Here’s the basics: you get an irrigation system installed. You stand on your porch for hours just watching the spinning sprinkler heads, mesmerized by the sound and giddy with happiness.
OK, so there’s more to it than that.
An irrigation system is a cool combination of hydraulics and electricity, with all kinds of pipes, valves, and heads efficiently whirring away to get the job done.
Here’s a quick look behind the scenes.
1. The Basics of Lawn and Drip Irrigation in Florida
2. Should I Have an Irrigation System Installed? Do I Need a New Irrigation System?
3. Time for a Sprinkler System Upgrade?
4. What Exactly is Smart Irrigation?
5. How Much Does an Irrigation System Cost in Florida?
6. Is it Hard to Maintain an Irrigation System?
7. What if My Irrigation System Breaks?
8. How Do I Use My Irrigation System Once It's Installed
9. How Do I Choose a Company to Install My Irrigation System?
Sprinkler systems are divided into areas called zones, so different parts of your yard with different needs can get the right amount of water.
Each zone can be equipped with different types of sprinkler heads or set to water at different times for a customized Florida lawn sprinkler system.
Why?
Trees and shrubs need less water than your lawn or flower beds. Shady areas need less water than spots in full sun.
Zones also help ensure all parts of your landscaping have good coverage, without overspray that wastes water.
Among the key parts at work out there:
If you’re getting a lawn sprinkler system in Florida, consider drip irrigation for plant beds.
Unlike a typical sprinkler system that sprays water from irrigation heads, drip irrigation uses hoses pierced with tiny holes that allow small quantities of water to trickle slowly into the soil.
The hoses are installed on top of your soil, then covered with mulch to hide them. They’re designed to efficiently water planting beds. It’s not meant for lawns.
Drip irrigation uses less water than typical sprinkler systems because it goes directly to the plants. There’s no water waste from evaporation because water isn’t spraying into the air.
Bonus drip irrigation tip for Florida: It’s great for planters.
Tired of hand watering all those planters? Irrigation pros can run tubes up through the bottoms of your planters that tie into your irrigation system. Tiny emitters connected to the tubes water your plants. Pretty cool.
When it comes to reasons for installing an irrigation system in Florida, don’t get us started.
Oops, too late!
Plants here in Central Florida are amazing, right?
Fluffy Foxtail Palms. Dramatic strands of vivid Croton. Hedges of pretty Chinese Fringe Flower. Plus expansive lawns of lush sod.
It all adds up to thousands of dollars of greenery. An irrigation system protects that big investment, with targeted sprayers and water-saving nozzles that hit every inch of your landscaping.
Ugh, who has time for that?
Irrigation in Florida is really time-consuming. Wouldn’t you rather be streaming episodes of “Yellowstone” or baking chocolate chip cookies or, actually, doing just about anything else?
No more worries about parched brown grass, wilted flowers, and the embarrassment of unsightly, struggling landscaping. (If your neighbors are going to stare and make fun of you, let it be for something more exciting than a crappy lawn.)
Maybe you’ll be selling your home someday. Maybe you’ve invested in three pricey Sylvester Date Palms so now you’re never leaving. Either way, you want impressive curb appeal.
A Florida lawn sprinkler system keeps everything thriving.
Watering your lawn with a cobbled-together system of hoses and sprinklers isn’t really an exact science. A professionally installed irrigation system actually is, especially if it’s a smart irrigation system. (More on this in a bit.)
An irrigation system puts just the right amount of water exactly where it needs to go, with no waste.
Maybe you’ve been ignoring the fact that your Florida irrigation system is so old that AARP keeps sending it stuff.
Is it time for an upgrade? Here are some signs:
Older irrigation systems in Florida don’t have all the cool water-conserving gizmos available in today’s newer systems.
Outdated sprayer heads, leaky valves, and old controllers can pump out more water than your property needs or spray it haphazardly where water isn’t even needed.
That’s a big waste of water — and money.
An irrigation system’s life expectancy is about 20-25 years, depending on the quality of the system. How old is yours?
Florida sprinkler systems go through a lot out there. All those pipes, sprinkler heads, valves, and fittings work hard year after year. They don’t last forever.
