Q. How much and how frequently should I water?
A. Water needs vary depending on several factors such as sun exposure, type of turf, soil composition, slope of the terrain, seasonality and the type of irrigation heads. Watering needs vary from turf to landscape as well. During the early spring and late fall, your lawn may need only 0.5 inch of water per week but, in the very hot and windy conditions of summer, this may increase to 2 inches per week. Rotor heads will apply approximately 0.33 - 0.5 inches of water per hour. Spray heads will apply approximately 1.75 – 2 inches of water per hour. This is why your rotor zones will usually need to water 3 - 4 times longer than your spray zones to provide equal precipitation rates. There are entire books written on soil absorption rates and plant coefficients, so we normally recommend some general guidelines coupled with common sense.
Q. How do I program and adjust my controller?
A. Part of our job is training you to program and adjust your controller. In most cases, this is done before we leave your property. Also, most controllers have a set of instructions on the inside of the controller door. The owner’s manual serves as a complete guide to operating the controller. Go to
www.hunterindustries.com and
www.rainbird.com if you would like to visit the manufacturers’ latest information about controllers.
Q. What do I do if it rains?
A. You do not have to do anything if you have a rain sensor installed. The rain sensor will shut off the system when the designated amount of moisture is collected in the sensor. If you do not have a sensor, turning the dial on your controller to the “off” position will shut off your system.
Q. When can I turn on my irrigation system each year?
A. The system can usually be turned on towards the end of April or when temperatures consistently exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q. Is my system a self-draining system?
A. If you do not have sprinkler heads with check valves installed, the system is self-draining to the extent water will naturally flow out of the heads due to the slope of the terrain. The valves are self-draining as they have a reverse pressure drain in the valve box. The drain opens up when the water is shut off.
If you do have heads with check valves installed, the system is not self draining. Either way, we strongly recommend having the system completely winterized and evaluated each year.
Q. Should I drain and blow out the system?
A. Yes! It is good idea to have CM’s drain and blow out your system at the end of every watering season. Please call our office at 738-1718 to schedule this service. Our systems include drains, but blowing out your system insures there is no water left in the system and that all your lines, valves, and PVB will be ready for spring.
If you do have heads with check valves installed, the system is not self draining.
Q. Can I expect to see changes in my water bill?
A. The answer depends on your current practices. If you are not watering currently because you do not want to or are unable to drag hoses, then the answer is yes. If you currently water your lawn in the evening or afternoon when it is windy and hot, or leave your sprinkler running for longer than necessary to accommodate your schedule, then you are potentially wasting water. Various environmental conditions limit the amount of water the turf receives or can absorb at any given time. The beauty of your new irrigation system is that it can be programmed to apply the correct amount of moisture to each turf zone at the time of day when the temperatures are lower and winds are minimal. This will maximize the effectiveness of the water you are using. Although seeding and turf renovation projects will require watering beyond normal requirements, the application of the water can be just as efficient at that time as well.
Q. Will the installation cause damage to my yard?
A. There will be minor damage to most turf areas. Before beginning the job, we will tell you if we expect any areas to incur noticeable damage. Areas with shallow tree roots will usually need complete renovation after a sprinkler system installation. Generally, if a new irrigation system is used as directed, the yard is able to repair itself in as little as three weeks.
Q. What type of equipment is used?
A. Most residential properties will require the use of a pipe puller that makes a ¼ inch path in the turf as it vibrates the polyethylene (poly) pipe into the turf. Some larger residential properties and commercial projects require a trenching machine to allow crews to place and glue polyvinyl chloride (pvc) pipe. Shovels are used to dig holes for heads and to connect pipe.
Q. How do I adjust the irrigation heads?
A. We adjust your system for you as part of the installation and will review your system for adjustment as needed. Many systems operate for years without requiring adjusting. Your system is under warranty for one to ten years, depending on the system you purchased and should require minimal adjustment on your part; however, we try to show you how to adjust your heads before we leave your property.
Q. Do you flag irrigation heads when aerating?
A. Unless other arrangements are made, CM’s will flag your irrigation heads if CM’s aerates your lawn. The irrigation heads should always be flagged before aerating.
Q. What type of pipe is used?
A. CM’s mainly uses poly pipe in residential applications. It is very durable and expandable. PVC pipe is used in some residential and commercial projects.
Q. What is the depth of the pipe?
A. We install the poly pipe between 8” – 14” deep. Swing pipe may be 4” - 6” deep. PVC pipe may be installed as deep as 4’.
Q. Will the pipes crack or freeze?
A. Poly pipe expands significantly, so small amounts of water can be tolerated and most lines drain to the lowest head on the zone. However, the vacuum breaker or backflow preventer, copper pipe, or PVC pipe around the valve box may crack if they are not winterized. That being said, any system where the heads are installed with check valves will crack and freeze if not winterized as check valves will cause the poly lines to retain water.
Q. What are the green boxes buried in the yard?
A. These are your valve boxes. It protects the valves and wiring and keeps them accessible.
Q. What are valves?
A. Valves are part of the system’s electrical components. Valves are wired to the controller. When the controller directs a valve to open, water flows to a specific section of your yard.
Q. What is a check valve?
A. A check valve is a device that is installed in a sprinkler head that keeps the water from exiting the head when the zone is not running. Heads with check valves prevent the water from draining out of the sprinkler heads when the system is not in use therefore conserving water and preventing low head drainage or puddles.
Q. What is a pressure regulating stem?
A. A pressure regulating stem is installed in a spray head to keep the head operating at 30 psi instead of the 65 psi or greater that the main water line is able to supply. Spray heads are manufactured to operate at 30 psi and any greater water pressure is lost in fine mist and does not reach the turf. Installing pressure regulating stems can more than double the water/money savings by using less than 50% of the water the main is able to supply.
Q. What is the copper tubing extending from the house to the ground?
A. This is the copper that leads from your valves to your pressure vacuum breaker (PVB.) The PVB prevents water from flowing back into your potable water supply once it has passed by the device. Some systems may be installed with a reduced pressure assembly (RP.) The RP serves the same purpose as the PVB but is used in situations where a PVB will not adequately protect the potable water supply.
Q. Where do I call for repairs or with questions about my irrigation system?
A. Please call our office at 738-1718 with questions or repairs.
www.hunterindustries.com and
www.rainbird.com valuable resources as well.