If getting a new lawn irrigation system is the most exciting thing to happen in your yard since you hosted the block party and the Andersons brought that artichoke lobster dip, you’ve stopped by the right place.
There’s a lot to celebrate about installing an irrigation system — and a lot to discover.
Will installation tear up your yard? What do you need to do in the months after it’s up and running? How much does a sprinkler system cost? What the heck is a backflow preventer? What happens to your sprinkler system during the winter? How do you get the Andersons‘ top-secret recipe for that lobster dip?
Read on for the answers to almost everything you want to know.
Here’s the basics: water sprays out of the ground like magic, watering your lawn, flowers, plants, and trees so they stay alive.
Too basic?
Meet some of the important parts working hard out there:
The brains of the operation, it tells the rest of the system when and how long to water. You used to have to trudge out to your garage to operate it, but today’s technology lets you command it from your smartphone, from anywhere.
The sprinkler lines are buried underground and carry the water. One main line supplies several others that make up your irrigation system.
The backflow device prevents water contamination. Most sprinkler systems are set up along potable municipal water supply lines. The water from the irrigation system may be contaminated with fertilizer, dirt, germs, and pesticides. Not too appetizing, right? Allowing water to flow back into the supply line contaminates the water, making it unsafe to use or drink.
Each valve in your sprinkler is like a faucet, which shuts off and turns on water flow. Once the controller sends an electrical current to the valves, they open and allow water to flow to your sprinkler heads.
Placed underground, heads rise up when the water turns on and water your lawn. It’s kind of fun to watch. They come in a variety of types, to perfectly water every part of your landscaping.
Each area of your yard gets divided into sections called zones, set up so every part of your landscaping gets the perfect amount of water for its unique needs.
Combine a variety of sprinkler heads, and just the right spacing, and everything from your grass to your shrubs to your flower beds gets the right amount of water, without waste. Most irrigation systems have 6-9 zones.
Better settle in, put your feet up and grab a snack, because there are so many reasons you should install an irrigation system.
Let’s dive in:
That lovely green lawn. Your prized hydrangeas. The rose bushes your neighbor keeps threatening to steal. Those heirloom tomatoes that make your salsa the best in the county.
Think of all the better things you could be doing instead of dragging wet and bulky hoses and sprinklers around your yard and trying to remember how long everything has been watered. Can we all agree it’s a huge pain
Some people have nightmares about zombies or aliens or being late to work. Not you. You fear brown grass, wilted flowers, and the embarrassment of neighbors whispering that your yard looks terrible. An irrigation system erases the terror and has you drifting off to sweet dreams of owning your own tropical island or winning the Great British Baking Show.
A lawn irrigation system puts just the right amount of water exactly where it needs to go, with no waste. That means more money in your pocket.
Whether you plan to sell your home one day or those 32 heirloom tomato plants mean you’re never leaving, either way, you want your home to look nice from the street. Healthy, thriving green grass is crucial for great curb appeal, and a lawn irrigation system is an investment you’ll appreciate every time you pull in the driveway.
Maybe you’ve had several kids or several jobs since your last irrigation system installation. The irrigation repair truck is such a familiar sight, your kids think the irrigation guy is a relative.
Hmmm. Is it time for a new sprinkler system?
Probably not.
It’s normal to need occasional lawn sprinkler repairs. Your sprinkler system works hard out there.
Sprinkler heads break. Valves leak. Wires wear out. These typical irrigation repair services are much cheaper than the cost to install a sprinkler system in your yard.
But there are a few situations when it’s time for new irrigation installation:
It has nothing to do with your sprinkler system answering questions on “Jeopardy.” That would be cool, though, right? “I’ll take broken sprinkler heads for $400.”
Smart irrigation is a great tool to help you get that healthy, thriving lawn. And it does all the work. Pretty smart.
Maybe you expect the worst: huge piles of dirt, entire families of moles uprooted and standing on your front porch with tiny mole suitcases.
You’re probably hoping for a nice tidy exact figure here, like $4,530 or $3,618 or even better, $258.13.
But irrigation installation pricing doesn’t work that way. Lots of factors affect the price for your particular yard.
The cost to install a sprinkler system in your yard is between $3,000 and $27,000 or higher, depending on the size of your property and the water source.
So, is the cost much less for a tiny yard? It would seem so, but not necessarily.
Small lots often need many tiny sprinkler heads to efficiently reach all the nooks and crannies in your yard without wasting water by over spraying.
Design plays a big factor here, too. You absolutely want to hire a Minneapolis MN or Eau Claire WI irrigation company that emphasizes expert design.
Why?
Be careful of sprinkler system companies that skimp on the number of irrigation heads or the number of zones to reduce the amount of materials and labor, so they can offer a lower price.
