Rising water bills have become a familiar part of life for Plano residents and that's not likely to change in the coming years, city officials say.  The water district plans to raise the rates it charges its member cities, including Plano, by 10 percent each year through the fiscal year ending in 2020, all but guaranteeing the city will have to follow suit by raising residential water bills. Over the next three or four years, the city plans to spend $25 million to replace its water meters. Some of that work has already happened. The principal driver of water rate increases in Plano is the North Texas Municipal Water District, whose charges account for about two-thirds of the city’s water and sewer costs, according to Vice President Dan Jackson of Willdan Financial Services, a consulting firm the city employs to analyze its water and sewer rates. (Information provided by Plano communityimpact.com  Aug. 25, 2017)

​Over the past several years we at Heads Up realized that once the drought was over homeowners and businesses alike, were slipping back into bad watering habits, according to Co-owner Caryn Walz . So we decided to change our mission statement to reflect what we all need to do as water users. “Change the Face of Irrigation”. We have Smart Technology to help us use less water that is manufactured right here in Plano, TX. We teamed up with Rachio Inc. in 2015 as Pro Installers. Our company volunteers for City Sponsored Residential outreach programs to teach responsible landscape water use and do-it-yourself repairs.

With Plano's aging infrastructure we have an opportunity  to upgrade our homes and businesses with water saving technology. Smart WiFi Controllers, low flow nozzles, and now a Bluetooth Flow Meter to help detect leaks and shut down problem zones in real time.  City programs like the “Great Update” for homes over 35 years of age and sensor rebates provide water bill credits. We want to help homeowners be proactive on home maintenance. Help them understand that we now have affordable tools to help us manage our outdoor water use, that don’t cost thousands of dollars. One bad leak would pay for the cost of the new controller and two leaks would pay for the flow meter.
The City of Plano has the ability to track water down to a tenth of a gallon. What that means is they will be able to better track water usage, which will result in a higher water  bill for residential and commercial users.
Our renewed goal as Texas Licensed  professionals is to help water users understand how much landscape water is being used, and provide them a tool that is literally at their fingertips.                                                                                    

In the past three years we have installed over 600 Rachio Smart Controllers in Collin County. Best of all, we have recycled all the old controllers through Rachio's free recycle program. Our company has been installing Water Smart technology for local Municipalities and big box retailers for almost a decade. After watching the big rush on drip irrigation installs during the drought and now mounting homeowner frustration of high water usage from poor maintenance that goes along with drip. We decided we need to do an even better job of educating the people we serve.

Every city in North Texas has a Sustainable program with free educational classes or low cost ways to improve your footprint. Classes are open to any and all residents no matter where you live.

The City of Plano is sponsoring a Water Wise landscape tour October 20, 2018 from 9am to 3pm. We will be there offering free help and a first hand look at the new technology.
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© Heads Up Sprinkler Co., LLC.,  Plano, TX 75025                                                         Texas Landscape Irrigator - LI8895                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Pictured above Heads Up Sprinkler Co. team with the Rachio manufacturing line members in Plano, TX​

​If all the soil beneath a foundation swells uniformly, there usually is no problem. Issues occur, however, when only part of the home settles. Then, the differential movement causes cracks or other damages.
Problems resulting from foundation settlement:

