The success of your irrigation system depends largely on the contractor you choose to design and install it. A contractor’s expertise and skills will affect your system’s efficiency and reliability. In fact, how your irrigation system is designed and installed will make the difference between a system that continues to keep your lawn healthy and green, and one that creates problems by wasting water and leaving your lawn unhealthy and brown. Choosing the right contractor is a big decision, but it is not as difficult as you may think. Here are a few tips that will help you select a contractor who will guarantee a job well done.

What to Expect

An efficient, well-organized contractor will be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice. First, the contractor will want to view your property in order to determine soil conditions, water sources and pressure, and planting materials. He will then present a formal estimate detailing what he plans to do and the total price for design, materials, and installation. Along with the estimate, the contractor should clearly explain all the project specifics. Generally, there should be little disruption to existing foliage, and the average job should take less than a week.

Questions to Ask

The best contractors will encourage you to ask many questions. By asking questions, you will know what type of sprinkler system you are getting for your money and what to expect from your new system. Here are a few important questions to consider:

1. What type of products will be used and why? A professional should tell you what type of controller, valves, rotors, or spray heads are best for your landscape.
2. Is after-sale service provided? A professional should be willing and able to provide after-sale service.
3. Is there a system warranty? A professional’s work should be guaranteed — a one-year warranty is typical.
4. Does he/she have references available? A professional should be willing to provide you with the names and telephone numbers of recent satisfied customers, so you can call and check his references.

You Get What You Pay For

When choosing a contractor, you should be wary of those who offer to charge you significantly less than others. Low bidders may not be licensed or insured and may often use cost-cutting techniques that can jeopardize your lawn and shorten the life of your system.

Watch out for these commonly used, undesirable short-cuts:

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• Not including a backflow preventer: This is often required by local codes to protect your drinking water.
• Installing sprinklers too far apart: This makes it impossible for certain areas to receive enough water and can cause brown spots during the hot summer months.
• Mixing sprinklers with different application rates on the same line: This causes one area to be overwatered in order to sufficiently water another.
• Not using special watertight connectors and a protective valve box: These components are necessary to safeguard the electrical elements, guard against short circuits and prevent corrosion.

Confidence Counts

Above all, you should choose a contractor you trust and in whom you feel confident. It is also important that he installs professional series products such as those manufactured by Hunter and Rain Bird. For over 70 years, professional irrigation contractors have used Hunter and Rain Bird products to provide the industry’s most cost-effective and reliable irrigation systems. Choosing a contractor who uses professional series products is the best way to ensure that your project will be done right.

Your sprinkler system is a complex network of pipes, valves, sprinklers, and electrical connections. Because it serves as the circulation system for your entire yard, the design and installation of your sprinkler system is critical. This is a complicated process that requires specialized tools and equipment, as well as a strong knowledge of landscape design and hydraulics. This is why it is so important to have a professional contractor design and install your system.

Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Commonly Asked Questions

The Advantages of Owning an Automatic Sprinkler System

Many people say convenience is the biggest advantage to an automatic system since they don’t have to spend their time watering by hand or moving the hose around the yard. Others say extended plant life and lower water usage are the most important benefits. Still others believe a sprinkler system is one of the best investments that they can make in their home, since a home’s appearance is a key factor in determining market value. And guess what — they are all right!

Q. Will an automatic sprinkler system use more water than I am currently using?

A. No. — In fact, an automatic sprinkler system will conserve water. You will never have to worry about runoff from overwatering or about wasting water if you forget to turn off the hose. Plus, with a Rain Bird moisture sensor your system will know when it is raining and simply turn itself off when water is not needed.

Q. Does having a sprinkler system really save time?

A. Yes. — You won’t have to spend another minute of your valuable leisure time watering the lawn. Your new system will do all the watering for you – even when you are away from home!

Q. Will an automatic sprinkler system water as well as I do when I water by hand?

A. An automatic sprinkler system will do a much better job, because a professionally designed system delivers exactly the right amount of water to specific lawn and garden areas.

Q. We generally get 40 or more inches of rainfall a year. Do we really need a sprinkler system?

A. If it rained at your house every three days — the same exact amount each time — you probably would not need a sprinkler system. But nature doesn’t work that way, and the only way to ensure healthy, lush yard is to make certain that your lawn and plants receive a regularly timed and evenly measured amount of water. In the dry season when there is little or no rain, your yard can suffer damage after just a few days without water.

Q. Are there different sprinkler systems from which to choose?

A. Although every system should be tailored to meet one’s individual needs, a typical system is comprised of a controller (which functions as the brains of the system), valves (which open and close to release and stop the flow of water to underground pipes) and sprinklers (which distribute water to specific areas). It is best if all of a system’s components are manufactured by the same company in order to ensure that they will work well together. Unlike Rain Bird, most companies make only one or two components of a complete system. However, Rain Bird, designs and manufactures all of the major components that comprise a complete irrigation system. Rain Bird also has a nationwide network of distributors that support contractors who install Rain Bird systems.

