Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
How Much Water Does My System Use?
To make the math easy use the following- each rotary head uses 3 gallons per minute and each spray head uses 1 gallon per minute. Multiply the number of heads times the appropriate gallons. Then multiply that number by 60 (minutes per week) and 30 (weeks per year of watering). That will give you annual usage. To break it down a little more by quarter- Q1-0; Q2-30%; Q3-60%; Q4-10%.
When and How Long Should I Water?
We recommend asking your lawn care professional for watering instructions. They are responsible for making sure all of the fertilizers and weed controls are working. Beyond that, we recommend that the system operate between 2am and 6am on even or odd days- whichever corresponds to your house number in order to abide by watering restrictions.
Can I Adjust the Heads Myself or Reprogram My Controller?
Absolutely! Click here for video tutorials from Hunter and Rain Bird:
Hunter- https://www.hunterindustries.com/videos
Rain Bird- https://www.rainbird.com/homeowners/all-about-sprinkler-systems
Can I Aerate My Lawn?
Yes! Make sure you mark out all of your sprinkler heads ahead of time and avoid those areas with any equipment.
How Long Will the Installation Take?
The average size home sprinkler system takes 1 to 2 days to install. A large estate home can take from three days to one week. A large commercial system can take months, or even years to complete.
Will I Have to Shut off the System When It Rains?
No, by law (The Water Conservation Act ) all new sprinkler systems come with an automatic rain sensor which will turn the system of when significant rainfall occurs f. It will automatically reset itself when the rain ends so even if you are on vacation your system knows what to do.
How Soon Can I Have My New System Installed?
Usually our schedule will allow us to install your system 10-14 days after you give us the ok. By Law Permits are required & all properties have to be marked out for underground utilities which usually take 7-10 days.
Are Permits Required?
Yes, each town has specific permits which are required. We will file these permits on your behalf as part of our agreement with you. You will only need to pay the specific fees required by the township and then arrange for the final inspection.
How Long Is My New System Guaranteed For?
We install all major manufactures irrigation materials and those materials are warranted for Two-Five Years depending on the product. In addition, our company guarantees everything we do, (including labor & adjustments) 100% for 1 year.
Will My New System Need on Going Service in the Future?
Your new system will need to be winterized every autumn which we will do with a large air compressor. In the spring, the system will need to be turned on again and programmed to run. You can have us do this or you can do it yourself. On occasion the system may need service. Garden Irrigation prides itself in our dependable service technicians and our great customer relations. If you need us we are only a phone call away.
What Is Required Service After Installation?
The only necessary service is the winterization of your lawn sprinkler each fall. It is important to remove all standing water from the system to prevent freeze damage. We also offer the option of a spring start-up and mid-summer check up.
What Kind of Products Do You Use?
Garden Irrigation is using the best products in the industry like: Hunter, Rain Bird, Toro, Irritrol, and Netafim. If you have a product you specifically want, we can get it just for you.
What Is Drip Irrigation, and What Will It Do for My Landscaping?
Drip irrigation is a method where small amounts of water are placed on the root ball of plants, therefore using the water more efficiently. This is done with a network of small tubes that provides water to many plants at once. A drip zone will usually run for several hours. It is generally considered to be better for most planting beds than typical watering, and it wastes almost no water.
How Often Should the Sprinkler System Be Run?
Each lawn has different sun and soil conditions, therefore, requiring varying amounts of water. It is better to water deep and infrequently rather than lightly every day. Other factors include the type of sprinklers used, direct sun, shade, soil conditions, slope, and temperature. Generally its best to water as much at once as possible without creating run-off, then waiting as long as possible before watering again.
How to Adjust Hunter Rotary Heads- PGP, PGP Ultra, I20?
Visit https://www.hunterindustries.com/irrigation-product/rotors/pgp-ultra for instructions on how to adjust Hunter Rotary Heads.
How to Program Your Hunter Sprinkler System?
The best way to care for your lawn is by installing a sprinkler system for irrigation. However, a common mistake that so many homeowners make is using their sprinklers too little or too often. This is why programming your sprinkler system is the best choice for both residential and commercial irrigation.
What Makes the Hunter Sprinkler System Different?
The Hunter system offers a unique advantage, thanks to its innovative Smart Irrigation controller features. You can easily control and automate your sprinklers through the control system for automatic turn-on and shut-off, as well as scheduled watering times. This is based on the Hunter Run Time Calculator.
What Is the Hunter Run Time Calculator?
The Hunter Run Time Calculator uses your location to calculate the amount of water you need for your lawn. The need may be based on certain times of the year. The system will ask what city you live in. If the city you live in is not in the database, you can select a nearby city.
Do I Need a Sprinkler System Repair or Replacement?
Dealing with sprinkler system repair issues or replacements doesn’t need to be a frustrating experience. The key to keeping your sprinkler system running is by fixing issues as soon as they arise and staying on top of routine maintenance in-between. If you have any further questions about irrigation system installment, repairs, or upgraded replacements, please contact us at Environmental Designers Irrigation.
How Can You Protect Your Irrigation System From Winter Damage?
Having an irrigation system is great for keeping your lawn healthy and vibrant in the spring and summer. But once the colder weather rolls in, it is time to prepare your yard for the winter ahead. This means raking up all of the leaves that have fallen, covering your garden beds to protect them from frost, and winterizing the sprinkler system. Failing to prepare your irrigation system could end in disaster and cost you a pretty penny in repairs. Instead, take these few easy steps to make sure your sprinklers are protected from the cold.
How to Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation System?
