Selecting an Irrigation Professional

When it comes to having irrigation work done, it pays to have a professional on your side. A Charlotte irrigation company has the knowledge and experience to perform the work right the first time, eliminating the need for continued repairs and increased costs. Selecting a company that specializes in irrigation in Charlotte can be as easy as searching the web.

When looking for an irrigation specialist, you will want to first consider your plans and your budget. Budgeting for an irrigation project can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The cost of your irrigation work will be determined by the size and complexity of the project, as well as the experience of the Charlotte irrigation specialist, and the cost of materials.

Once your budget is determined, you may want to do a little bit of irrigation research before searching for a professional. Knowing what will be involved in the process will make things easier for you in the long run, as you will have a greater understanding of costs involved with hiring a professional. You will also be able to begin designing your irrigation system, which you can then consult over with your chosen professional.

Finally, once you have your budget and a design in mind, search online or in the phone book to find a company that can deliver the results you want. Irrigation in Charlotte offers many options, so find a Charlotte irrigation specialist that can deliver the results you want.

Adding Value to Your Home

Even in a sluggish economy, you can add value to your home by installing water features. As well, water features can not only add value, but also beauty to virtually any home. A company that specializes in irrigation in Charlotte can help you decide what would be the best option for your home.

One of the best reasons to seek out an irrigation Charlotte expert is that installing a water feature can be difficult if you are untrained. Certain conditions need to be accounted for before any design or work is to begin, and the work needs to be done carefully so you do not cause damage to your property.

Irrigation in Charlotte NC is a very affordable option if you are wanting to add value to your home. By adding a water feature, or other irrigation system, you stand to add possibly thousands of extra dollars when you sell your home. And the added bonus is, you have a beautiful and functional addition to your property that you can enjoy for many years to come.

Many people choose to have Charlotte irrigation features such as waterfalls and ponds installed on their property. These water features can also be used to keep fish and attract certain woodland creatures. This is an added bonus of Charlotte water features, as you can enjoy wildlife while still living close to the city. If you are interested in learning more about adding value to your home by installing water features, or other irrigation systems, contact a Charlotte irrigation company today!

Principles of Irrigation Management Pt. 2

Water Requirements

Experience and good judgement are essential in determining how much and when to irrigate under any particular set of conditions. Generally, plants should be watered prior to wilting, and the medium should not be allowed to dry out excessively between waterings. The amount of water required by container grown plants, and the frequency of irrigation depends on the water holding capacity of the potting medium, amount of water already present in the medium, size of plant and container, species of plant, temperature, humidity and wind speed.

Controlling irrigation is important because too little water will retard plant growth and reduce quality, while too much will leach fertilizers and reduce aeration. Typically, container grown plants, under full sunlight, require daily watering when mature. However, during cloudy and/or cool weather, less frequent watering is usually adequate. Growing media with lower water holding capacities will require more frequent irrigation. When 35% to 50% shade is supplied (by either polypropylene or lath) irrigation frequency can be significantly reduced. The amount of water to apply at any irrigation depends on the amount moisture required within the container, the amount deflected by the plant canopy which is lost between containers when overhead sprinklers are used, and the portion evaporated during application. Generally, small plants that do not cover the container receive most of the water applied with sprinklers, while up to 50% may be deflected by the canopy of large plants. Normally the amount of water applied at each irrigation should bring the water content of the growing medium back up to 70-80% of container capacity. In the Charlotte area, contact a Charlotte irrigation expert to discuss your current water requirements.


Irrigation Systems

Key components of any irrigation system are the well, pump, and proper size main and lateral lines. Frequently these components are undersized for the area to be watered, and serious inefficiencies occur. Since proper engineering of a watering system is necessary, it is important to carefully determine the area to be irrigated with consideration towards increased capacity. Overhead sprinkling is one of the most commonly used methods of irrigating greenhouse crops. Other irrigation methods include drip or trickle and subirrigation. General information on each of these systems follows, with mention of some of the major advantages and disadvantages associated with each method. If you are interested in having a Charlotte irrigation system installed, contact a Charlotte irrigation company today!


Overhead Irrigation

This method of application has relatively low initial and maintenance costs. A major drawback, however, is uneven distribution of water. This becomes a much more serious problem when the system is also used for application of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Another negative aspect of overhead irrigation is that it promotes the development and spread of foliar diseases. Efficiency of overhead sprinklers is influenced by type of spray head, spacing, and wind velocity. Fixed spray heads are best for smaller areas where they are protected from wind, and they are most satisfactory for smaller containers.