Backflows stop working. Valves get stuck open. Sprinkler heads break. Lines bust.
If you need frequent expensive repairs, or your system is so outdated it’s wasting water and money, consider upgrading your irrigation system to a new one that will save water, save money, and save you a lot of stress.
No offense, but your current Florida irrigation system might be dumb.
It’s tough to hear, right? But if your lawn is struggling, your plants are wilting, and your water bill seems higher than it should be, that dumb irrigation system (again, sorry) needs to be smarter.
Here’s what a new smart irrigation system will do for you:
Smart irrigation controllers use data from sensors and local weather forecasts to deliver exactly the right amount of water just where your property needs it — with little waste.
Meanwhile, you can relax, knowing your Florida irrigation system is watering your property accurately and precisely, based on your property’s specific needs.
Smart irrigation systems go beyond perfect watering, too. They detect any problems with your Florida lawn sprinkler system and take action.
Say your current, outdated irrigation system has a broken line. Water can gush out all over your property for hours, without you even knowing. Yikes.
When a smart irrigation controller detects a broken line, it turns your system off, right away.
Then, it’s better than a nosy neighbor, alerting your Florida irrigation service company about the problem, so they can fix it before your grass gasps its last dying breath.
Smart irrigation systems also include moisture sensors that know when it’s raining and tell your system to turn off. Why water the lawn when nature is doing it for you?
Flow control sensors will learn how many gallons of water your system typically uses. If you’re suddenly using more — maybe a line is leaking — you’ll get an alert on your smartphone.
How are you supposed to know exactly how much to water? It’s complicated. Too much water is bad. Not enough water is bad.
Different trees, shrubs, and plants on your property often have different water needs. And your lawn has its own water requirements.
Smart irrigation timers work with your controller to give everything just the right amount of water.
Smart irrigation saves you money. It saves water. It keeps your lawn and garden happy and healthy.
Brilliant.
An irrigation system in Florida isn’t a luxury. You really need one to keep your lawn and landscaping thriving.
But naturally, you want to know the cost.
Here’s the rundown:
The basic sprinkler system cost for a four-zone system is about $3,000.
What does this include?
A basic, four-zone irrigation system offers thorough, targeted watering for your entire yard.
But, just like you can add sprinkles, hot fudge, and a salted caramel drizzle to your bowl of ice cream, you can add extra features to your irrigation system too, for an additional cost.
Maybe you want a WiFi controller that allows you to control your irrigation system remotely, using your smartphone or laptop.
Or that cool drip irrigation we mentioned earlier, that targets your watering slowly and directly to plant roots, saving water and money.
When irrigation installers come to your house for your initial consultation they might spot conditions that can add to your sprinkler system cost.
They include:
This is a tricky question.
Here in Orlando, our irrigation systems get a real workout, so regular irrigation system maintenance is a must.
Is it hard? Depends on who does it.
If you’re the handy type with a garage full of tools who wakes up Saturday mornings itching to tackle a project, you’ve probably got this.
But if you heave a big sigh at the idea of changing a lightbulb, then, yes, irrigation system maintenance will seem hard.
Here’s a look at what’s involved. Take a look, and decide for yourself:
The first stop is your garage, or wherever you keep your controller.
Is it plugged in firmly?
Make sure the sensors and wires are connected properly.
Check all the run times and update the watering schedule for the season. Is your Florida irrigation system watering your landscaping too much or too little for the time of year?
Look closely. A lot can be going on here.
Over time, your hard-working sprinkler heads can get clogged, hit by a lawnmower, or sink too low into the ground. One or two might get misdirected, spraying water on your driveway instead of your flower bed.
Inspect each one to make sure they’re getting the job done. It’s a key part of irrigation system maintenance.
Your Florida sprinkler system needs clear pipes and steady water pressure to do its job.
Turn on the water at the beginning of the season to flush any debris or dirt trapped in the lines. Let the water run until you see clear water coming out of each sprinkler head.
Run each zone in your system for a couple of minutes to make sure everything’s working well.
What are you looking for as the water sprays? A few things:
What the heck is this? It allows water to go through your irrigation system in one direction but prevents it from going backward in the opposite direction.
