Month: August 2018

So many people think that they can DIY anything these days.

You know the type: they think all they need are YouTube tutorials and grit to get anything done.

Unfortunately, as helpful as YouTube tutorials can be for some tasks and hobbies, there are some projects best left to the professionals.
Installing and maintaining an irrigation system, for example.

Before you head to the home improvement store looking for tools and supplies, there are some benefits to hiring a professional irrigation company that you should consider.

Knowledge and Expertise

Whether you’re installing a new system or trying to fix an older one, there are a lot of things to know before you just start tearing it apart to find the problem.

A sprinkler system isn’t just a hose and some sprinkler heads glued together. There are electronic components, valves interacting with pipes and sprinkler heads, and a backflow preventer. Among other things, you need to worry about the water pressure, voltage requirements, and the water hammer.

Unless you’re a technician for an irrigation company, chances are, you don’t know anything about those things except for the fact that they somehow work together to water your lawn.

It wouldn’t be safe for you to poke around the sprinkler system unless you know exactly what you’re doing. There’s a chance you could damage it further, resulting in more expensive repairs.

Peace of Mind

When you go to sleep tonight, would you prefer to fall asleep knowing that a professional is the one who repaired your sprinkler system or that you’re the one who Macgyvered it into functioning somehow?

You’ll rest easier knowing a professional technician did it, won’t you? That’s one of the best reasons to hire a professional irrigation company rather than trying your hand at haphazard DIY.

Don’t underestimate the value of peace of mind when it comes to your sprinkler system. You’ll know for sure that your system was repaired or installed correctly with the right parts and technique.

High-Quality Customer Service

If you still think that you want to go ahead and fix your sprinkler system yourself, you’re leaving out perhaps the most important benefit of hiring a professional irrigation company.

Customer service. A company that prides itself on serving its customers well is going to make the repair process so much easier for you.

Instead of getting tired and frustrated attempting to fix it yourself, an experienced technician will come out and do it for you. They’re on your side, can help answer questions, and address any other repair or maintenance issues you may have.

Plus, they can help you with winterizing your system and the spring activation, both of which are crucial to ensuring your system doesn’t need costly repairs later.

The Name Says It All: Pro Outdoor

We’re already St. Louis’ and Saint Charles’ irrigation company leader for residential and commercial customers. And we’re expanding rapidly throughout the Midwest for one simple reason: we only use the best parts and only hire technicians who can live up to our name.

You’ll see the difference in everything we do – from understanding every challenge as you see it – to leaving no questions unanswered about how we can help your lawn stay green and healthy.

Call us today for a free consultation.

A correctly designed and programmed sprinkler system will faithfully deliver the right amount of water to your yard every time you turn it on. But like any other appliance in or around your home, it occasionally breaks down or requires maintenance.

Fortunately, most problems with your sprinkler system can be addressed, or even avoided, with regular maintenance. There are even some sprinkler repairs you can do yourself, but for the more serious problems, you’ll need to call a professional.

Having a problem with your sprinkler system? Take a look at the most common problems you’ll see with your sprinkler system.

Typical Sprinkler System Repairs

1. Water doesn’t come out when the system is turned on

A sprinkler system that doesn’t turn on when it’s supposed to can signal a few problems:

• Leak in the piping
• Debris from a broken line is clogging the pipe leading to the head
• Too many sprinkler heads are leaking
• Roots are growing into the nozzle of the sprinkler head
• Roots outside the piping are squeezing the pipe shut
• Demand for water running inside the house is conflicting with sprinklers running at the same time

Without proper knowledge and experience, it can be difficult to know exactly what is causing the blockage in the system. Your best bet is to talk to an experienced irrigation contractor to see what the cause of the problem is.

2. There’s a leak

A leak in your sprinkler system does more than just prevent water from coming out of the sprinkler heads. Puddles can form in your yard while leaving other areas completely dry – which is not why you installed the sprinkler system in the first place!

Leaks could be caused by a particularly cold winter if you didn’t winterize the system properly, damage from landscaping, or a faulty valve box.

Fixing a leaking line can be an involved sprinkler repair job. If the leak is visible near the sprinkler head, you can try replacing the head to see if that helps. For larger leaks, where water is pooling in the yard, you’ll need Pro Outdoor to help.

3. One sprinkler head isn’t working

If just one of your sprinkler heads isn’t working properly, it’s likely just a single broken sprinkler head and not a problem with the entire system.

Sprinkler heads can be damaged by extreme weather, getting run over by a lawnmower, or someone stepping on them wrong. A broken sprinkler head might not spray at all, or it may spray water around wildly.

Replacing a single sprinkler head isn’t too difficult, thankfully. Most home improvement stores stock replacement sprinkler heads.

To replace the head, dig out the area around the sprinkler head to expose the riser, a couple of feet down. Twist the existing sprinkler head to remove and discard it and screw on the new head.

4. The sprinkler heads won’t retract

Many sprinkler systems have retractable sprinkler heads dotted around the landscape. When you turn the system on, the heads are supposed to pop out of the ground. And when you’re done watering, they retract so they aren’t noticeable, and you won’t trip over them.

However, sometimes they just won’t retract like they’re supposed to.

Thankfully, this sprinkler repair is pretty easy. The most common cause of a sprinkler head failing to retract is debris – like mulch that is blocking the head from moving.

Carefully remove any debris from around the sprinkler head. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you will need to contact a professional to take a look.

Sometimes you need to call a professional

Only homeowners who feel very comfortable with their system or who happen to be irrigation professionals as well should attempt these repairs. Otherwise, calling a certified team like Pro Outdoor is your best bet to have your system repaired properly and efficiently.

We’re one of the best sprinkler repair companies in the area, and we offer a variety of warranties. Contact us today for your sprinkler repair needs.