• Damage to the structure
• • Loss of real estate value
  • Tripping hazards
  • Unsightly cracks
  • Plumbing leaks 
  Whatever the cause, settlement can destroy the value of your home and even render it unsafe. If you see signs of foundation failure, don't delay in getting the problem solved. The longer you wait, the more your foundation will sink
• The soil conditions in Texas respond to rain and drought like a sponge. This expansion and contraction with changes in moisture put stress on your foundation.  
• Clay isn’t the only type of soil that negatively impacts foundations. The second biggest enemy to concrete house foundations is sand. While sand does not expand and contract like clay soils, it can be washed away, creating gaps beneath a foundation.
  Loam and rock are the best soils for providing foundation support. They compact well and don’t move or swell with moisture changes causing further costly damage.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Are you wondering if you have foundation issues? All foundations will settle with time, but problems arise when this settlement is uneven or extreme.
• Here are the common signs of foundation problems:
  Exterior Warning Signs
  • Wall rotation
  • Separation around the garage door, windows and/or walls
  • Cracked bricks
  • Broken and/or cracked foundation
  • Displaced moldings
  Interior Warning Signs
• • Misaligned doors and windows
  • Cracked sheetrock
  • Cracks in floor
  • Uneven floors
  Bulging floors and cracked walls, and doors that won't close are all signs of foundation distress.  60% of all homes built on expansive soils suffer from foundation distress. The problems occur when only part of the foundation heaves or settles, causing cracks and other damage.
  This differential movement is largely caused by differences in soil moisture. Loss or gain of soil moisture can cause serious shrinkage or swelling.
  If the frame of a house does not begin to distort until after three or more years of satisfactory performance, it is doubtful that the distortion is caused by full-depth foundation settlement, which is always evidenced by matching cracks. Cracks occur at each side of a portion of the foundation wall that is undergoing downward movement caused by soil bearing failure.
  Settlement cracks are nearly always vertical, and they should not be confused with cracks that occur when a wall is subjected to lateral movement from soil pressure.
  FOUNDATION CRACKS - Hairline cracks are a common result of normal foundation settlement. However, you should be concerned if large cracks appear suddenly. If a crack is wider than an eighth of an inch you could have a possible foundation issue.
  “Horizontal or jagged 45-degree cracks are the most serious and usually indicate you will need professional help.”
  If unsure, monitor the cracks in your foundation, if they continue to expand, call a foundation repair company out to inspect the cracking.                                                                                                                                                                                     

The two most common methods of this type of repair are slabjacking and hydraulic jacking (also known as piering).
In a Slabjacking operation, grout is pumped beneath a slab or beam to produce a lifting force that restores the member to its original elevation.
In piering, steel posts are driven through the unstable soil and hydraulic jacks are used to raise or stabilize concrete slabs affected by changes in the underlying soil. The repair method used depends on the type of distress being treated.
Choosing the correct method for concrete foundation repair. Before deciding on a repair method, you must determine what is causing the distress. Examine moldings and trim boards, mortar joints in brick veneer, and windows in low areas for clues. Also, take note of recent weather. Unusually dry or wet weather can cause problems in the underlying soil.
The most commonly used method of correcting smaller slabs of sunken concrete, such as residential slabs, driveways, sidewalks, swimming pool decks, etc. is slabjacking.
Slabjacking is done by pumping a cement grout through small, strategically-located holes in the concrete slab. Once in place, the grout solidifies into a dense concrete mass and provides a competent bearing for the concrete slab.
If a soil-cement-lime grout is used, the lime content of the slurry will impart the benefits of lime stabilization to the base or sub-base. This combined treatment not only restores the slab to proper grade but also stabilizes the sub-soil to prevent recurrence of the problem.                                                                                                                                                                   
HOW TO HIRE A FOUNDATION REPAIR CONTRACTOR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Foundation work is definitely not a do-it-yourself project, so it makes good sense to get at least three licensed contractors to give you a detailed proposal along with an assessment of your issues. The average inspection takes about two hours. 

