label zones, explain seasonal operation, and review how the system should be started, serviced, and winterized.
What's Inside a New Irrigation System?
Pipe, valves, heads, wiring, controls, backflows, pumps & specialty work
A complete sprinkler system is an assembly of interconnected components. The quality and sizing of each part affects pressure, coverage, reliability, serviceability, and long-term repair cost.
Mainline & Laterals
Pipe size and layout are selected around source flow, pressure, distance, zone demand, water velocity, and future serviceability rather than using the smallest material that will technically carry water.
Valves & Manifolds
Hunter PGV and other professional irrigation valves are common choices depending on pipe size, flow, system type, and project requirements.
Rotors & Spray Heads
Hunter PGP Ultra rotors, professional spray bodies, nozzles, swing assemblies, and other components are selected based on area shape, throw distance, pressure, and precipitation rate.
Field Wiring
Irrigation control wiring should allow each valve to communicate reliably with the controller and be installed with waterproof field connections and a layout that supports future troubleshooting.
Smart Controller
Controller selection depends on zone count, future expansion, customer preference, WiFi signal, sensors, pump or master-valve output, and whether contractor access is desired.
Backflow Assembly
City-water irrigation may require an appropriate backflow prevention assembly and irrigation shutoff arrangement based on the property, local requirements, and system design.
Pump System
Lake-fed and other pump-fed systems may include a pump, intake, screen, foot valve, check valve, suction piping, pump-start relay, filtration, discharge plumbing, and electrical coordination.
Bores & Restoration
Hardscape crossings, root zones, finished lawns, landscape beds, and access limitations can require specialty installation methods and additional restoration work.
Backflow-fed municipal irrigation
City-water systems may include an irrigation shutoff, appropriate backflow assembly, mainline, valve manifolds, controller wiring, rotors, sprays, drip zones, and smart-controller options. Available house pressure and flow determine how many heads can operate reliably on each zone.
Pump-fed irrigation requires source-to-zone planning
Pump systems may require an intake, screen, foot valve, suction line, check valve, pump, filter, pump-start relay, discharge piping, mainline, valves, controls, and zones sized around the pump's actual pressure and flow capability.
Bore Shots & Hardscape Crossings
Established homes often require more installation work than the customer can see.
Irrigation pipe and control wire still need to reach the other side of driveways, sidewalks, walkways, patios, landscape walls, and other finished areas. Bore work can preserve hardscape but adds time, equipment, setup, locating, and installation risk.
Driveways & Sidewalks
Crossings may require bore shots or another specialty path instead of saw cutting finished concrete.
Multiple Hardscape Crossings
A property with several sidewalks, driveway sections, patios, or walkways can require multiple separate bores.
Mature Roots
Large roots can slow machine trenching, change pipe routes, require hand work, and increase restoration time.
Utilities & Existing Infrastructure
Gas, electric, cable, drainage, landscape lighting, fences, existing irrigation, and other underground systems affect the safest route.
New Installation Service Areas
New sprinkler systems across Southeast Michigan
Hunter HydroTech is based in Sterling Heights and serves a broad Southeast Michigan area. Installation availability is more selective than routine repair because new systems require larger blocks of crew and equipment time.
Macomb County, Oakland County, St. Clair County, Wayne County & surrounding areas
We quote residential and commercial installation projects throughout Sterling Heights, Macomb, Shelby Township, Utica, Warren, St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Chesterfield, New Baltimore, Troy, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Waterford, Grosse Pointe, and surrounding Southeast Michigan communities. Larger or higher-value projects may justify additional travel.
Irrigation Knowledge & Related Services
Plan the installation around how the system will be repaired and maintained later.
New irrigation design overlaps with pumps, backflows, valves, controller systems, sprinkler repair, seasonal start-up, and winterization. These resources help customers understand the pieces before making a larger investment.
Michigan Sprinkler Repair Guide
Understand the repair problems a well-designed new system should help avoid, including poor coverage, bad valves, leaks, low pressure, and difficult service access.
Explore this resource →Irrigation Pump Systems
Lake-fed system design, pumps, suction lines, intakes, relays, priming, pressure, filtration, and source-to-zone troubleshooting.
