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What are my
water source options?
How long does it typically take to install a system?
How often should I
water?
Do I have to winterize my system in Jacksonville?
Why won't my system
come on?
Why is it important to have
an Off Season Tune Up?
What are my
water source options? >> TOP
<<
JEA offers all customers the ability to water their
lawn without incurring sewage cost. By adding a second
water meter roadside on your property an irrigation meter
can save you as much as 65% on your water bill. There are
two sizes recommended for residential properties in the
Jacksonville area. The 3/4" meter is preferred in the
majority of all installs. The cost is $600.79. The next
size meter is 1",which delivers a slightly larger volume
of water than the 3/4". The reason the 3/4" is usually
recommended is that it carries a lower monthly fee
regardless of usage. The 1" meter is typically used only
in extremely larger yards or in neighborhoods with
abnormally lower pressure.
Pros: of the irrigation meter is a reliable
maintenance free water source which provides a high volume
of clean, rust free, and sand free water to the irrigation
system.
Cons: of the meter is the obvious monthly bill.
Which in most cases can run $20-35 a month.
The second option is the shallow well, while common it is
not used as frequently as the irrigation meter. These
wells are typically 40-75 feet deep and usually offers,
although less than the irrigation meter, a sufficient
volume of water for the average sized lawn. Pump sizes
typically seen on
How long does it typically take to install a system?
>> TOP <<
The system will be completed in one day, unless
specified different at time of proposal.
How often should I
water? >> TOP <<
This varies from yard to yard due to changing factors
such as: shade, soil type, slope, plant material,
different turfs and different expectations for the look of
your lawn (i.e.... wanting to keep your yard alive or wanting
to be the perennial yard of the month recipient).
This is why a blanket statement by a scientist such as in
the JEA commercial that tells you that your yard will
survive perfectly with 2 waterings per week is absurd.
(January 1, 2006 Florida will mandate a two time a week
watering). In my opinion I have found that in 100 degree
weather and severe drought conditions 2 times a week on a
St. Augustine lawn without shad will not suffice. I
believe the proper schedule goes as follows: one time per
week during the Winter (cooler temps), two times per week
in Fall, Spring and Summer times supplemented by rain, and
three times per week in 90 to 100 degree temps in the
summer without rain. Once your new grass has
established a decent root system, remember giving your sod
time off to get deeper roots helps to build stronger sod
but every yard is different so keep a close eye on your
grass, it will tell you whether it needs more water or
not.
Do I have to winterize my system in Jacksonville?
>> TOP <<
Not really the states to our North typically have to
blow the water out of their pipes with a compressor and
drain their entire system. The ground in Florida
provides enough warmth that piping will never reach
freezing. However exposed pipes such as a backflow
preventer must be insulated and in extreme cold it does
not hurt to throw a blanket over it for an extra
precaution. Hose bibs also are susceptible and should be
left running with a slight running of the water.
Risers, which are the spray painted sprinkler pipes
usually found in flower beds do not need insulating.
Pumps do need to be covered thoroughly and turning the
power off and draining them is good advice although not
necessary if proper covering is applied.
Why won't my
system come on? >> TOP <<
The most common reason is the rain gauge has disabled
the system and it will take a few days until the gauge has
dried out until schedule will resume.
Power has somehow been disrupted to the controller. Common
reasons:
- The most common is the GFI connected to the series
of plugs, which the controller is plugged into has
tripped. This can be simply corrected by finding a GFI
plug (plug with black and red in the middle) and pushing
button back in and power will resume.
- A fuse has blown- The most common controller on the
market is the Rainbird ESP_TM. Reasons it could have
blown a fuse:
a) Solenoid valve has gone bad and controller is clueing
you into what valve has gone out by blowing a fuse when
activating the bad valve. Buying a box a fuses and
replacing them one after another is not the solution.
This can very quickly burn up your controller. If you
believe this is the problem you are experiencing please
contact us and our technician will come and fix the
problem, which could still be covered by our extended
Rainbird Warranty.
b) A power surge can often blow a fuse and in case of an
extreme power surge such as lightening damage
controllers can be damaged along with the fuse. ESP TM's
come with a spare fuse in the back of the removable
cover at the lower quadrant and the fuse can easily be
replaced inside the controller.
- The last reason is the transformer has gone out
leaving controller with improper voltage. Contact the
office in this case and we can very easily replace this
component.
Water source has been disrupted- water sources may vary
from system to system:
- city meter supplying system
a) the meter has somehow been turned off
b) the backflow preventer on side of house has been shut
off (check green handles to make sure they are level with
horizontal running pipe and not perpendicular which is
the off position).
- Well pumps, this can be a more difficult diagnosis
for some homeowners, but here are some simple reasons:
the power is disrupted to the pump, the breaker has
flipped (sometimes this is an indication of improper
operational voltage feeding the pump), the switch is off
to pump, the pressure switch has gone bad or has
something keeping it from making proper connection.
a) Pump has lost it's prime (term used for vacuum of
water created within the pumping system in well for
proper use when needed) There are several reasons for
which a pump consistently loses it's prime.
Why is it important for an
Off Season Tune UP?
The average sprinkler system is compress of 40-55
heads. many times over a period of time the new
healthy thickening of turf and shrubbery can cause heads
to be rendered lass effective than upon installation as
you probably noticed in your system that late in the week
when it is getting close to the next mowing that many
spray heads are getting blocked or another popping up high
enough for getting a tune up. Every head that is to
low will be dug up and raised to a proper level by our
tune up crew. This is a great value for as in many
yards 15 - 20 heads may need raised. A labor
intensive project buy results are astonishing. along
with the razing of turn spray and rotary heads risers in
landscaped areas will be raised if shrubs have outgrown.
heads will also all be adjusted and if homeowners are
present we would be glad to give a tutorial on adjustment
of spays and rotors.
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