When buying a washer, bicycle, or a car its easy to compare prices with other companies for the same thing.  When buying a service it gets a lot tougher.  When having a sprinkler system installed there is an assumption that water is thrown everywhere and all sprinkler companies install systems identically.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  If you call 10 sprinkler companies for a quote for a sprinkler system all 10 will give you a different price for different reasons.  The good thing is once you decide that price is locked in and paid at completion.  Sprinkler system service and repair gets even more complicated.  Some companies will arrive and give a flat rate quote to repair your system or problem.  While others(such as myself) quote a time and material price to repair the problem with a budgetary number.  Since most of the sprinkler system is buried it is very difficult in most instances to quote an exact price to make a repair.  Once you start digging and troubleshooting other and bigger problems may reveal themselves.  Getting an exact quote may make you feel better but when the price keeps going up due to “unforeseen problems” it can become very aggravating to say the least and there is an incentive to quote high and/or cut corners to save time and cost of materials.  I prefer the time and materials method because it allows me to work efficiently without the worry of a set budget to stay within.  But one drawback is some may foot drag to pad the bill.  Over the past few years I have seen other sprinkler companies offer a commission base pay so the repair person will make more money the more they sell.  They are pressured to sell more and more to hit a sales number and make more money.  Unfortunately I have seen more than one such repair job where several items were repaired or replaced that didn’t need to be.   As I have mentioned before a good referral works great.  Talk to your neighbors, friends, family, church members, etc, and ask who they used.  A good strong referral is the best way to find a company that will make you happy and comfortable with your decision.  Contact a couple of local wholesale sprinkler supply companies too.  They deal with local sprinkler contractors and know who to refer and not to refer.

Have you ever hired a company to perform a service of some kind and you got poor service?  The problem was only partially resolved if at all?  And they still got paid!  In the state of Florida very few counties or cities require any experience or real expertise if any to get a business license in the sprinkler business.  So any Tom, Dick, or Harry that learns how to glue pipe can get a business license… if they choose to get one at all along with insurance or a bond.  Trust your instincts.  If you hire a person or company to install or repair your sprinkler system and they arrive in unmarked vehicles, run around your property looking confused or disorganized, have one problem after another then you have a decision to make.  Do you turn a blind eye and hope for the best or do you need to get involved?  Get involved!  Ask questions as to what is going on and allow the person in charge to explain.  Sometimes Murphy’s Law is in effect and a lot of problems have popped up but they clearly have a handle on it.  However, if they seemed overwhelmed and confused it might be best to send them packing and pay them nothing.  Technically you are the boss and have every right to be involved and watch what is being done and ask questions.  By doing so shows the sprinkler contractors expertise, knowledge, and wisdom or the lack of it.  If a lot of problems seem to be popping up and the sprinkler company or person is stressing out among other red flags of problems it might be best to stop everything, tell them you are not satisfied with the work, fire them, and pay them nothing or the cost of materials installed.  If you have to sign a contract make sure this option is in the contract before you sign.  A reputable and professional sprinkler contractor will have no problem with this request.

Sprinkler system electric valves.  This description is a little misleading.  The sprinkler system electric valve is commonly powered by 24 volts from the timer.  But that’s just the half of it.  There is an electric solenoid on the valve that lowers or lifts a plunger.  But the plunger caps off water flow on the valve diaphragm closing the valve or releases the capped off water allowing the valve to open.  So electrically everything could be working just fine but hydraulically and/or mechanically the valve can still malfunction and may not open or close depending on the type of valve, debris in the valve, or a diaphragm problem.  So electrically the timer, wiring, and solenoid are testing okay but the valve will not open or close is very possible and common.  You will need to locate and repair/replace the valve.  You can repair/replace with the same valve or you can make an upgrade.  If you have a lot of pressure (45 PSI or more) and this valve operates a spray zone then a pressure regulating valve might be a good idea.  If your pulling out of a lake, a well, or even reclaim water a scrubber valve that keeps itself clean is another option.  There are slow closing valves that are great for solving water hammer problems.  Like pipe sizing pick the size valve for the flow(GPM), do not pick the valve based on pipe size.  Many valves can flow much more water than they are sized at. For example:  Some 1″ valves can pass up to 40 GPM requiring 2″ piping.  However, installing too large a valve may create a lack of hydraulic flow and it may not be able to close properly.

I use and need a cell phone for my business.  All business owners do.  We run around like crazy people with our phones attached to our ears at all times.  You can’t drive down any road without seeing someone on their cell phone.  I hate to admit that I have had many instances of near misses while on my phone and driving.  I’m from the old school so I do not text.  I believe it is more productive to call someone and have a conversation or leave a voice mail so they have the information.  Several years ago I made the decision to try and do better.  I will answer the phone while driving but I will immediately begin looking for a spot and safely pull over… even if I’m on the highway.  I will make as many calls as I can while I’m stationary in my vehicle.  I would rather waste a little time then risk getting into an accident and hurting myself or worse, injuring someone else over a phone call.  Recently a customer of mine told me she had just been to a funeral of a beautiful teenage girl with a bright future.  They found her cell phone in the back seat still in the middle of a text she was typing while driving and she drove off the road and crashed.  I have heard many of these stories from other customers and on the local TV news.  Most of our driving is within 5 miles of our homes or less than 20 minutes.  Wouldn’t it be safer to simply wait until you reach your destination, park your car, and then return that call?  Hands free cell phones are not much safer.  Statistics have shown that even hands free cell phones impedes a drivers focus equal to that of a legally drunk person.