• Educate yourself on foundation repair methods and ask a lot of questions. Don't make your final decision based on advertising and cheap prices. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don't do business with a contractor that does not have their foundation repair methods evaluated by ICC-ES (International Code Council Evaluation Services). This nonprofit organization ensures that building products meet code compliance.
• In most areas of the country, a reputable contractor will have a clause for the depth of the hydraulic piling (typically 20 to 30 feet). Beyond that depth, there is usually an additional charge, ranging from $20 to $30 per foot. If a contractor has no depth clause, be cautious. It's unlikely that the contractor would continue to operate at a loss, and would instead just stop at the depth that would guarantee a profit.
• Some foundation repair projects require removal of landscaping in the areas of the work, and the contractor typically won't guarantee that a bush or shrub will survive after removal and replacement.
• Warranties or guarantees for foundation repair work are very important, so pay close attention to their terms. Remember that a warranty is only as good as the company that backs it. Look for a national company that can offer a warranty trust. This means that if the company goes out of business, there is a plan in place to provide follow-up service, if needed.
• Most likely your Irrigation System will be affected either by broken pipes, heads, and wires. Who is responsible for the repairs? (Get it in writing) What licensed company will be doing the repairs? Is the foundation company selling Irrigation services without a license? (Holding your foundation warranty hostage if you don't let them upsell you with a Foundation Drip System) ?    Texas Law:  Only  Landscape Irrigators (LI) can sell, design, consult, install, maintain, alter, repair irrigation systems.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Once you have an idea of how you are going to deal with your foundation let us help you with applying even moisture around your house. Not just at the dripline where most companies lay a ring of water around your house. The entire system needs to be evaluated for "head-to-head" coverage. Starting at the foundation and going 6' to 8' away, making sure you have uniform distribution all the way around your house. Over or under watering one side of the house can contribute to continued foundation problems in the future. Just like large shrubs and trees being too close to the house. Using a Weather Based WiFi controller to get alerts when things stop working or help you easily manage your watering schedules, is the best insurance for long term monitoring.  The new Rachio Gen 3 is a perfect all  in one Hydro Solution for Homeowners, especially if you travel.                                                                                             We are Rachio Certified Pro Installers. - Need help call us - 214.837.1553

​Maintenance Tips for DIY Homeowners:

Watering – During prime growing months (April-September), sod will require approximately 1 inch of water per week. This will vary depending on climate conditions. During winter months, this amount should be adequate for approximately a 2-3 week period. Don't forget to make sure that the sod is moist before a freeze during the winter months to help protect the root system.  Use cycle Soak method for watering deep. (i.e. 1am for 8-10 min. and again 4am 8 to 10min. for SPRAYS and  15 to 20 min. for ROTORS)

Mowing – Generally sod should be mowed every 7-10 days depending on sod type and time of season. Best results are noticed if you mow a little shorter in the spring (i.e. 1.5 inch height), then a little taller in the summer and fall (i.e. 2 inch height). This will help insulate the sod during the summer and fall, also promoting new growth in the spring and early summer.

Fertilization – A balanced fertilizer with a slow release form of nitrogen such as 13-13-13 stems better overall results at establishment, and then use a 3-1-2 (i.e. 21-7-14) @ 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. As a general rule, fertilization takes place two times a year (spring and early fall) on St. Augustine and Zoysia. On Bermuda use a 3-1-2 @ 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. in the spring and fall with an additional Nitrogen application of 21-0-0 @ 2 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. in early June.

These are general recommendations for our area which can be changed due to weather conditions, quality desired and landscape use. In using any products read and follow all label directions.
 
 
Please use gloves and eye protection when handling any fertilizer products. Heads Up Sprinkler Co., LLC is not affiliated in anyway to Home Depot this list was provided as a guide to help homeowners.
 
Home Depot sells these products:

​This LESCO fertilizer weed control product controls over 100 broadleaf weeds including dandelions, buckthorn and more. It has an environmentally friendly analysis. Since it contains zero phosphorous.

• Apply in spring and fall when broadleaf weeds are actively growing
• High in potassium for plant durability
• Preferred product of professional landscapers
• Professional product for professional results
• Excellent weed control product
• Must be applied with a rotary spreader
• Should be one of the components of a lawn maintenance plan

​Premium iron formula any time of year to any type of grass. To deliver results that truly exceed your expectations, we have enhanced this product with beneficial microbes and advanced soil technology.

• A deep green lawn without excessive growth
• Helps grass use nutrients found naturally in the soil
• Contains more iron for a deeper green
• For use on lawns, flowers, shrubs, vegetables and trees