Source TsoMania & The Sims Online Guide
Introduction
Sprinklers and the accompanying Central Irrigation Control (control valve) are a group of objects that can be crafted in the game using the crafting table and required resources. As you would expect, the primary function of the sprinkler object is to keep your gardens watered and looking wonderful all the time. The sprinklers also have the added benefit of providing some fun on a hot summer day.
Now you may be asking, why would I bother with expensive sprinklers when I could just hire the NPC gardener? Sprinklers have a couple advantages over the gardener; such as being able to water plants where the gardener cannot reach, like on a man-made island surrounded by a pool or in a corner. Another advantage is, plants that require extra attention such as the Mystic Tree will thrive when watered more frequently since the gardener only visits once every three Sim days.
How to get a Sprinkler or Control Valve
There are a couple ways to get your hands on a sprinkler or control valve. The first way is to make the object yourself using a crafting table and the required resources. Crafting a sprinkler or control valve requires you to have 12+ points in two skill categories, the correct number of resources and enough money. See the chart below for the requirements, or visit our crafting guide for more information on how to craft.
The second and much easier way is to purchase a sprinkler from a store lot, or use secure trading to obtain one from another Sim. Keep in mind that crafting sprinklers and control valves is very expensive, and it sometimes takes the crafter several attempts to make a single item. Because of this, the price of sprinklers and control valves are generally much higher than what it costs to craft them.
Types of Sprinklers & Watering Radius
There are two different models of sprinklers in the game. The WaterSpew Sprinker (or small size), and the Vintage Aquafaculator (or large size). You should select which sprinkler you want to use based on the design and size of your garden, as each one has a different watering radius.
To be continued