Q. How do I know what type of sprinkler system is best for me?

A. It is always best to work with a professional irrigation contractor who is knowledgeable about factors such as water source and pressure, soil type, planting materials, and weather conditions. A professional will take all of this into consideration when designing a system specific to the needs of your landscape.

Q. Can I save money by installing my own system?

A. No! In fact, it could cost you more money in the long run. A professional irrigation contractor will design and install the most cost-effective and energy-efficient system possible. You can be confident that he will use the best equipment for the job and effectively schedule any maintenance required to keep your landscape in top shape.

He will pay special attention to important factors such as sprinkler patterns (it is important to overlap the patterns so that the outer edges receive sufficient water for healthy growth) and backflow prevention (which is necessary to protect your drinking water). Because your contractor is familiar with local plumbing and electrical codes, you won’t have to worry about costly pipe installation or wiring mistakes. He can do the job faster — with less disruption to your existing landscape — and will guarantee his work.

Q. Will I have difficulty operating my sprinkler system?

A. Your contractor will help you select the best controller for your needs, and he will program it with your customized watering schedule. Your contractor will also explain the system’s operation to you. Then, if necessary, you will be able to easily change the watering schedule by simply following the easy instructions on the inside of the controller cabinet.

Q. How much will a good sprinkler system cost?

A. The price of a system depends upon many factors such as property size, type of landscaping, and special designs. But you can count on your professional irrigation contractor to design a cost-effective system comprised of quality Rain Bird products. He will be familiar with Rain Bird’s many professional series products and will know how to put the right ones together in a system in order to achieve maximum results. He also knows that Rain Bird, as well as its nationwide distributor network, stands behind all of its products and is serious about commitment to quality construction and after-sale service.

Like most people, you probably have many questions that you would like to ask before finalizing your decision to purchase an automatic sprinkler system. This information should provide many answers for you, but please do not hesitate to ask your irrigation contractor any additional questions that you may have.

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A. The average is between $75 and $125.00 per hour. This varies between companies based on experience, professionalism, availability, quality, and insurance. The truth is that you will get what you pay for.

Q. If one of my zones is not coming on, what could be the problem?

A. If you have one zone on your system that is not working and the other stations are then there are only a few possible problems.

1. The control valve is bad (usually the solenoid, but could be the diaphragm)

2. The wire to the valve could have been cut or damaged.

3. The controller could have a bad terminal and not be pushing power to the valve.

Q. If one of the zones in my yard will not turn off, what could be the problem?

A. A valve that will not turn off could only be a couple of different things.

1. The valve is bad (usually the diaphragm, but could be the solenoid)

2. The controller could be pushing constant power to the valve.

3. Someone could have turned the valve on manually in the yard.

Q. My controller is displaying that the system should be working, but nothing is turning on, what could be my problem?

A. If you system will not run and the controller is displaying that it is running, then these are the possibilities:

1. Someone turned off your backflow or isolation valve and there is no water to your system.

2. The field wiring to the valves have been cut or damaged.

3. Your rain sensor is not working or the rain sensor wire has been cut/damaged.

4. Your electric master valve could be bad. (most systems do not have master valves)

Q. One of my stations has really low pressure, what could be causing this type of problem?

A. Low pressure on just one of your stations and not on any others would usually indicate a leak or a bad valve. It is also possible that your backflow is not open completely.

Q. What is the difference between a lateral pipe and a main line pipe?

A. A lateral pipe does not have constant water pressure. A lateral pipe only has water inside of it while a system is running. A main line pipe is under pressure at all times.

 A. No. A sprinkler system is lubricated and cleaned every time it runs. Over long periods of time water sitting inside of your sprinkler pipes becomes stagnant and cause build up that can be very hard on your system. You should run your system at one time every 2 to 3 weeks for at least one minute per station to eliminate build up and stagnant water. This will prevent maintenance in the future and will prolong the life of you system. You should also check your system or have it checked every 2 to 3 months.     

Q. If I notice something broken in my sprinkler system, is it ok to wait to have the problem fixed a few months later?

A. No. Problems lead to more problems and as time passes you will not know what was and was not working before, making it very difficult for a technician to resolve the issue.

Q. Is it ok to have my landscaper service my sprinkler system?

A. Yes. As long as he/she is a licensed irrigator in the state of Texas. It is required by the state of Texas that any who repairs, installs or services a sprinkler system be licensed.

Q. Will a rain sensor save me money on my water bill?

A. Yes. A rain sensor will over ride your sprinkler system in the event that it was scheduled to run after it has rained. The period in which the rain sensor will over ride the system will vary based on the setting as well as the current wind and temperature after the rain has stopped.

