Waterscape Solutions, Inc. - Sprinkler Systems, Repairs and More

Brown spots/stressing grass in your lawn.

kevin — Sun, 15 May 2011 16:27:49 +0000

As much as it can rain in Florida we also have the extreme opposite of lack of rain in our dry season which occurs roughly between November through April give or take. We can go for weeks without rain. During the cooler months this isn’t usually a problem. Most sprinkler systems handle the lack of rain keeping your landscaping looking great. But as the temperatures rise and the rains don’t come is when problems will show themselves. A well designed, properly installed, and maintained sprinkler system will usually keep your landscape green. But as weeks pass with no rain and temps get into the high 80′s if not higher your landscape will stress. The two day water restriction schedule was meant to work with natural rainfall to maintain a healthy and green landscape. When no rain has fallen for weeks problem areas may develop. Brown spots pop up for no reason or areas of grass stress heavily. Longer irrigation run times may be the solution but do not exceed your water restriction allowance. Sometime over watering is the problem. Too much water can rot roots, invite fungus, bugs, or other diseases. Or the problem itself is a disease or infestation. Carefully dig down into the problem area 4 to 6 inches and examine the soil. If it has any moisture content throughout the sample the problem is not the sprinkler system. However, if the sample shows very little moisture or is even powder dry then irrigation may the problem. Sample several locations throughout the problem area. I believe the true test of any sprinkler system is the hottest time of the year. Improper head layouts and coverage quickly reveal themselves with stressing or dead landscape. The other problem I have discovered is the soil content is rarely the same throughout the property. Even with great coverage certain areas stress year after year. While trenching in new heads or zones I can dig up sand, clay, loam, buried debris, to mention a few all throughout the property. The varying soils greatly effect how the landscape reacts to daily conditions. If you are able to clearly determine the sprinkler system is not the problem then contact a good lawn spraying company. Most have professionals on staff who can come out and identify the problem and treat it accordingly.

Sprinkler System Myths!

kevin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:47:53 +0000

The big gear/rotor heads and sprays on the same zone is okay – this is very common but spray heads apply water at 3 times the rate of the big rotors/gear heads so you will always over/under water at the same time. Another myth is smaller pipe creates more pressure – smaller pipe creates higher velocity but robs you of pressure. 100% coverage often means radius to radius head coverage – radius to radius head spacing looks good on paper and may provide 100% coverage but head to head (if not closer) is always better for applying water evenly. High pressure makes a pump work harder - high pressure equals lower flows working the pump and motor less. Its okay to operate both spray and rotor/gear zones at the same PSI - 50 PSI may be okay for the big rotor/gear zones but spray heads operate best at 30 PSI or less. Valve size must match pipe size - like pipe sizing valves are sized based on GPM flow and never pipe size. Two 6 zone timers are cheaper to install than one 12 station timer - if you have a single common system this is a electrical code violation because the two timers will electrocute each other and could short and start a fire. All timers are the same - timers can be very basic or have all kinds of features that can operate your sprinkler system with greater efficiency so choose the timer that best fits your needs.

Grass cutting tips!

kevin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:41:23 +0000

In Florida the most common lawn grass is St Augustine. It has a mature growing height of 4 to 6 inches. Other grasses are Bahia and the newest is Zoysia with both growing around 3 to 5 inches in height at best. One of the biggest mistakes made when mowing a lawn is most people will mow as low as possible in an effort to control the lawn. Weeds grow faster than grass so weeds have a very good chance of naturally taking over your lawn if you mow at low heights. Mow your lawn at the grass mature height, allow the grass to mature and thicken up, and it will crowd out the weeds over time and it will look 10 times better. Having your yard sprayed for weed control and proper fertilization will expedite this effect. Sharp mower blades are a must. Sharpen your blades per the mower manufacturers specs or more often if sandy conditions are present (sand dulls the blade faster). When finished mowing each grass blade should look like a scissor cut it. A dull mower blade makes grass look torn with jagged edges and these edges will quickly turn brown giving your yard a brownish look and its not healthy for the grass. You will want to avoid mowing the same way to avoid creating ruts or wheel paths over time. Mow in a crisscross pattern or offset half a mower width at each mowing. You should never see any mower paths in any yard. Watering tip: Over watering equals green grass but creates short roots that are susceptible to drought conditions, diseases, and bug infestation. Proper watering allows the roots to grow deeper over time creating a healthier grass able to withstand drought conditions, fends off diseases, and critters have a harder time with infestation. Its good to allow your landscape to stress from time to time to force it to grow longer and healthier roots.

