Irrigation System Installation

It combines technology such as smart controllers, water meters, soil moisture sensors, and rain sensors with the best practices in irrigation design to create a system that saves up to 30% of water use over a traditionally designed system.   So let's compare the components of a traditional system with a smart system.  

Components of a Traditional System

Irrigation Timer/clock- Runs the system for a set amount of time on set days.  

Rain Sensor – Shuts the system off when it rains a certain amount, and restarts the system when it dries out.

Zones- Zones are groups of sprinkler heads typically of the same design.  they are grouped together by how close they are together.

Control Valves- Control Valves are what the Timer uses to turn the zones on and off.

Components of a Smart System

Smart Controller– A smart controller knows what types of grass or plants, soil types, types of sprinkler heads, and the grade of the yard for each zone and whether the zone is sunny or shady.  It also pulls in all of the local weather data like rainfall, temperature,  wind, and evaporation rate.  It takes all of this information and is constantly adjusting the times for each and every zone and even shutting the system down when it isn't needed.

Sensors- while it doesn't need a traditional rain sensor, you can add moisture sensors that measure how much water is in the ground in specific zones, on site weather sensors that measure rainfall amounts, temperature,  and humidity for your property.  

Zones- While not much changes in a zone, which heads that are tied together does.  They are grouped by how much sun and shade the covered area receives.  

Control Valves- The only real difference in the control valves is that i prefer to use a valve that i can adjust the pressure/flow rate.

Master Valve-  A master valve turns the water on and off every time the controller turns on or off.   It minimizes water loss due to leaks, stuck valves, and kids (happens more than you think!)

Flow Meter- When paired with a smart controller a flow meter measures exactly how much water is used by each and every zone.  If there is a change in the amount of water used it will shut down the zone and notify you and your service tech that there is a problem ie. leak, broken head, stuck valve.  If it detects water flow while the system is off it shuts off the master valve and notifies everyone.

High efficiency sprinkler heads with check valves-  Most sprinkler heads are pretty much designed the same.  the trick is getting the right nozzle put in for the right spot.  Also each head should have a check valve that doesn't allow the zone to drain to the lowest head every time the zone shuts off.

Day after day, month after month, and year after year your smart system will save you money!  A typical residential irrigation system on average uses 61,000 gallons of water a month at a cost of about $310 a month.  A smart controller will save you about 30% every month so it will cost about $217 saving you $93 dollars every month.  It will also tell you when you have a broken sprinkler head that can cost you about $30 for every month it's broken.

A WIFI based smart controller allows you to program and run your controller from your phone.  It also allows you to give your service technician remote access so you don't have to stay home all day so they can come over and change a sprinkler head!