Rotating impact heads supply water with considerable force. This is desirable to obtain wide coverage, but the plant's top may deflect some of the water, causing it to fall outside the container rather than enter the growing medium. Rotating sprinkler heads are best for larger container sizes and provide satisfactory coverage in calm wind conditions. Whirling, rotating sprinklers, of various designs, provide excellent coverage but the small water droplets may not penetrate when plants have a canopy over the growing medium surface. This type sprinkler operates best in protected locations.


Drip and Trickle Irrigation

Recent advances in design of small low-cost plastic tubing provide an excellent method of watering individual
containers. This system is expensive to install, but will provide irrigation to individual containers without wetting the foliage. Several types of irrigation are available which deliver various volumes of water. Most drip systems operating at pressures varying from 40-60 ppi. become clogged bacause of the high calcium and magnesium levels in most irrigation waters, as well as from growth of algae and/or bacteria within the tubes. When small diameter tubing is used, water treatment (i.e. filtering) is desirable. These systems can also be used for injecting fertilizer and application of systemic insecticides and eeefungicides.


Sub-Irrigation

This method is frequently used for field grown crops where hardpans exist near the soil surface, but only a few nurseries use subirrigation for containers. Although this method of irrigation provides desired amounts of water, construction of beds/benches to hold water can be expensive. Another disadvantage of subirrigation is the continuous sheet of water which can provide a carrier for root rot organisms. Continuous capillary watering may also lead to salt build up in the media.

source: Texas A&M

Principles of Irrigation Management Pt. 1

Although most of the water plants remove from the soil or media is lost to the atmosphere through transpiration, the small portion utilized in photosynthesis is vital for growth. Therefore, applications of the right amount of good quality water to greenhouse crops, at the optimum time, is an important factor in production of quality plants.

Greenhouse crops use large amounts of water continuously, but the rate of use depends on plant species, size, temperature, and atmospheric conditions. The plants enormous requirement for water is demonstrated by the fact that 300 to 500 pounds of water are necessary to produce one pound of dry organic matter. Although water serves many functions in the plant , over 99% of the water absorbed is lost to the atmosphere. A Charlotte irrigation specialist can help you to decide what amount of irrigation your plants need.


Crop Factors

The water requirements of container grown plants vary because of age, succulence of growth, and plant species. Young plants, with little top growth, require less water because they lose less by transpiration than larger plants. Plants with succulent growth usually wilt sooner, because more of the tissue is composed of water. And, plants with large thin leaves absorb and transpire water more rapidly than those with small thick leaves. Plants should be grouped in the greenhouse or nursery according to their species, container size and type, growth rate and moisture requirements.


Water Factors

The quality of irrigation water is very important in the production of greenhouse crops because of undesirable chemicals found in some water. When a new well or growing operation is being planned, water sources should be checked for quality. For water quality to be acceptable, soluble salt levels should be below 600 ppm, and generally water above 1,200 ppm should not be used (see section on monitoring water quality). Specific chemicals found in water that may cause plant injury include chlorine, fluorine, and boron. Chemicals that leave undesirable foliar residues include iron, calcium, and magnesium. Drainage ponds and pools are not generally desirable sources of irrigation water because of the possibility of disease organisms and weed seed being distributed over the plants, and because of algae and other organisms developing which may clog the irrigation system. As mentioned, a Charlotte irrigation company can help you to figure out what type of irrigation system is right for you.


Growing Medium Factors

The importance of adequate water holding capacity and proper aeration and drainage of container mixes cannot be stressed too strongly. Water holding capacity, the ability of a soil or media to hold water against the pull of gravity, is important because it determines irrigation frequency and influences fertility. Of the total water held in a potting mixture, only part of it is available to the plant. Available water is the portion between the maximum capacity of the medium and permanent wilting point.

The most meaningful measurement of water present in a medium is the percent by volume, of moisture (water) held after all gravitational water has drained. Maximum substrate water content, in percent dry weight, may be obtained by weighing the total medium, with gravitational water removed, then oven drying at 105^oC. The media is then reweighed and the difference divided by dry weight. The percentage of water held at fifteen atmospheres can be determined on a pressure membrane apparatus. The difference between maximum water content andthe percentage at fifteen atmospheres is considered available water. These figures can be converted to a volume basis by multiplying their percent dry weight by bulk density. Container media used for most greenhouse crops should have at least 10-15% available water holding capacity by volume and 40-50% maximum air space by volume. Contact a Charlotte irrigation company to discuss all of your irrigation options.