They might install two heads where there really should be three. They might install four zones when five would do a better job.
Once the job is done, all the spacing is set. In order to fix it, you may need to dig up and reposition 50 to 100 irrigation heads and install more zones. That’s a massive, expensive task.
Don’t underestimate the importance of skilled, expert irrigation installation design.
Sure, you could hire a guy in a truck who says he’ll set you up for a couple thousand bucks.
Please don’t.
What? You can get tips just for using your new irrigation system? A dollar, maybe? Even two?
Oh, not that kind of tips? Too bad.
Make the most of your new lawn irrigation with these tips (that are still plenty valuable:)
You want all that precious water to soak into your lawn — not evaporate in the sun or drift away in the wind.
Don’t just set your controller timer and forget it.
When you turn your lawn irrigation on for the season, you set it for cool and rainy spring weather. That’s fine for a while. But then July rolls around and it’s hot and dry. Your lawn needs more water. Stay on top of those changes.
Yes, watching the water spray is fun at first. But calm down and let the soil dry out between waterings — which means water longer and less frequently.
You want your grass to have to search for water, sending its roots deeper into the soil. That encourages the roots to grow longer and deeper, which means your grass will be healthier.
Your pretty green lawn depends on proper irrigation. That means regular irrigation system inspections so your sprinkler system won’t let you down.
Irrigation specialists look your whole system over to make sure all the parts are working correctly and your entire yard is getting exactly the right amount of water, with no waste. You’ll love the peace of mind.
The best tip? Two words: smart irrigation. A smart irrigation system follows some of these great tips for you, and more. So, you can do fun stuff like, well, you’ll come up with something once the novelty of staring at your new irrigation system wears off.
There are so many important reasons you need regular sprinkler system maintenance your lawn could be turning brown while we list them all, so let’s get to it:
Your lawn’s health depends on proper irrigation. That means regular irrigation system inspections so your sprinkler system won’t let you down.
Watering your lawn can seem so effortless when you have an irrigation system.
The water is chugging away, heads are spinning, electricity is flowing through the wires...until suddenly, it isn’t. What the heck?
Before you get all huffy about it, have you given your hard-working irrigation system any professional attention lately?
So, how much does irrigation system inspection cost?
Expect to pay $225 to $450 a year for a good irrigation maintenance program that includes some combination of spring activation, fall winterization, and tune-up visits throughout the busy summer months.
Sometimes everything is running great. Maybe the controller just needs adjusting for the season. Other times, your irrigation maintenance company will find sprinkler heads that need to be adjusted or replaced. Or broken valves. A zone that won’t turn off. A loose fitting.
Budget at least $300 a year for these kinds of repairs to make sure your irrigation system runs smoothly and keeps the water flowing to your thriving, healthy lawn.
Ignore irrigation maintenance and it can cost you a lot more for expensive emergency repairs. Then you’ll really feel huffy.
This is not the time to put the names of all the Minneapolis irrigation companies on a dart board and throw a dart.
Sure, it sounds fun, but that’s no way to get expert irrigation services in Eau Claire, WI and Minneapolis. Also, you’ll put your eye out.
How to choose? Ask some smart questions to make sure you’re getting an expert, dependable company that makes everything easy and hassle-free for you.
Here’s what to ask before irrigation installation:
Ask Eau Claire irrigation companies if they’ll send you an email or text to remind you of your appointment. Do they have automatic scheduling, so you don’t have to worry about calling to set up your irrigation services? Will they follow up to let you know exactly what they did, and any recommendations?
Sure, this seems basic. But it’s not a given. You don’t want the frustration of never being able to reach a real person.
Maybe you’ll have a question about your irrigation repair. Can you talk to a specialist who will have the answer?
Or will you bill time and materials?
Yikes. Make sure Eau Claire irrigation companies will tell you the repair cost up front.
Or at a nearby warehouse? Or will you have to order them?
The answer to this question makes a huge difference in how quickly your Minneapolis irrigation repair company will fix your problem.
Do they know what the heck they’re doing? Find out about their training and industry certifications.
Anybody can put their name on a truck and call themselves an irrigation repair service. You don’t want that guy.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get some expert recommendations along the way? How to help prevent future repairs? How your irrigation habits can lead to a healthier lawn?
They should have lots of good reasons, including that they offer skilled, efficient irrigation repair; continued attentive maintenance; and friendly customer service that takes away the stress and makes things easy.
If you read this far and were hoping to get the recipe for the Andersons’ artichoke lobster dip, cheer up — you can get recipes online. We’re talking about a new irrigation system here!
Top-notch irrigation info is key to your lawn’s health.
Ready to make your lawn life easier? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it.