Frequently Asked Questions Will installation destroy my lawn? We use the most State-of-the-Art equipment that slices the pipe underground without causing much damage to the lawn surface. If your property has a lot of roots and or rocks the install could have a slightly more significant impact on the landscape. Generally, all lawns grow back within 7-10 days. How long does installation take? Most residential jobs can be completed in one day, but larger properties can take 2 or more days. Before the "in-ground" work is done, a few hours are needed inside the house to make the plumbing connections and install the backflow preventer. Is there a backlog for installations? It depends on the time of year. Spring is the busiest time and it is always better to sign up early (even in the winter). We try to begin our installations in the middle of April or earlier if weather allows. Generally we can install spring contracts within 2-3 weeks. After June, our schedule lightens up and the backlog is usually 1-2 weeks. Do lawn mowers frequently break the sprinklers? No, while it does happen on occasion it's not a big concern. All the sprinkler heads we install in lawn areas full retract into the ground when not in use. How long does the typical system last? As long as periodic maintenance is performed and the landscape the system was designed around doesn't change the design will last indefinitely. The pipe and fittings on average last a minimum of 20 years, while the heads and valves have a life span of between 5-25 years depending on use and wear and tear. What maintenance is recommended and how much does it cost? The system should be winterized every fall in a process where we blow all the water out of the system with compressed air. The system should be activated every spring, during the activation one of our technicians inspects the systems, adjusts heads as needed and programs the timer with a proper watering schedule for your property. As far as cost is concerned that is determined by the size of the property and the extent of the irrigation system. What does a "Turn-On" and "Turn-Off" consist of? Turn-On: Each zone is turned on. Every sprinkler is checked for coverage, direction of spray, and any necessary repairs are made. Turn-Off: A high powered compressor is attached to the system and compressed air is fed through every line to be sure there is little, if any water left in the system over the winter. Do I need a Rain Sensor? The simple answer is yes. A functioning rain sensor will help to save you money and conserve water by not allowing the system to run while it's raining or when the ground is saturated. Rain sensor's have come a long way over the years and today you have the option of a "smart" sensor that takes into account your geographic location, the amount of sun light, temperature and rain fall to automatically adjust the watering times so your landscape gets the right amount of water from spring right through to fall. I hear there are many types of sprinklers. What are they? Rotary Heads: These are single stream sprinklers that "rotate". They shoot a stream of water approximately 30-40'. Rotaries are used for large grass areas and can be used for shrubs that are located strategically. Spray Heads: These put forth a spray of water in an adjustable fan pattern and do not turn. The distance of throw can be anywhere from 4-15'. Spray heads are used in smaller areas and for delicate planting/flower beds. It's spring, but isn't too cold to turn on the system? All companies turn on their customers' systems during the months of April, May and the very beginning of June. Time cycles are set in the off position until it is time to water. It's getting cold, I'm afraid my pipes will freeze. In most cases for your pipes to freeze, it would have to stay consistently below freezing without warming up during the day. I have a system that Autowater did not install, will you service systems installed by another company? Yes, we work with all makes and models of irrigation system.