- What is irrigation installation?
- Irrigation installation is the design and burial of a permanent watering system for your lawn and landscape. It includes a water source connection with backflow prevention, valves that divide the property into zones, underground pipe, pop-up sprinkler heads or drip lines, and a controller that runs each zone on a schedule. Done right, the whole yard gets even water without anyone dragging a hose.
- When should I winterize my sprinkler system?
- In North Alabama, winterize in late fall before the first hard freeze — typically late November into early December. Water left in shallow pipe, valves, or the backflow device can freeze, expand, and crack it. A compressed-air blowout costs far less than replacing a split mainline or backflow assembly in spring.
- What happens during a spring startup?
- We pressurize the system slowly to avoid pressure surges that break fittings, then inspect every valve and backflow device for leaks. We run each zone individually, clean and realign heads, replace anything damaged, check for underground leaks, and program the controller for spring watering. You get a report of anything that needs attention.
- How do I know my irrigation system needs repair?
- The clearest signs are brown or dry patches while the system is running, a water bill that jumped without explanation, heads that no longer pop up or will not retract, water pooling in one spot, a zone that never comes on, weak spray, or overspray onto driveways and sidewalks. Any of those means water is being wasted somewhere.
- Is professional irrigation worth it?
- For most properties, yes. A properly zoned system applies the right amount of water at the right time of day, which usually reduces total water use compared to hose and hand watering while producing a healthier lawn. It also protects the money already invested in sod, plantings, and landscaping, and it saves the hours spent moving sprinklers around.
- How much does irrigation installation cost?
- It depends on the square footage being watered, how many zones the property needs, water pressure at the meter, soil and rock conditions, and how much of the yard has obstacles to trench around. Rather than quote a number that will not hold up, we walk the property and give you a written, itemized estimate for free.
- How long does installation take?
- Most residential systems are installed in one to three days depending on yard size and zone count. Larger or more complex properties take longer. We give you a realistic schedule with the estimate so you can plan around it.
- Can you repair an existing sprinkler system you did not install?
- Yes. A lot of our irrigation work is repairing and improving systems installed by someone else. We will diagnose what is there, tell you honestly what is worth repairing versus replacing, and get it working properly again.
- Should I winterize every year?
- Yes. North Alabama gets hard freezes most winters, and it only takes one to split a pipe or ruin a backflow device. Annual winterization is inexpensive, routine, and the single easiest way to avoid a spring repair bill.
- What causes sprinkler heads to stop working?
- Common causes are debris or grit clogging the nozzle, mower or vehicle damage to the head, a bad seal that stops it retracting, low pressure from a leak elsewhere in the zone, or a failed valve or broken wire that means the zone never gets a signal at all.
- How often should an irrigation system be inspected?
- At minimum twice a year — once at spring startup and once at fall winterization. Those two visits catch most developing problems while they are still small. Mid-summer is also worth a look if you have noticed dry spots or a change in your water bill.
- Do smart controllers actually save water?
- They do when set up correctly. Smart controllers use local weather data, rain sensors, and soil information to skip cycles the lawn does not need, which prevents watering during or right after rain. The savings show up on the water bill and the lawn is generally healthier for it.
- Do you install drip irrigation?
- Yes. Drip is the better choice for planting beds, shrub borders, gardens, and tight or oddly shaped areas. It delivers water slowly at the root zone with very little evaporation or overspray, and it is often combined with conventional sprinkler zones for the open lawn.
- Do you handle commercial irrigation?
- Yes. We install and maintain systems for commercial properties, common areas, and new developments alongside our residential work, including the grading and drainage those sites usually need.