Irrigation System Maintenance Plans for “Lawngevity”
by Robert Boyle, President of RB Irrigation and the Irrigation Association of New York, Published online at Dan’s Papers
When we talk about fall and winter maintenance for irrigation systems, it mostly focuses on winterization. There are other things to consider when getting your irrigation system ready for late fall and early winter. For example, your irrigation contractor will conduct an inspection and make any adjustments and repairs to make sure your sprinkler system makes it through this winter’s freezing temperatures unscathed.
Irrigation systems need to be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they operate efficiently for optimal lawn and plant health. There are many common hazards that can negatively impact the performance of your system, including lawn mowers, lawn edgers, and dirt. Without regular maintenance, small malfunctions can create big and expensive problems.
A seasonal maintenance plan from your irrigation company will ensure your system components last longer. You will avoid costly service calls and possible delays for repairs. In addition, a regularly maintained irrigation system will prevent water waste, reduce pollution from run-off and over-watering and improve plant and turf health by applying the correct amount of water.
Inspections
One of the essential parts of maintaining your irrigation system is regular inspection. If problems such as equipment malfunctions and leaks go unnoticed and are not addressed immediately, they can become more serious and costly. Even issues such as broken or misaligned sprinkler heads can result in brown spots and uneven plant growth or at worse, plant death.
Repairs & Adjustments
Part of any irrigation maintenance plan includes adjustments and repairs. For example, sprinkler heads sometimes must be adjusted due to lawn mowers bumping and tilting them, or the heads just stop turning. Sometimes sprinkler heads or pipes break and leak and must be repaired or replaced. When you choose an irrigation maintenance plan from a professional irrigation company like RB Irrigation, we will be equipped to identify these damaged parts and fix the problem before it becomes a bigger one.
Seasonal Services
Irrigation start-ups and winterizations are included in your seasonal maintenance plan. Spring start-up services consist of reintroducing water to the system and inspecting heads, valves, and pipes for leaks and malfunctions. Winterizations of irrigation systems replaces the water in the system with pressurized air and prevents pipes from freezing and bursting in cold weather.
You have made a significant investment in the health and beauty of your property. At RB Irrigation our seasonal maintenance plan will allow us to catch problems early and help keep your system running smoothly. As trained professional technicians we will also keep you informed about the latest in water conservation devices. Proper irrigation is key to your property’s health, and that means having a system and irrigation professional that won’t let you down.
