HOW DO I CUTOFF THE WATER TO MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM?
All irrigation systems should have a main shut-off valve. For most properties in the Richmond market, the main shut-off valve is located in either (1) the crawlspace or (2) at the water meter. Once you locate this valve you simply move the handle to the closed position to cutoff the water to your irrigation system.
HOW OFTEN/WHEN SHOULD I WATER MY LAWN?
There is no one size fits all for how often and when to water a lawn – as there are many variables that must be accounted for in order to answer this question. Your lawn’s watering program should be built around the concept of ‘replacing what is lost’. Based on this concept – you should water less in the spring and fall months and more during the summer months. Regarding when you should water, it is recommended to water early morning to minimize issues with fungus (very important once temps are in excess of 85°).
CAN I OPERATE MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM FROM MY SMART PHONE?
Yes, we have professional grade products that allow customers to operate their irrigation system from an iphone, android, or pc. The controller must be installed within range of the home’s wi-fi signal to allow for remote access of your irrigation system. Please call or e-mail for more information about these products.
DOES MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM NEED A RAIN SENSOR?
Yes, water is our most precious resource (and it is not cheap) – we strongly encourage all customers to install rain sensors. A properly installed rain sensor will suspend watering during periods of sufficient rainfall.
WHAT IS A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE?
A backflow prevention device is a safety device that only allows water to travel in one direction. This is needed for an irrigation system because the average residential system has over 1,000 feet of pipe with multiple openings (sprinklers) that could possibly allow contaminants (pesticides, pet waste, etc) to backflow into home.
DO I NEED TO TEST MY BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE?
Absolutely, this device protects your home and the county/city water supply from being contaminated. These devices consist of springs and rubber parts that wear out and need replacing from time to time. The only way to know your device is working properly is to have it tested annually.
WHEN SHOULD I WINTERIZE MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM?
In order to prevent damage to your irrigation system, you must winterize prior to freezing temperatures. Richmond has experienced temperatures in the 20°’s as early as mid-October. Most of our customers choose to winterize late October thru mid November. Many times customers are reseeding their lawns during this period and rely on the irrigation system to get the seed off to a good start. If you are not reseeding your lawn, we strongly encourage you to winterize early October to minimize exposure to freezing temperatures.
CAN YOU MARK WHERE MY IRRIGATION LINES ARE?
We are only able to mark portions of the irrigation system. We can identify the pipe location provided there is wire buried with the piping (this typically only occurs on main). We can also flag the locations of each sprinkler head and have some idea of the pipe path.
WHICH MANUFACTURER OF IRRIGATION COMPONENTS DO YOU USE?
We install and service all major manufacturers of irrigation components – Rain Bird, Hunter, Toro/Irritrol, and K-rain. Each manufacturer has its strengths and weaknesses and we ‘cherry pick’ what we believe to be the best products for our customers. However, if a customer has a certain request – we certainly will accommodate.