Service

Startup/evaluation: The technician will turn on the water and check the system’s components for proper operation. The technician will also setup a watering schedule, based on the anticipated weather conditions for the next 30 days. If any repairs are found to be needed we will prepare an estimate that will be e-mailed shortly after the startup date OR if the customer is available to provide approval (by phone or in person) we are typically able to perform minor repairs on site. This service is included with both the Basic Maintenance Agreement and the Enhanced Maintenance Agreement at a discounted rate – or you can purchase it as an individual service (pricing is based on the size of your system). Irrigation system startup/evaluation should be performed in April, May, and early June of each year, but we also perform it throughout the growing season for customers that have just purchased a property.

Backflow Prevention Device Testing: Once water from your home’s water supply enters the piping of an irrigation system, it is considered contaminated (according to state/local code). It is our opinion that under normal circumstances this water isn’t actually contaminated, but it is prudent to treat it as if it were because under a ‘perfect storm’ scenario things such as pet waste, fertilizers, or other yard chemicals could be introduced into the irrigation system’s piping. Therefore, we encourage all customer to follow Virginia’s requirement and have their irrigation system’s backflow prevention device tested annually. The backflow prevention device only allows the water to flow in one direction – and to verify that it is operating properly a state certified tester must use a backflow test kit and follow prescribed testing procedures. This service is offered as an option for both the Basic Maintenance Agreement and the Enhanced Maintenance Agreement at a discounted rate – or you can purchase it as an individual service. Backflow prevention device testing can be performed throughout the year, between startup and winterization.

In-season Visit (wetcheck): Once a system has been turned on for the season, the technician will visit the property to update the watering schedule (based on the anticipated weather conditions for the next 30 days) and also verify the sprinkler heads are providing adequate coverage by checking for clogged nozzles, leaning sprinkler heads, sprinkler heads not rotating, etc. If any repairs are found to be needed we will prepare an estimate that will be e-mailed shortly after the in-season visit date OR if the customer is available to provide approval (by phone or in person) we are typically able to perform minor repairs on site. This service is included with the Enhanced Maintenance Agreement at a discounted rate – or you can purchase it as an individual service (pricing is based on the size of your system).

Winterization: The technician will turn off the water and blow out the irrigation lines using compressed air (high volume low pressure). This service needs to be performed prior to freezing temperatures in order to prevent damage, especially to your irrigation system’s backflow prevention device, as they are typically exposed to the elements. This service is included with both the Basic Maintenance Agreement and the Enhanced Maintenance Agreement at a discounted rate – or you can purchase it individually (pricing is based on the size of your system). Winterization of your irrigation system should be performed as early in the fall as possible to avoid damage from an early freeze – we begin winterizing systems the first week of October.

Repairs: The systems that Richmond Irrigation installs are very solid and will provide years of dependable service. However, many other contractors (in particular production builders) are not concerned with installing a system that will hold up over time. As a result our service techs are busy repairing and replacing irrigation components throughout the season. We try to keep it simple when it comes to repairs by having a set price for nearly every occurrence, as opposed to charging a labor rate and also for materials. Our service techs are trained to replace components in a manner consistent with our standards. If your system needs a complete overhaul, many times we can offer a discounted rate by doing it all at once, especially if you are willing to have this work performed in our off season (typically December-February).

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