Explore this resource →Backflow & RPZ
Backflow prevention, PVBs, RPZ assemblies, shutoffs, replacement, testing, freeze damage, and irrigation plumbing.
Explore this resource →Smart Controllers
Hunter Hydrawise, Rachio, Orbit B-hyve, controller wiring, modules, weather scheduling, remote access, sensors, and monitoring.
Explore this resource →Valve Manifolds
Learn about irrigation valves, manifolds, solenoids, diaphragms, valve boxes, sizing, wiring, and long-term serviceability.
Explore this resource →Real Irrigation Case Studies
See real Hunter HydroTech revamps, pump work, backflows, controller upgrades, valve projects, and installation-related field work.
Explore this resource →
Why Hunter HydroTech
We price installations to build them correctly—not to win every quote.
New installation is labor-heavy, equipment-heavy work. We are more interested in building a system we can stand behind than being the lowest number on a stack of estimates.
Custom Design
Zone count follows the property and available water—not an arbitrary sales target.
Real Irrigation Experience
We repair pumps, backflows, valves, wiring, heads, leaks, and controllers, so we know which installation shortcuts create future problems.
Professional Components
We use professional-grade irrigation materials and size components around the system requirements.
Family Owned, Licensed & Insured
Hunter HydroTech is a local Southeast Michigan irrigation company focused on quality work and long-term customer relationships.
New Sprinkler Installation FAQ
Pricing, zone cost, bores, pumps, timelines & design questions
Common questions about full sprinkler installations, new zones, established properties, new construction, lake systems, backflows, controllers, and project pricing.
How much does a new sprinkler zone cost in Southeast Michigan?
Hunter HydroTech generally prices new irrigation zones from around $1,250 for qualifying projects. Established properties, bore shots, heavy roots, hardscape, difficult access, pump-fed systems, larger pipe, commercial work, and other complexity can push the effective per-zone cost closer to $1,500 to $2,000 or more. Full-system installations receive a custom project quote.
Why can an established-home sprinkler installation cost more than new construction?
Finished properties require more care around existing lawn, mature tree roots, driveways, sidewalks, patios, fences, landscaping, utilities, and restoration. A new-construction site with open dirt and no finished hardscape is often more efficient to trench and lay out.
Do bore shots under driveways and sidewalks increase sprinkler installation cost?
Yes. Bore shots avoid cutting open finished hardscape, but they add equipment time, setup, labor, and risk. The number of crossings, distance, soil conditions, existing utilities, access, and bore diameter all affect project cost.
How much does a lake-fed or pump-fed sprinkler system cost?
Pump-fed irrigation is usually more complex than a basic city-water system because the project may require a pump, intake, screen, foot valve, suction line, check valve, filtration, pump-start relay, electrical coordination, discharge piping, and pressure testing. Complex lake or pump-fed projects may reach roughly $1,500 to $2,000 or more per zone equivalent once the full system scope is considered.
Is the controller included in the per-zone sprinkler price?
Not always. Hunter HydroTech quotes projects based on the actual scope. The controller, station modules, backflow assembly, pump equipment, bore work, plumbing, electrical-related work, sensors, specialty materials, and restoration may be shown separately or included as part of a complete project package.
How long does a new sprinkler installation take?
Many typical residential installations can require roughly two to three working days, but the schedule depends on zone count, crew access, weather, soil, roots, bore shots, hardscape, pump or backflow work, property size, restoration, and other site conditions. Larger or more complicated projects can take longer.
Can you add one new zone to an existing sprinkler system?
Yes, when the existing water source, pressure, controller capacity, mainline, wiring, and valve layout can support it. A zone addition may also require a controller module, new wiring, a new valve, bore work, or changes to the existing manifold.
Do you install sprinkler systems at new-construction homes?
Yes. New construction can be a good time to install irrigation because trenching and layout may be easier before sod, landscaping, fences, patios, and finished concrete limit access. Project timing should be coordinated with the builder and other trades.
Do you install smart sprinkler controllers with new systems?