Proper drainage and aeration of container mixtures is as important as water holding capacity. Media aeration directly influences plant growth by its effect on soil oxygen, which controls to a large extent the uptake of nutrients and water. The major factor affecting drainage and aeration is type of potting mixture, but the surface beneath containers as well as drainage holes and other factors near these drainage holes are also important.
Approximately 10% sould be easily drainable to provide adequate aeration and water holding capacity. A simple method of checking drainage is to add water to the top of a container to a depth of 1/2 inch. If this water moves into the potting mixture within 1 minute the percentage of pore space is adequate. The more time (beyond 1 minute) required for the water to enter the media, the less satisfactory the potting mixture. Mixtures requiring 3 minutes or more to drain are completely unsatisfactory for use in containers and should not be considered. The surface beneath a container also influences drainage. This turn, affects depth of media that remains saturated in the bottom of the container. Placement of containers on raised benches provides the best drainage. However, many growers place containers directly on the ground or hard surface This can result in poor drainage as water becomes trapped around the base of the container. This situation may be minimized by providing adequate surface drainage of these growing areas.

source: Texas A&M

Composting

Composting is the biological breakdown of organic matter. Composts are a good source of humus and a good way to recycle plant refuse from the yard or garden. However, backyard composting may not kill weed seeds, disease organisms, or underground stems or roots of such plants as quackgrass, morning glory, or Canada thistle. Do not put diseased plant materials in your compost. Fruit and vegetable wastes are good compost materials, but do not compost meat and fatty food. If you are unsure of what to compost, contact a Charlotte irrigation company to discuss your options.

Some composting methods:

Many gardeners compost using a slow, low-temperature method. Yard wastes are piled in a heap and allowed to compost in place. This method requires little effort, but it does not generate enough heat to kill weed seeds or disease organisms. Often a year or more is needed to produce compost by the slow method.
To compost quickly and generate the high temperatures needed to kill most weed seeds, you must maintain conditions favorable for the high-temperature compost bacteria. Contact a Charlotte irrigation company to discuss your options. This requires:

a pile of organic material at least 3' high x 3' wide x 3' deep,
balancing high-carbon and high-nitrogen plant materials,
chopping materials to increase their surface area,
keeping the pile aerated by turning,
maintaining adequate moisture.

If you do not have enough nitrogen-rich plant materials to compost rapidly, you may need to add nitrogen, using fertilizer or animal manure. No other additives are necessary. The high-temperature method produces high-quality compost quickly, but it requires much more effort and care than the slow method.
You may dig organic materials directly into fallow (unplanted) areas of your garden. This is a good way to improve your soil using food wastes.

Commercial composts:

Composts are also commercially produced on a large scale from yard debris (woody prunings and grass clippings) and food waste. They vary widely in nutrient availability. Composts that look woody are usually low in nitrogen. Like sawdust, they require additional nitrogen when mixed into the soil.
Commercial composts are screened to separate particle sizes. Mix fine compost with soil to increase organic matter. Use coarse compost for mulching trees and shrubs. If you are unsure of what your composting options are, call a Charlotte irrigation company today!

Watering Plants While Away

Begin by watering plants thoroughly. If you like, place plants in large saucers that will hold about 1" of water. This will keep most moisture loving plants for as much as a week.

Move plants out of sunny windows and into cooler areas of the house. If you have large plants that you can't move, close the drapes so the plants won't be in bright light. Moving plants into low-light areas will reduce their need for water. You may consider hiring a Charlotte irrigation company to watch over your plants while you are gone.

Group plants by their care needs. Place moisture-loving plants in one area, such as the bathtub. Place plants that require less water together to avoid confusion if someone will come by to care for them.

You can make a miniature greenhouse for indoor plants from a large plastic bag. Water the plant well, then push tall bamboo stakes into the soil. The bag shouldn't touch the foliage, and the bamboo will keep it from the leaves. Place the plant inside the bag, and seal it tightly with a rubber band or a twist-tie. Make sure the plant is away from direct sunlight. Your mini-greenhouse will sustain the plant for as long as three weeks. If you are concerned about the health of your plants, have a Charlotte irrigation specialist check in while you are gone.

Many commercial products are available to water plants while you're away. Most consist of a reservoir and a wick you place in the soil. As the plant uses moisture, it draws from the reservoir.

