Hot Weather and Dry Spots
The goal when designing a lawn sprinkler system is to get even precipitation across the entire lawn. This way you avoid under-watering or over-watering certain areas. This is much easier said than done. Even with a text-book perfect design, things like varying soil conditions, sun/shade, and different types of grass or plant material can prove to make even watering a very challenging project.
Today I am taking a much needed day of rest as I work six days a week during our busy season. Last Monday I added 57 new service calls on top of my already huge list of clients waiting for myself and my company to visit their home or business to repair their lawn sprinkler system. I have been working furiously to keep up with the work load as well as continuing to take new calls. Together, my partner and I have been knocking out about 10 -15 house visits per day. These repairs range anywhere from systems that need new pumps and timers, to just a simple sprinkler head replacement and everything else in between.
Sometime you may go to a house expecting just a simple sprinkler head replacement and then when you arrive you realize that the system needs much more attention than just a quick repair. This is one factor that makes predicting the amount of time that you'll spend at one particular house very hard to determine. However, I do my best to give customers at least an approximate day and time block that I will arrive at the house. This is forever changing due to unknowns that you may run into when inspecting and repairing a sprinkler system.
I understand how waiting for a service tech to visit your house and fix your system can be frustrating when you have your own schedule and things to do, but please be understanding to these sprinkler system companies and service techs. I assure you that we are working as hard and fast as possible to address every customer's individual irrigation system issues. As a consumer myself I clearly understand how waiting on a repair man to help you can be frustrating, but as a business owner I see both sides. As a customer you clearly have the right to demand good and prompt service, but you may need to make several different phone calls until you find a company that can get to you quickly. You also may need to be a little patient as most any reputable person who has been in this business for a number of years will have a big client base built up and get behind with the rush of phone calls that a drought will cause.
Some things are unpredictable such as a lawn pump or irrigation controller/timer just going out, but I do see several things on sprinkler systems that could have been addressed and repaired long before the hot summer months. One thing you can do to prevent having an "irrigation emergency" is to plan ahead. Don't wait until Summer or even Spring to have your irrigation system inspected. Call during Winter (of course not in all climates). You will get much quicker service and probably even better pricing. Hardly anybody is thinking of their sprinklers in the off-season and this is the perfect time to take care of issues instead of waiting until Summer and your lawn is dying.
Also, please don't lay new sod or grass and then realize you don't have proper sprinkler system coverage. You would not believe how many people spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on new grass and then realize that they have poor sprinkler system coverage! If you are planning to re-landscape or re-sod your yard, check out your sprinklers first! You could find yourself stuck having to manually water and drag around a hose until a sprinkler system company can show up. Also, if you lay new grass and then discover you need a sprinkler head added, or even a whole new zone added, the grass will have to be removed or disturbed in order to do the irrigation work. This makes the irrigation techs' jobs a lot more time consuming, which in turn will cost you more money.
With a little common sense and planning, many people can avoid the Summer rush and be worry-free about their lawn and landscape through the hot season. As I already mentioned their are certain things that are unpredictable like broken pipes or pumps and this is not your fault, but make sure to call as soon as possible to get it repaired because you may be in for a little wait. Another tip: be courteous to your lawn sprinkler technician as well as any other service person that would repair something or service you. Remember, it is not their fault that your lawn and/or landscape is having problems. They are just a person trying to work as hard and fast as they can under very difficult weather and working conditions, as well as a heavy work load. Being a little courteous and understanding, rather than being inconsiderate and demanding can be the difference between getting your sprinkler system visit sooner than later:)
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
http://www.advancedirrigationsystems.net