Central Florida is the lightning capital of the world.  Sprinkler systems are a favorite target for lightning.  With zone wires running out and all over any property one lightning strike can hit any wire and destroy the valve solenoid and/or travel back to the timer and at least damage it or blow it off the wall into pieces.  Pumps are another favorite target.  Proper grounding is key.  However, nothing will survive a direct hit.  Proper grounding will take a nearby hit and hopefully allow it to pass harmlessly through your equipment.  Paige Wire has a excellent grounding method at there web site www.paigewire.com/education.htm.  When installing any electrical equipment proper grounding will help protect that equipment from not only lightning strikes but dirty power or power spikes.  A properly trained sprinkler person will know how to ground the equipment using ground rods or hire a company that specializes in electrical grounding.  Get your sprinkler system protected but have your home or business checked out too.  Over time grounding systems will deteriorate and fail providing you with no protection.  Keep in mind that it is common for lightning damage to occur but it may not appear for several weeks or months.  Your sprinkler system may work okay but over time it starts acting up and then finally fails completely.  Upon opening the timer panel or motor cover there is the smell of electrical burn or even a burn spot from a lightning strike from days, weeks, or months earlier.

With the right fixtures and proper installation low voltage landscape lighting allows you to admire your landscaping at night while having parties, family events, or just personal time.  The extra lighting can also provide a little extra peace of mind knowing you or your loved ones can easily see there way should they come home late at night.  Installation is relatively easy.  Since low voltage lighting uses only 12 volts most codes do not require licensing and the wire can be run under the mulch and not buried.  Bulb type and hours usage are key.  On existing systems if a single bulb burns out it is best to replace all the bulbs on that wire run.  All bulbs are rated in hour usage so when one 5000 hour bulb burns out the others will not be far behind.  Plus, as each bulb burns out the voltage increases to the other bulbs shortening there life by half.  Technology has come a long way with bulbs that last up to 10,000 hours or LED fixtures with 50,000 hours of life.  Voltage is another key.  These fixtures are rated for 12 volt.  Using more will reduce the life of the bulb significantly.  Multi-tap transformers can help with an assortment of 11 volts up to 22 volts.  By using less voltage by as little as 1/2 a volt per wire run can in some instances double the life of the bulb without losing very much light.  Test the last fixture on the wire leg for proper voltage.  Be sure to at least use a transformer with a timer to activate the lights and turn them off later on in the night.  A photo cell will also keep the lights off as the days get longer.  Both items will increase the life of the bulbs by months if not years.  A true landscape lighting installation will highlight the landscaping and architecture in subtle light blends.  You should never have to shield your eyes from too much light or stumble around from a lack of lighting.

If you have an existing sprinkler system a little pre-planning can solve a lot of problems and save you money.  Once you know exactly where the new pool or addition is going contact a sprinkler company to come out and locate all of your electric valves, valve wiring, well, or pump wire and flag all of your heads.  At best the timer, valves, and wiring will be on one side of the house and away from the work.  All that needs to be done now is dig down and cap off or re-pipe around the project area.  By flagging off the valves and heads the contractor can see them and plan a path for the heavy equipment and hopefully not damage any heads or valves.  If you have mainline and wiring within the project area they must be relocated outside the project area or lowered deeper into the ground below a sidewalk area and encased in a sleeve (SCH 40 PVC pipe).  Piping in one sleeve and wiring in another sleeve.  Relocate heads outside the project area.  Due to heavy equipment it may be best to return after the completion of the project to install the heads.  Be sure to put ”zero” minutes on any zones in the project area.  No need to water where the landscape will be destroyed.  This method saves time and money versus trying to repair after heavy equipment have ripped the piping and wiring out of the ground.  Plus, some codes require that the sprinkler system and landscape must be installed before the inspector will sign off on the pool or addition.  If you are planning on having a sprinkler system installed tell your designer or installer that you may add a pool and/or room addition in a certain area.  They can install the sprinkler system so the piping and wiring are not effected and only minor adjustments are needed.

I recently left a residential sprinkler system repair job in Minneola Florida that I bid on to install but I didn’t get about a year ago.  As I always do I designed the system to apply water as evenly as possible throughout the property.  However, the homeowner chose to go with a company that “guaranteed 100% coverage” and save about 30% off my quote.  Her yard was full of brown spots and the sprinkler system was running all kinds of programs in an effort to compensate.  She finally gave up when she realized that the installer didn’t know how to solve the problem and he refused to return her calls after a while.  After my upgrades and repairs she ended up paying more than if she had used me in the first place.  The even application of water and 100% coverage often mean two different things in the sprinkler business even though they sound the same.  A true professional will apply water as evenly as possible throughout a project.  To do so requires a certain number of heads in a certain area known as head to head coverage.  The 100% coverage person will cover the same area but will use less heads in an effort to save on parts and labor.  Unfortunately less heads require your watering time to be increased significantly to make up for the loss of even water application.  Most of the time less water is applied in a effort to meet watering codes, landscape diseases are a huge problem due to constant watering, and worst of all watering 24 hours a day still doesn’t help due to the lack of heads.  Its always better to apply water as evenly as possible with the correct number of heads.  If its too much water you can always throttle back the run time.  But in most cases where there are not enough heads there are a limited number of options available to solve the problem.