Another solution is to fill a washtub with gravel, fill the tub with water just to the level of the gravel, and set a plant on top of the gravel. The humidity from the water will prevent it from drying out. Another method is to set bricks in a bathtub, fill the tub with water to the level of the bricks, and set plants on the bricks. If you are unsure of the process, have a Charlotte irrigation company take care of your plants while you are away.

A gravity-feed watering system provides moisture for several plants at one time. The water reservoir must be higher than the plants. Fill a large jar with water, and set it on a brick. Cut lengths of cotton or polyester rope that will reach from the bottom of the jar to the soil surface of the plants. Place one end of the rope in the jar and the other so it's resting on the soil.

source: DIY Network

Emitters

An emitter is any device that meters water from inside the tubing to the garden; these can be individual drip emitters, drip tapes or tubing with molded in emitters, soaker hoses or a variety of mini-spray heads. Here is where it gets fun. There are hundreds of different emitters, from spinning micro sprinklers, full and part circle sprays heads, drippers, and drip tape. You can mix and match any of these, but mixing parts makes balancing the system very difficult. To make sure you have the right parts, contact a Charlotte irrigation specialist.

To make water delivery easier, choose to standardize your equipment. Standardization also means repairs are easier to perform since all your spares fit. Drip and spray emitters come in everything from fractions of a gallon to multiple gallons per hour flow rates (1/2 gallon per hour, 1 gallon per hour, etc.) Sprays can be confusing since, besides the different flow rate, they also have different areas they cover. Since sprays can  spread disease, it is recommended to use drip tapes or 1/2, 1 and 2 GPH drippers for almost all garden and orchard needs. To find the system that is right for your needs, contact a Charlotte irrigation company to review your property.

Drippers deliver water to one spot; you can use multiples to deliver water around the root zone. They do tend to form a densely wet area where they sit. Use these under trees and areas covered with mulch, for instance,  to irrigate outlying orchards trees.

When it comes to sprays, there are many choices. Micro sprays may be rotating or fan types, supplied as a simple plug in item or they may come with a mounting stake attached. You should be aware that sprays, while a great way to spread water over a large area, have the issue of leaving the plants wet, which is conductive to disease formation and may spread fungal diseases from one plant to another. Also, evaporation in the air means 50% may not hit the ground during normal days, and on windy when you really need the water, 90% may be lost. A Charlotte irrigation expert can give you a full analysis, and recommend the system that is right for you.

source: Gardening Coaches

Irrigating a Vegetable Garden with Drip Irrigation

Drip, or micro-irrigation, technology uses a network of plastic pipes to carry a low flow of water under low pressure to plants. Water is applied much more slowly than with sprinkler irrigation. Drip irrigation exceeds 90 percent efficiency whereas sprinkler systems are 50 to 70 percent efficient. It is so efficient that many water utilities exempt landscapes irrigated with drip from restrictions during drought. Note that any irrigation system is only as efficient as the watering schedule used. If systems are set to water excessively, any system including drip can waste water. If you have questions about setting your system, contact a Charlotte irrigation expert to assist you.

Low volume application of water to plant roots maintains a desirable balance of air and water in the soil. Plants grow better with this favorable air-water balance and even soil moisture. Water is applied frequently at low flow rates with the goal of applying only the water plants need. Sprinkler irrigation results in a greater wet to dry fluctuation in the soil and may not produce optimal growth results.

Micro irrigation systems are more widely available and better designed for use in home gardens than ever before. Traditionally used for growing commercial vegetables, orchards, windbreaks, greenhouse and nursery plants, micro-irrigation systems are well-adapted for home use. Use them in landscapes, vegetable and flower gardens and for small fruits. They are well-suited to irrigate container plants as well. When combined with a controller, drip irrigation systems can be managed with ease. A Charlotte area irrigation company can help you choose the best system for your home and garden.

Micro-irrigation is ideal for berm plantings. Slopes are inefficient to irrigate because gravity pulls water downhill, causing runoff and water waste. The slow rate of water applied through drip irrigation is more likely to soak in before it runs off.

Advantages of drip irrigation:

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly immediately above, on or below the surface of the soil. This minimizes water loss due to runoff, wind and evaporation. Drip irrigation can also be operated during windy periods.

The mold spots on house siding and the staining and deterioration of wood privacy fences experienced with overspray from sprinkler irrigation is eliminated with the use of drip. Because water doesn’t leave the landscape with drip irrigation, pavement deterioration associated with sprinkler irrigation runoff is eliminated.