Yes. New irrigation systems can include smart WiFi controllers such as Hunter Hydrawise and other compatible platforms when appropriate. Controller capacity is sized around the installed zones, future expansion, sensors, WiFi, and pump or master-valve requirements.
Do new city-water sprinkler systems need a backflow preventer?
Many municipal-water irrigation systems require an approved backflow prevention arrangement. The exact device and installation requirements depend on local rules, property plumbing, and system design. Hunter HydroTech can plan the irrigation system around the required backflow setup.
Do you install drip irrigation as part of a new system?
Yes. Drip irrigation can be designed for planting beds, shrubs, trees, gardens, narrow landscape areas, and specialty zones. Drip pricing depends on length, plant layout, filtration, pressure regulation, valve requirements, and access.
What sprinkler heads do you use on new installations?
Product selection depends on the property, but Hunter HydroTech commonly works with professional irrigation components such as Hunter PGP Ultra rotors, professional spray bodies, matched nozzles, swing assemblies, Hunter PGV valves, and modern irrigation controllers.
Can you install a new sprinkler system at an established home without destroying the whole lawn?
Irrigation installation is invasive work, but professional trenching, careful machine access, bore shots, targeted hand work, and restoration can reduce unnecessary disturbance. Mature roots, tight access, heavy soil, landscape beds, and hardscape still affect how cleanly the system can be installed.
Do you provide commercial sprinkler installation?
Yes. Hunter HydroTech can quote commercial irrigation installation and major revamp projects. Commercial properties may require larger pipe, larger valves, multiple controllers, larger backflows, pumps, higher flow, more zones, and additional coordination.
Where does Hunter HydroTech install new sprinkler systems?
Hunter HydroTech serves a broad Southeast Michigan area centered around Sterling Heights, including many communities in Macomb County, Oakland County, St. Clair County, Wayne County, and surrounding areas. Installation availability depends on project size, travel, crew capacity, scheduling, and site conditions.
Hunter HydroTech LLC · Southeast Michigan
Request a custom quote for a new sprinkler system.
Call Hunter HydroTech for complete irrigation installations, new zones, drip irrigation, smart controllers, backflow-fed city-water systems, lake and pump-fed systems, bore-shot projects, established-home retrofits, commercial irrigation, and major system revamps across Southeast Michigan.
Explore our complete irrigation services, Knowledge Center, and Southeast Michigan service areas.
Service Areas
New Sprinkler Installation Service Areas
Hunter HydroTech LLC provides new sprinkler installations across Southeast Michigan.
New Sprinkler Installations in Auburn Hills
New Sprinkler Installations in Birmingham
New Sprinkler Installations in Bloomfield Hills
New Sprinkler Installations in Bloomfield Township
New Sprinkler Installations in Canton
New Sprinkler Installations in Chesterfield
New Sprinkler Installations in Clinton Township
New Sprinkler Installations in Eastpointe
New Sprinkler Installations in Fraser
New Sprinkler Installations in Grosse Pointe
New Sprinkler Installations in Grosse Pointe Farms
New Sprinkler Installations in Grosse Pointe Park
New Sprinkler Installations in Grosse Pointe Shores
New Sprinkler Installations in Grosse Pointe Woods
New Sprinkler Installations in Harrison Township
New Sprinkler Installations in Lake Orion
New Sprinkler Installations in Macomb
New Sprinkler Installations in Madison Heights
New Sprinkler Installations in New Baltimore
New Sprinkler Installations in Pontiac
New Sprinkler Installations in Rochester
New Sprinkler Installations in Rochester Hills
New Sprinkler Installations in Romeo
New Sprinkler Installations in Roseville
New Sprinkler Installations in Royal Oak
New Sprinkler Installations in Shelby Township
New Sprinkler Installations in Southfield
New Sprinkler Installations in St. Clair Shores
New Sprinkler Installations in Sterling Heights
New Sprinkler Installations in Troy
New Sprinkler Installations in Utica
New Sprinkler Installations in Walled Lake
New Sprinkler Installations in Warren
New Sprinkler Installations in Waterford
New Sprinkler Installations in West Bloomfield