Q. What time should I set my sprinkler system to run?

A. To prevent fungus and disease you should run your system in the early morning between 6am to 9am in the Fall and Winter months. During the Spring and Summer months should water between 12am to 4am when the temperature is the coolest. During the Spring and Summer the chance of fungus and disease is low and the evaporation and transpiration rate is much higher which means more water is evaporated before your lawn has a chance to utilize it.

Q. How often should I check my sprinkler system?

A. You should check your system thoroughly every 2 to 3 months minimum. You should also have your system checked by a Licensed Irrigation Technician at least once per year.      

Q. How often should I adjust my sprinkler settings?

A. You should adjust your sprinkler settings with every season or every 2 to 3 months. Because the weather changes every so often you should use good judgment on when to adjust as the seasons begin to change.         

Q. How often should I have my backflow tested and certified?

A. Most cities require that your backflow be tested and certified by a Licensed backflow tester one time per year. A backflow prevents water in your sprinkler system from flowing back into your drinking water.

Q. What is the average cost to have your sprinkler system checked?

A. The average cost is based on how many zones your system has. A 6 to 10 zone system should cost between $75 and $100. A 10 to 15 zone system should cost between $85 and $110.

Don't forget to prepare for the winter.

It’s that time of year – time to winterize your sprinkler system.

Minimum On-Site Requirements:

§344.62.Minimum Design and Installation Requirements.

• No irrigation design or installation shall require the use of any component, including the water meter, in a way which exceeds the manufacturer’s published performance limitations for the component.

• Spacing.

o The maximum spacing between emission devices must not exceed the manufacturer’s published radius or spacing of the device(s). The radius or spacing is determined by referring to the manufacturer’s published specifications for a specific emission device at a specific operating pressure.

o New irrigation systems shall not utilize above-ground spray emission devices in landscapes that are less than 48 inches not including the impervious surfaces in either length or width and which contain impervious pedestrian or vehicular traffic surfaces along two or more perimeters. If pop-up sprays or rotary sprinkler heads are used in a new irrigation system, the sprinkler heads must direct flow away from any adjacent surface and shall not be installed closer than four inches from a hardscape, such as, but not limited to, a building foundation, fence, concrete, asphalt, pavers, or stones set with mortar.

o Narrow paved walkways, jogging paths, golf cart paths or other small areas located in cemeteries, parks, golf courses or other public areas may be exempted from this requirement if the runoff drains into a landscaped area.

• Water pressure. Emission devices must be installed to operate at the minimum and not above the maximum sprinkler head pressure as published by the manufacturer for the nozzle and head spacing that is used. Methods to achieve the water pressure requirements include, but are not limited to, flow control valves, a pressure regulator, or pressure compensating spray heads.

• Piping. Piping in irrigation systems must be designed and installed so that the flow of water in the pipe will not exceed a velocity of five feet per second for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

• Irrigation Zones. Irrigation systems shall have separate zones based on plant material type, microclimate factors, topographic features, soil conditions, and hydrological requirements.

• Matched precipitation rate. Zones must be designed and installed so that all of the emission devices in that zone irrigate at the same precipitation rate.

• Irrigation systems shall not spray water over surfaces made of concrete, asphalt, brick, wood, stones set with mortar, or any other impervious material, such as, but not limited to, walls, fences, sidewalks, streets, etc.

• Master valve. When provided, a master valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the backflow prevention device on all new installations.

• PVC pipe primer solvent. All new irrigation systems that are installed using PVC pipe and fittings shall be primed with a colored primer prior to applying the PVC cement in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (Section 316) or the International Plumbing Code (Section 605).

• Rain or moisture shut-off devices or other technology. All new automatically controlled irrigation systems must include sensors or other technology designed to inhibit or interrupt operation of the irrigation system during periods of moisture or rainfall. Rain or moisture shut-off technology must be installed according to the manufacturer’s published recommendations. Repairs to existing automatic irrigation systems that require replacement of an existing controller must include a sensor or other technology designed to inhibit or interrupt operation of the irrigation system during periods of moisture or rainfall. El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Terrell, Loving, Winkler, Ward, Reeves, Ector, Crane and Pecos are excluded from this requirement.

• Isolation valve. All new irrigation systems must include an isolation valve between the water meter and the backflow prevention device.

• Depth coverage of piping. Piping in all irrigation systems must be installed according to the manufacturer’s published specifications for depth coverage of piping.