Properties with old, galvanized steel water service lines where corrosion has resulted in a narrowed diameter may benefit from a retrofit to drip irrigation. The low volume requirements of drip irrigation are a good match with restricted supply lines.

Drip systems can be managed with an AC or battery powered controller. Automated landscape irrigation is an advantage to many people with busy lifestyles.

Adaptable and changeable over time, drip systems can be easily expanded to irrigate additional plants if water is available. Emitters can be simply exchanged or removed and emitter lines eliminated or repositioned. When plants are removed or die, drip lines should be plugged.

To get a free quote, have a Charlotte irrigation system installed, or to have any questions answered, consider contacting a Charlotte irrigation company today!

source: CSU

Micro Irrigation

Micro irrigation is an above ground, automated watering system designed to water only what requires watering. Micro-irrigation employs drippers, soaker/drip hoses, and micro sprinklers, thus significantly reducing water consumption. Conventional irrigation systems rate sprinklers and bubblers in gallons per minute, while micro-irrigation flow rates are in gallons per hour. For example a lawn sprinkler may be rated at 1 to 5 GPM, or 60 to 300 GPH, drip emitters are usually rated at 1-4 GPH ; microsprinklers are rated at 15-45 GPH. For more information on specific rates for differing equipment, contact a Charlotte irrigation expert.

Microsprinklers give a spray of water that has droplets much smaller than conventional sprinklers. This allows the water to be absorbed into the ground without causing runoff or leeching minerals out of the soil. Microsprinklers are normally used in areas of densely planted beds where placing individual drippers at each plant just wouldn’t make sense. Microsprinklers work under the same low pressure that drippers use so in a landscape installation we can use both drippers and microsprinklers on the same lines. A Charlotte irrigation specialist can discuss all of your options, as well as install your Charlotte irrigation system.

Drip Irrigation is the slow application of water directly to the plant’s root zone using drippers, which are also referred to as emitters. Maintaining an optimum moisture level in the soil at all times results in less water lost to the sun and the wind. No water is wasted on non-growth areas, and the root zone is maintained at its ideal moisture level, combining the proper balance of water and air for a very efficient irrigation system. To find out if micro irrigation is right for you, contact a Charlotte irrigation company today!

source: Warmland Waterworks

Cold Weather Irrigation and Landscaping Tips

During the cold winter months, water plants and grass in the mid-morning to avoid afternoon winds that can keep your sprinklers from hitting their grass target area. You also will reduce the risk of icing that can occur if you water during early morning or evening. February is usually mild enough to allow you to plant petunias, pansies, snapdragons, and other cool-season annuals in well drained, highly enriched soil. Adding a protective mulch on top of the soil around your plants will conserve water so you don't have to water as often. Remember to stake new plants and water them deeply to prevent damage from wind. Having a Charlotte irrigation specialist visit your home to inspect your lawn is a great way to keep plants and grass healthy through the Winter months.

Also, there are several steps you can take to protect the pipes and hoses in your home and landscaping from cold weather:

Disconnect and drain garden hoses when they are not being used.

Insulate your irrigation backflow device by draping a towel over it and cover with a bucket or other protective 

cover that touches the ground.

Wrap exposed irrigation pipes with pipe insulation, insulated faucet socks, an old towel or duct tape.

Be mindful of the need to keep faucets and spigots dripping in order to avoid freezing. This is area specific, so keep up with the latest weather information.

Locate your water shutoff valve and learn how to turn off water at its source, allowing you to ward off damage from leaks or burst lines. Know how to turn off your irrigation backflow device as well. If you are unfamiliar with your equipment, a Charlotte irrigation professional can visit your home and show you how to safely and effectively perform these tasks.

The ideal time to prune trees and shrubs is in late winter, when plants are mostly dormant. Finish heavy pruning by mid-February, before buds show evidence of swelling. Don't prune more than one-quarter of the living tissue during the year.

If you notice frost or a freeze has damaged a plant, leave it alone until warmer weather arrives and new growth appears. Pruning or transplanting a damaged plant during winter months can hurt or even kill it.

Peak blooming season is in the spring, and the best time to fertilize fruit trees and grapes is the six weeks before and after they bloom. Fertilize in late winter for the finest fruit.

Lower your mower's height to 1½ inches to stimulate new crown growth. Fertilize in late-September or early-October with a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Fertilizer not only improves turf quality, root growth and color, but it also builds cold resistance into your grass. Fertilize once more in November to get your landscape through winter with style.

