FAQ 1 I think I have a leak in my irrigation system. How can I be sure?
The easiest way to determine if there is an active leak in the irrigation system is to use the water meter as a guage. Water meters are equipped with a microdial that measures minute amounts of water flowing through the meter. This microdial is often shaped as a triangle or a star. If no water in the home is running (no leaking toilets, etc.) the microdial should be stationary. However, if the microdial is moving and no water is running in the house, you can shut the water off at the backflow preventer valve and recheck the microdial. If the movement of the microdial ceases, then we can assume that there is an active leak in the irrigation and you should have it serviced. If there is still movement of the microdial after cutting the water supply at the backflow preventer valve then there is a leak elsewhere in the water line, but not involving the irrigation system.

FAQ 2 How can I adjust my Rotors and Sprays?
Rotors are sprinkler heads that rotate from side to side as they operate and are generally used for large turf areas. Sprays are smaller sprinkler heads that are stationary when active and are generally used for flower beds and small turf areas. Rotors need to be adjusted using a special plastic key (Hunter brand) or small slotted screwdriver (RainBird brand).
Instructions for RainBird rotary heads can be found at:
http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/literature/rotors.htm
Instructions for Hunter Rotary heads can be located on the internet at:
http://www.hunterindustries.com/Support/Installation_Adjustment/Rotors/default.htm
Instructions for Hunters Spray heads can be found at:
http://www.hunterindustries.com/Support/Installation_Adjustment/Sprays/spraysinstruct.html

FAQ 3 I have a lake pump system and had it winterized in late November. Now the lake levels have fallen dramatically
and my suction line is no longer submerged. Should I be concerned?
The short answer is "YES". The long answer requires a little more explanation. The winterization process for a pump results in the discharge lines and pump body being free of water that can cause freeze damage. The suction line, however, is difficult to handle. When the suction line is drained, it can only be drained down to the current water level. Suppose the lake levels have dropped by almost 8 feet. Most lake pump systems have their suction lines exposed. These lines still contain water and will freeze and burst. Inspect your exposed lines now for cracks or joints that have pushed apart. Repairs made while the lines are exposed are less labor intensive and hence, less expensive. So check your exposed lines now. If repairs must be made plan to have these completed by March 1or before lake levels rise and cover the lines.

Other helpful hints can be found at
RainBird: http://www.rainbird.com/diy/faqs/index.htm
Hunter: http://www.hunterindustries.com/Resources/FAQs/homeowner_faq.html

Question and Answer Section:

Q: Do you provide residential maintenance?
A: We do maintenance on Comercial and Individual properties .

Q: Does your company install patios and other hardscape items?
A: Yes. We can install your entire yard. We have a long-standing  relationship with our crews who do work for us, and act as a part of our family.

Q: Do you charge to give estimates on new installs?
A: No. We will meet, email or call you and provide a professional bid for no cost.

Q: Will you install a landscape if I don’t have plans?
A: We prefer to have plans to bid off of and to follow off of when we work. There are exceptions and we can do a design build based on the owners thoughts and ideas or the look they are going for. We use this information along with our Landscaping Software to design the look you desire.

Q: Sunlight, the air we breathe and the water we drink are all natural resources. Unlike the past, water has become a resource we pay for. Why is that?

A: Although water is provided by nature for free, because of pollution and changing weather patterns, it has become difficult to get usable clean water running from our taps. We are increasing aware of this effect in our pocketbooks. Mother Nature is slowly but surely getting drained from this valuable resource. Although most of the earth's surface is covered with it, only 2.5% is fresh water and only 1% is drinkable the other is locked up in the polar ice caps. Some parts of the earth have low rainfall figures, while other parts of the world regard a raincoat to be compulsory. People who live in high rainfall climates easily disregard the scarceness of water. Over 1 Billion people lack the appropriate drinking water. Evapotranspiration accounts for 4,000 gal water per day in one acre of corn. Some of our aquifers that supply our ground water have dropped 30-40 ft and only 1 in 5 will still contain water in the year 2020. Whether or not you have a lot of water, there are some guidelines we can follow to save water. Not only will it save us some money, but it will also help preserve this precious resource provided by nature.

Here are some of the guidelines to follow in order to save a drop or two:

1) Plant flowers that require less water. Herbs are good examples of plants that require less water. They are also useful for cooking and some of them even have medicinal uses.

2) Water the garden at times when the temperature is lower. Early in the morning for instance. During the day water will evaporate at a higher rate because of the higher temperature.
    
3) Service taps regularly. In the long run your savings on the water bill will be remarkably more than the service cost of taps. A dripping tap not only waste money and water. If it is located close to the house or other structures, it will cause damage to it. Damp conditions will result in expensive and timely repair work to your house.

4) Buy a cover for your pool. By doing this, the water surface will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

• Tips on saving water

Saving water using an automatic irrigation system is not a guaranteed fact - that is unless you do a little homework to make sure all is functioning properly. Following are a few tips to keep your watering needs to a minimum while maximizing your landscape’s beauty:

• Avoid over-watering lawns and gardens. Surface runoff and water that is applied to areas that have no roots or grass are completely wasted.

• Watering early in the morning minimizes fungal diseases on the leaves of plants, and minimizes evaporation.

• Separating shrub garden, annual garden, grass, and hanging baskets/pots into separate zones can allow more specific watering schedules tailored to each specific area, minimizing over and under watering.

• Trim grass at a higher mower setting to shade roots from sunlight and encourage deeper roots.

• Micro irrigation systems

Micro-irrigation systems have gained popularity over the years. This is due to the time and water saving features associated with these systems. When you compare micro-irrigation systems with the traditional irrigation methods its advantages outweighs those of the traditional methods. Micro-irrigation systems are characterized by water saving and time saving features. It can very easily be integrated with timing devices, valves, solenoids and various sensors making it the perfect choice for people with busy lifestyles who hardly ever have time to do simple things like watering a garden. Some gardens are extremely large, and watering them would take a considerable amount of time and effort. A micro-irrigation system contains many compatible components to suit your needs and preferences. The installation is normally permanent, requiring a simple setting of a timing device. It reduces water consumption by distributing the water evenly across a wide area, cutting down hours of watering to a few minutes per day. Micro-irrigation systems are cost effective, durable, and efficient.
 

Servicing both Residential, and Commercial properties in Addison, Allen, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Coppell, Dallas, Desoto, Duncanville, Euless, Farmers Branch, Forney, Frisco, Garland, Heath, Hebron, Highland Park, Hutchins, Lake Dallas, Lancaster, Lucas, Mesquite, Murphy, Parker, Plano, Richardson, Rockwall, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, The Colony, University Park, Wylie, Texas, Tx.