Advanced Irrigation Blog Posts

Troubleshooting Lawn Sprinkler System Issues

Posted by & filed under Irrigation Systems.

Spring is just around the corner, and your lawn sprinklers will soon be back in operation. However, if you began to notice problems last season, then your sprinklers may not work as well as they should be. Luckily, there are some troubleshooting techniques you can do to determine what’s causing the problem(s).

Increased Water Usage

If you notice that your water usage has gone up, then it could be a problem with your sprinklers, whether it’s equipment malfunctions, broken lines or incorrect scheduling. It can be easy to blame your sprinklers when it might be something else, so check for the following:

  • See if the watering schedule was correctly set or readjusted. This can be found in your controller.
  • Look for excessive dampness or wet spots in your yard.
  • Turn on the system, and see if geysers or water is coming out from under heads.

If you find any of the following, then get in touch with us today, so we can perform a more thorough check of your system.

System Won’t Run or Turn Off

Is your system not turning on or off? Check the following:

Problems Turning On

  • Check to see that all supply valves are in the “on” position. You’ll find at least one in your basement, and two on the outside backflow device.
  • Make sure the clock is on and running. If not, reset it by turning it from auto to off. If the clock doesn’t seem to be doing anything, then check the fuse.
  • Check your rain switch if it’s rained recently. Empty it if it’s full.
  • If you can hear water running and see that the meter is running, then it could be a cut line somewhere on the system.

Problems Turning Off

  • Check the clock.
  • See if there’s debris in any of the control valve. Turn on the zone for three seconds, and off for three seconds several times in succession. Even if this seems to solve the problem, you should still have your system serviced.
  • Turn the supply off at the backflow device, and leave it off for 30 seconds before turning it back on.

If you find you still have problems, contact us today.

Spraying Troubles

If you have spray head sprinklers and notice they don’t operate like they should, there is most likely debris in the nozzle. If this occurs, the nozzle will have to be replaced with a new one.

If your irrigation system is more than 5 years old, it is not up to date with the new water saving technology. The new innovations in the irrigation industry have resulted in up to a 50% reduction in water usage by using ET based controllers, weather stations, efficient irrigation heads, uniformity, uniform spray nozzles and uniform designs. An average residential irrigation system uses 2,000 gallons of water per cycle, and will operate for 72 cycles in Minnesota.

None of the above? Then call us now at (612) 599-8675 or Click Here to Request a Free Estimate.

Lawn Care Tips to Get Ready for the Spring

Posted by & filed under Lawn Care Services.

Soon, all the snow will be gone, the cold air will have disappeared and the trees will bloom with leaves. Spring is on its way, which means you’ll soon be outside mowing, planting, fertilizing and watering.

Since spring is only a little over two months away, you should be thinking about what you want your lawn and landscape to look like this year. And in between now and spring, there are several things you can do to make the transition back into lawn care much easier. Here are some tips for getting ready for the spring lawn care routine:

Patience is key

Just because it’s comfortable enough outside to not need a coat doesn’t mean your lawn is ready. It needs to gradually wake itself up from the dormant winter state, and spending too much time on your lawn care before it’s fully green increases health risks, including grass compaction and killing new shoots before they’ve matured. Hold off on mowing or aerating until the lawn has become mostly green. Starting your lawn sprinklers really depends on the winter, but it’s generally recommended to wait until mid-April to avoid frost and other damage.

Rake first

The last lawn care task you completed last year was most likely raking. It’s a good idea to do this again, and give your lawn a good, deep raking. This allows you to pull up any thatch that might have grown over the winter, and will allow you to locate dead or compacted areas that will require extra attention.

Testing

A soil pH test is an invaluable tool when prepping your lawn for the summer. Bitter winters can cause your lawn to become acidic, which makes grass growth very difficult.

Want us to handle your lawn care? Call us now at (612) 599-8675 or Click Here for a Free Quote.

Winterizing Your Sprinkler System

Posted by & filed under Irrigation Systems.

The cold air is here and it’s time to give your sprinkler system a well-deserved break. You should have your system winterized in order to protect the system from being damaged when it’s not in use.

You should have your system winterized before the first frost. While it’s important to continue watering your plants during the fall and during winter dry spells, a system not winterized can see pipes expand and burst due to water left in the system. Keep an eye on the weather as winterizing the system too soon could cause your sod and seed to dry out.

  1. To properly winterize a sprinkler system, an air compressor will have to be used. Should the temperature drop below 32 degrees, you’ll need to drain the system so the system doesn’t see costly damaged done to it. Follow these steps before we come out to finish winterizing:
  2. Turn off the main shut-off valve
  3. Remove the outlet drain plug/spigot
  4. Turn valves to a 45 degree angle
  5. Cover the backflow valve and all the copper with a large towel/blanket
  6. Place a 2-3 gallon bucket underneath the drain and open the drain valve. Close the valve once all the water has drained out.
  7. Turn on the sprinkler controller and activate your lowest sprinkler zone. This will drain out any remaining water. Turn off the controller.

Click here to get in touch with us to have your system winterized.

Welcome to Advanced Irrigation of MN’s Blog

Posted by & filed under Advanced Irrigation News.

As a locally owned and operated business in the Twin Cities metro, we at Advanced Irrigation have always prided ourselves on our work, and illustrating why we’re one of the area’s top companies for irrigation services.

Because of the pride we take in our work, we’re happy to today launch our blog. It will be frequently updated with information on irrigation needs. We will also use this blog to showcase projects – past and present – the Advanced Irrigation staff has worked so very hard on.

Not familiar with Advanced Irrigation? Please visit our home page to learn more about our company and services, or if you’re looking around at different Minnesota irrigation companies. We look forward to working with you!