Now that we all have watched news until we are completely scared out of our skin, we are all hoping for the best, but envisioning the worst. Home Services such as lawn care and irrigation maintenance are essential services to keep what is most people's biggest investment, their home, in good working order. Outside services are very lucky to be able to keep social distancing and help homeowners maintain some sense of normalcy in these frightening and fearful times.
In North Texas our winter was very dry and our spring has been very wet. Few homeowners are able to practice proper watering under these circumstances. The objective is for soil around the foundation to stay evenly moist and protect your home and plant material. As the Spring season ramps up with the first mow or scalp of yards, it is important to "test and repair" your sprinkler systems so you don't get a surprise high water bill.
For the homeowners that practice "turning off" the controller in the fall and never using again until Spring.....Look out. So far we have repaired mostly leaks for those homeowners and a great deal of bad valves. With sprinkler systems using low voltage to power the 24 volt valves, we have a great deal of valve replacements in the Spring due to lack of use. Similar to not using your car for months at a time and then discovering a bad battery, failed alternator, rotted hoses... not running your automatic sprinklers can reveal failed valve solenoids, pipes heaved in wet weather causing leaks or controllers/timers no longer working properly.
During the drought of 2010 to 2015 people stopped using their sprinkler systems and caused more damage in repair costs than if they would have kept them in good working order. Deferred maintenance is NOT an inexpensive option. It feels like it at the time, but in the long run you will end up with significant dollars worth of grass replacement, foundation repairs, and sprinkler component repairs.
As we venture into uncertain times we hope that everyone stays well and will protect your biggest investment. Remember to check your sprinklers to prevent unfortunate surprises. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Ben Franklin... We could all use a little more cure in these unprecedented times.
(Article by Caryn Walz LI8895|BPAT 8606 |Certified Landscape Auditor)
In North Texas our winter was very dry and our spring has been very wet. Few homeowners are able to practice proper watering under these circumstances. The objective is for soil around the foundation to stay evenly moist and protect your home and plant material. As the Spring season ramps up with the first mow or scalp of yards, it is important to "test and repair" your sprinkler systems so you don't get a surprise high water bill.
For the homeowners that practice "turning off" the controller in the fall and never using again until Spring.....Look out. So far we have repaired mostly leaks for those homeowners and a great deal of bad valves. With sprinkler systems using low voltage to power the 24 volt valves, we have a great deal of valve replacements in the Spring due to lack of use. Similar to not using your car for months at a time and then discovering a bad battery, failed alternator, rotted hoses... not running your automatic sprinklers can reveal failed valve solenoids, pipes heaved in wet weather causing leaks or controllers/timers no longer working properly.
During the drought of 2010 to 2015 people stopped using their sprinkler systems and caused more damage in repair costs than if they would have kept them in good working order. Deferred maintenance is NOT an inexpensive option. It feels like it at the time, but in the long run you will end up with significant dollars worth of grass replacement, foundation repairs, and sprinkler component repairs.
As we venture into uncertain times we hope that everyone stays well and will protect your biggest investment. Remember to check your sprinklers to prevent unfortunate surprises. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Ben Franklin... We could all use a little more cure in these unprecedented times.
(Article by Caryn Walz LI8895|BPAT 8606 |Certified Landscape Auditor)
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