• (4) If the manufacturer has not published specifications for depth coverage of piping, the piping must be installed to provide minimum depth coverage of six inches of select backfill, between the top of the pipe and the natural grade of the topsoil. All portions of the irrigation system that fail to meet this standard must be noted on the irrigation plan. If the area being irrigated has rock at a depth of six inches or less, select backfill may be mounded over the pipe. Mounding must be noted on the irrigation plan and discussed with the irrigation system owner or owner’s representative to address any safety issues.

• (5) If a utility, man-made structure, or roots create an unavoidable obstacle, which makes the six-inch depth coverage requirement impractical, the piping shall be installed to provide a minimum of two inches of select backfill between the top of the pipe and the natural grade of the topsoil.

• (6) All trenches and holes created during installation of an irrigation system must be backfilled and compacted to the original grade.

• (m)Wiring irrigation systems.

• (7) Underground electrical wiring used to connect an automatic controller to any electrical component of the irrigation system must be listed by Underwriters Laboratories as acceptable for burial underground.

• (8) Electrical wiring that connects any electrical components of an irrigation system must be sized according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

• (9) Electrical wire splices which may be exposed to moisture must be waterproof as certified by the wire splice manufacturer.

• (10) Underground electrical wiring that connects an automatic controller to any electrical component of the irrigation system must be buried with a minimum of six inches of select backfill.

• Water contained within the piping of an irrigation system is deemed to be non-potable. No drinking or domestic water usage, such as, but not limited to, filling swimming pools or decorative fountains, shall be connected to an irrigation system. If a hose bib (an outdoor water faucet that has hose threads on the spout) is connected to an irrigation system for the purpose of providing supplemental water to an area, the hose bib must be installed using a quick coupler key on a quick coupler installed in a covered purple valve box and the hose bib and any hoses connected to the bib must be labeled “non-potable, not safe for drinking.” An isolation valve must be installed upstream of a quick coupler connecting a hose bib to an irrigation system.

• Beginning January 1, 2010, either a licensed irrigator or a licensed irrigation technician shall be on-site at all times while the landscape irrigation system is being installed. When an irrigator is not on-site, the irrigator shall be responsible for ensuring that a licensed irrigation technician is on-site to supervise the installation of the irrigation system.

Administrative Obligations:

§344.63.Completion of Irrigation System Installation.

Upon completion of the irrigation system, the irrigator or irrigation technician who provided supervision for the on-site installation shall be required to complete four items:

• A final “walk through” with the irrigation system’s owner or the owner’s representative to explain the operation of the system;

• The maintenance checklist on which the irrigator or irrigation technician shall obtain the signature of the irrigation system’s owner or owner’s representative and shall sign, date, and seal the checklist. If the irrigation system’s owner or owner’s representative is unwilling or unable to sign the maintenance checklist, the irrigator shall note the time and date of the refusal on the irrigation system’s owner or owner’s representative’s signature line. The irrigation system owner or owner’s representative will be given the original maintenance checklist and a duplicate copy of the maintenance checklist shall be maintained by the irrigator. The items on the maintenance checklist shall include but are not limited to:

o the manufacturer’s manual for the automatic controller, if the system is automatic;

o a seasonal (spring, summer, fall, winter) watering schedule based on either current/real time evapotranspiration or monthly historical reference evapotranspiration (historical ET) data, monthly effective rainfall estimates, plant landscape coefficient factors, and site factors;

o a list of components, such as the nozzle, or pump filters, and other such components; that require maintenance and the recommended frequency for the service; and

o the statement, “This irrigation system has been installed in accordance with all applicable state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations or orders. I have tested the system and determined that it has been installed according to the Irrigation. Plan and is properly adjusted for the most efficient application of water at this time.”

• A permanent sticker which contains the irrigator’s name, license number, company name, telephone number and the dates of the warranty period shall be affixed to each automatic controller installed by the irrigator or irrigation technician. If the irrigation system is manual, the sticker shall be affixed to the original maintenance checklist. The information contained on the sticker must be printed with waterproof ink and include:

• The irrigation plan indicating the actual installation of the system must be provided to the irrigation system’s owner or owner representative.

Future Service Requirements:

§344.64.Maintenance, Alteration, Repair, or Service of Irrigation Systems.

• The irrigator is responsible for all work that the irrigator performed during the maintenance, alteration, repair, or service of an irrigation system during the warranty period. The irrigator or business owner is not responsible for the professional negligence of any other irrigator who subsequently conducts any irrigation service on the same irrigation system.

• All trenches and holes created during the maintenance, alteration, repair, or service of an irrigation system must be returned to the original grade with compacted select backfill.

• Colored PVC pipe primer solvent must be used on all pipes and fittings used in the maintenance, alteration, repair, or service of an irrigation system in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (Section 316) or the International Plumbing Code (Section 605).

• When maintenance, alteration, repair or service of an irrigation system involves excavation work at the water meter or backflow prevention device, an isolation valve shall be installed, if an isolation valve is not present.