Make sure the handle on your backflow is on. When it’s off, it restricts any water from flowing past the backflow and to your sprinkler system valves.
There’s a lot involved in sprinkler system maintenance, but somebody needs to do it. Here in Central Florida, it doesn’t take long for a healthy green lawn or landscape to turn brown and die without proper irrigation.
If all this sounds like a big hassle, turn it over to the professionals, who love this kind of stuff. They’ll also give you tips on saving water, and fix any issues that could turn into big expensive problems later.
Let’s be honest. If your irrigation system breaks, you panic. It’s a logical reaction.
After all, you have a lot invested in your lawn and plants. That stunning variegated Asiatic Jasmine is practically a member of the family, right?
But sometimes things go wrong. Did we mention lawn sprinkler systems in Florida work really hard?
Here’s a look at some common reasons to call your irrigation system maintenance company:
You can probably blame this on a weird little part you likely never heard of — the solenoid.
What’s a solenoid? Every sprinkler valve has one — a coil component that uses electrical signals from the irrigation controller to open and close each valve, letting water move through the system.
If a valve is worn out or damaged in one zone, or a solenoid is bad, that zone of your Florida irrigation system won’t turn on.
A broken valve is usually the culprit here. The diaphragm in the valve could be sticking or broken.
Also, that solenoid could be putting out constant power to the valve, or the timer has malfunctioned and is putting out constant power to the valve.
This calls for some detective work. There are several reasons your irrigation system could be leaking water:
An irrigation tech can inspect your line and diagnose the problem.
Speaking of irrigation techs…
Sure, irrigation system problems happen, but if you set up an irrigation system maintenance program to stay ahead of repairs, you’ll save yourself from worry, higher water bills, and (insert gloomy organ music here) dead lawn and plants.
So, the irrigation company trucks are driving away and you’re already happily planning a backyard cookout to show off your new well-watered green lawn. (And, let’s be honest, your famous grilled fish tacos.)
Now what? How about a few quick irrigation tips for Florida?
Water between midnight and 4 a.m.
That’s when your lawn and landscaping can best absorb the water, and it will saturate well.
If you wait until the sun is shining, much of that precious water will evaporate, and be wasted. Why water the air?
Here at Ground Source, we recommend 3/4 inch of water per zone, both for your lawn and your planting beds. (If your beds are planted with drought-tolerant plants, they’ll need less water than the rest of your yard.)
How long does it take to deliver 3/4 inches of water?
It depends on the type of irrigation head. Here’s a guide:
Irrigation systems in Florida shouldn’t just chug away exactly the same month to month. Your lawn’s water needs change with the seasons.
In December, for instance, most Florida lawns only need irrigation one day a week.
Summer months obviously require more water. But if your lawn is in the shade, and it’s a rainy week, you won’t need to water as much.
Make sure you change your controller with the seasons.
Should you make it easy on yourself and hire the first Central Florida irrigation system company that answers the phone?
“Hello, Gary’s Irrigation. We’ll make it spray, you pay.”
Hmmmm. There are better ways to choose irrigation system installation in Florida.
Here are a few tips:
Yes, you want them to answer the phone. But not like Gary. This sounds basic, but it’s pretty important. When you call them, does somebody answer?
When you need irrigation repair, you’re in a hurry. You have valuable lawn areas and landscaping to protect.
Find a company that puts customer service first.
You don’t want a newbie. How long have they been in business? Look for a company with a history of excellence and good reviews that dates back several years.
Check their reviews. How many stars out of five do they have? And just as important: how many reviews?
If a ton of people left reviews and the company also has close to five stars, they’ve made a lot of lawn owners happy.
When you check the Google reviews for Ground Source, you’ll like what you see.
Good irrigation companies invest time and money in their websites to make it easier for potential customers to learn about them.
A great Central Florida irrigation contractor won’t just install your irrigation system then run. They want you to be comfortable using it and have the knowledge to get the most from it.
And they’ll be there for you down the road if you have questions.
Ask for the names and phone numbers of recent clients so you can ask them about their experiences with the contractor.
Why are they special? They should love to tell you.
We sure would. At Ground Source, we offer several features you won’t find everywhere else.
Including:
Ask us anything. You’ll love our answers.
Let’s get started.
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