A Smart Irrigation System has a smart controller and specialized smart irrigation heads and attachments. These parts collect data related to water consumption, availability, quality, and unique site needs. As a result, you’ll cut back on the amount of water you use each month. The computerized controller helps you manage all kinds of irrigation issues that would typically take a lot of time to work out manually.
How Smart Irrigation Systems Keep Landscapes at Your Facility in the Green?
New technologies like SMART irrigation systems are intelligent and cost-effective irrigation solutions for all types of businesses and facilities. Another way SMART irrigation systems keep your facilities green is through cloud computing. Cloud-based systems are easy to manage from remote locations via websites or smartphone apps.
How Does An Irrigation System Add Value To Your Home?
Choosing a professional irrigation system ups your home’s value in more ways than one. If you are looking for that sweet spot to increase the value of your home then installing an irrigation system might be your best bet. A system like this promotes a high quality to your home. It can also boost your curb appeal and encourages water conservation.
Service Agreements/Contracts
Why do I have to prepay for my contracts?
We ask you to prepay your contract in order to save you money. This process eliminates unnecessary labor in office staff chasing after customers to pay for the services after fact. Streamlining this process and saving this excess labor, results in us offering services at a lower rate.
Why do you send Start Up and Winetrization Service Agreements at the same time?
We send these agreements at the same time to save you money and ensure peace of mind that your system is covered for the season. Prebooking your services lets us streamline the routing process, enabling us to more efficiently service our customers and therefore offer service at a lower price. It also takes the hastle out of customers having to remember the system will need to be winterized and having to then scramble to book that service at a very busy time of year and possibly not secure a winterization service.
Invoices
Why must I pay my invoice within 48 hours?
When you are prepaying a service agreement or a service call, we ask for payment within 48 hours to ensure you receive the service you booked in a timely fashion. We have found that when customers do not pay in a timely fashion, payments are forgotten and then the services are not booked. By the time a customer realizes they have forgotten to pay, we may be working on a month or more wait for an appointment. Our logistics software does not allow for these appointments to be booked without payment.
For all other invoicing, payment is due at the time of service.
Start-Ups
Why must I be at home for a start-up?
We require that an adult be present at the home for start-up, as we will most likely need to enter the home. We will need access to the controller and water for the irrigation system. We also require an adult to be present in the event there are any issues or repairs that need to be addressed so that we can obtain the proper authorization.
What do you do when you start up my system? Do you assess if there are any damages? What if we see a leak or what if something is not working right?
Included in your start-up is a diagnostic check of the entire irrigation system, turning the water on, reprogramming the controller, provide the customer with an estimate if any repairs or upgrades are recommended. REPAIRS AND PARTS NOT INCLUDED as part of the start-up service. When the repairs quote is approved, if time allows, the technician may be able to perform the work the same day, in most cases we will need to schedule a return visit to complete the repairs/upgrades. If you know of any issues you would like addressed, please let our office staff know so they can notate it on the Technician’s work order.
Mid-Season Check
What is a mid-season check? Is that necessary?
A mid-season check is an all-over check of your system in the middle of the season. As your system runs, some components may go out of line and need adjustment, controllers may need to be reprogrammed due to changing weather conditions, and normal wear and tear items may need to be addressed as the system runs. A mid-season check is a good idea to keep the system in prime condition and make sure no small issues become large repairs from neglect. This service is not mandatory and is up to the discretion of the customer.
Service Call Fees/Charges
Why do I have to pay a service fee for you to come out and assess my repair?
We have to pay a qualified Technician to come out to your property and asses the repairs in order to provide a quote for your approval. The same repair may vary in cost due to specific site conditions that the Technician would need to see. We also need to be able to cover the fuel, insurance, and overhead associated with coming out to your property.
Why do I have to pay a service fee for someone to check my property for a revamp, it is like a new installation?
A revamp is making improvements and replacing some components of an existing irrigation system, not a new installation from scratch. We have to pay a qualified Technician to come out to your property and asses the revamp in order to provide a quote. The revamp may vary in cost due to specific site conditions that the Technician would need to see. The technician will also need more time than a new installation estimate to assess what equipment is present, as using some existing components in a revamp may save quite a bit of money on the estimate.
We also need to be able to cover the fuel, insurance, and overhead associated with coming out to your property.
Winterization
Why do I need to winterize my system? Can’t I just turn the water off?
Just turning the water off will not clear the lines of water. The residual water in the pipes may freeze and cause major damage to many components of the irrigation system. The lines need to be cleared of water with commercial air compressors, set specifically for the components of the system.
Water is leaking, and you already winterized! Will I have to be re-winterized? Why would it leak?
You most likely have a leak from inside the house. We would need to send a Technician out on a service call to assess the situation. They will be able to determine if any repairs are needed or if the system will need to be rewinterized.
Irrigation Issues/Problems
Can’t I just buy a sprinkler head from the store and have you install it?
Unfortunately, the quality of a store bout head is not the same quality as a head that we use. We cannot use any components that we have not purchased through our own supply chains as a standard of safety, quality, and professionalism. We also cannot warranty any product or work involved in using a product we did not purchase through our supply chain. Installing any other brand or grade of quality will nullify any warranties on the system.
Why is water pooling in one area?
There are a few possibilities for this. You may have a broken head, valve, pipe, or fitting. It also may be uneven distribution of water. There may a grading issue having nothing to do with irrigation or it may even be another utility pipe, not part of the system. We would need to send a Technician out on a service call to assess the situation and provide a quote for repair.
Why is my lawn not evenly watered?
This could be a pressure issue. It could also be an issue with a system component. There are other possibilities a swell, such as watering requirements for different types of soil or grass. There may also be an issue with grading that would require adjustments to the system. We would need to send a Technician out on a service call to assess the situation and provide a quote for repair.