Why do we need to conserve water?

kevin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:29:29 +0000

As I mentioned in a earlier post living in central Florida we have fresh water lakes everywhere creating the illusion that water is plentiful. We are surrounded by water on three sides of the state. It rains like crazy here during the rainy season. Here are the facts: 75% of the earths surface is covered by water but only about 3% of that water is fresh water fit for human and plant consumption. The polar ice caps hold about half of that amount leaving us only 1% to 2% for the rest of the world to use. Here in Florida water restrictions were implemented when it was determined that we were pulling water out of the ground faster than mother nature could replace it. Each day the population grows taking more water. Irrigation accounts for half the water loss in most cases due to poor designs and/or equipment application. Everything we can do to conserve water will help. Check out your sprinkler systems on a regular basis and make upgrades to ET timers, weather stations, and water conserving equipment. There are close to 19 million people living here now so we all must do our part to conserve as much water as possible.

What size bladder tank do you need on your well?

kevin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:39:33 +0000

This questions answer depends on two things. If the well is being used for irrigation only or irrigation and drinking water too. The rule of thumb is whatever the rated GPM of the pump is you match the tanks draw-down ability too. For example: if you have a pump that is rated for 20 GPM then you need a tank that allows 20 gallons of draw-down. Draw-down is the amount of water the bladder tank will store and release before the pump comes on to restore it. For irrigation pumps 1/2 that amount works well. But for drinking water applications you will want to size the tank with the flow rate as a minimum… if not more. The more the tank stores the less the pump will have to cycle on to fill the tank. The less the pump runs the less electricity you use and the less wear and tear on the pump system overall. So the bigger the tank the better if not multiple tanks. More tanks allow greater draw down keeping the pump off until it is needed for high flow situations like irrigation. Since modern tanks have nothing more than a rubber bladder as the only moving part maintenance is easy. They come pre charged with 40 to 50 PSI of air. This air pressure outside of the bladder is what is used to force the water out of the bladder instead of the pump. Bi-annual or annual testing is needed to make sure the air pressure is appropriate. It will leak out over time for various reasons. First, make a note of the cut in pressure of the pump (what pressure the pump turns on). Turn the power off to the pump and open a valve and allow all the water pressure to drop to 0 PSI. Put a tire pressure gauge on the air valve on the tank and take a reading. Check the tanks manufacturers instructions for the proper PSI or charge the tank at 2 PSI less than cut in pressure. Once this is done turn the power back on. However, if you think its taking a long time to charge or you can open a hose bibb and can feel air coming out – the bladder tank is bad and must be replaced. Also, when the sprinkler system is running and the pump is turning on and off (cycling) within minutes this is not good. Best case the pump should come on and stay on during the operation of the sprinkler system. If its cycling then I would highly recommend a Cycle Stop Valve to stop the cycling.

What is a backflow preventer?

kevin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:05:27 +0000

A backflow preventer is a device required on all sprinkler systems in Florida and must be inspected annually. It is commonly made out of brass and installed between the water meter and sprinkler system. Some codes require one on deep wells along with another one at the meter. The most common devices are DCV (double check valve), PVB (pressure vacuum breaker), and RPZ (reduced pressure zone). The RPZ provides the best protection and when installed correctly will meet all backflow codes. The main purpose of the backflow preventer is to prevent contamination of the potable water supply. Water will only flow in one direction and toward the sprinkler system. During the rare event that the city water supply fails and creates a vacuum water can not back up into the city water main contaminating it. If the city water main becomes contaminated it must be abandoned and replaced. There are examples of entire neighborhoods having bottled water brought in for months due to these types of accidents when a simple backflow device could have prevented it. Deep wells pull water from our drinking water aquifer. Should power to the pump or the pump check valve fail the backflow preventer will protect the aquifer by not allowing water to flow back into the well that may have been contaminated. Contact your local sprinkler company, backflow tester, or water supplier if you are unsure if you have one and what may be required per state or local code.

Do you pay for time and materials or a quoted flat rate?

kevin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:35:02 +0000

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.

Your Fired!

kevin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:25:55 +0000

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.

Electric Valves

kevin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:29:51 +0000

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.

Cell phone usage and driving safety tips

kevin — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:55:44 +0000

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.