Aerate grass in September or October as well. Compacted soils are all too common in many areas of the country. Aeration boosts water penetration, which reduces runoff on slopes and helps water and fertilizer nutrients get down to the roots. Aerate again in the Spring. For best results, call a Charlotte area irrigation company to evaluate your lawn, as well as assist you in taking care of it.

*source: LVVWD

Benefits of a Root Watering System

Many people have trees, plants, and shrubs that are important to them. These may be for aesthetic reasons, or for personal reasons. Many families have trees that are planted in honor of a loved one, and these trees can carry a very sentimental value as time goes by. However, one of the biggest problems that trees and shrubs run into is compacted soil that eventually kills off the root system. Compacted soil can destroy a tree's roots by not allowing for enough water, oxygen, and nutirent content to get through.

One of the best solutions to combat this problem is to have a Charlotte root watering system installed. A root watering system uses mesh tubes that are installed in the ground around the trees or plants. These mesh tubes allow for the effective delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and water directly to the root system through thousands of tiny holes that slowly let water, oxygen, and nutrients through. They also use subsurface, low emitting water bubblers, which saves money and water by cutting down on evaporation, as well as by using ground water instead of always taking from your home's supply.

Most root watering systems feature a locking grate to protect from vandalism, as well as pipes connections to fit with your current Charlotte irrigation pipes. As well, most root watering systems come with pre-installed check valves and bubblers, and most are compatible with low volume drip lines and emitters. And if you live in an area that has sandy soil, you can have an optional sock placed on root watering tubes that protects your hardware.

For many people who have important plants, trees, and shrubs that they would like to protect, a root watering system is a great investment. A root watering system can offer superior watering capabilities and nutrient delivery, all while being an excellent source of aeration, as the tubes allow oxygen to reach into the soil. In the Charlotte metro area, consider speaking with a Charlotte area irrigation specialist to learn even more about how a Charlotte root watering system can benefit you and your trees.

Think You Can Install an Irrigation System?

While it may seem simple on the surface, an irrigation system is actually a complex set of components that need to be setup in a specific way. Many people think that simply getting a lawn sprinkler or two, and then setting them in the yard for a few hours, is good enough. However, what they don't realize is that their yard would almost benefit more from not even having these sprinklers. As any Charlotte irrigation expert can tell you, an actual irrigation system requires a lot more than a few elements that emit water.

An irrigation system needs to be set up according to some very specific measurements. First, the area to be watered needs to be taken into account. An irrigation system should be designed around what types of grass and plants are in the area, as well as what type of soil they are in. The irrigation system is then installed, but this means much more than digging holes. Installing an irrigation system means, essentially, mapping out an entire network of pipes with various sprinkler heads on them, and then digging trenches to lay the different types of pipe in. A Charlotte irrigation company will have the tools and know how to do this safely and efficiently.

Once these pipes are installed, electronic controllers need to be installed. These will need to be housed in above ground casings for easy access. From there, the system will need to be connected to the main water supply, and an electronic controller will need to be connected to the main electric hub. Once all of this is done, the trenches will need to be refilled with dirt, and then graded accordingly. Nozzles will need to be attached to the various sprinkler heads, and then adjusted once the system is tested. If there are any problems, the trenches will have to be dug up.

Now, with all of that said, there is even more involved. For instance, knowing which type of pipe to use for different areas and different soil is important. You will also need to know what type of pipe glue to use to connect the network of pipes. Beyond that, knowledge of how to install control valves when connecting to the water supply is important, and then you need to know how to test the water pressure. Doing this wrong could not only cause severe damage to the irrigation system, but also to the main water supply's components. Furthermore, knowing and understanding how to install the electronic components is crucial. Doing this wrong could lead to injury and property damage, as the risk for a fire increases with improperly wired components.

And all of this does not take into account avoiding other lines installed in the ground, such as cable, power, telephone, water, and gas. Hitting one of these while digging could have very negative consequences, and could lead to costly damages, as well as injury.

With all of that said, remember, a Charlotte irrigation professional can install an irrigation system for you. A professional can give you a free quote, as well as install your system, meaning you can sit back and relax. As well, if you have an existing irrigation system that was improperly installed, a Charlotte irrigation specialist can correct any problems.

Water Hammer vs. Air in Pipes

If you have heard strange noises coming from your irrigation pipes, it may be time to call a Charlotte irrigation specialist for an inspection. The reason for this is that you may have air in your pipes, or you may have water hammer issues. Both are dangerous, and could signify a greater problem. In the worst case scenario, water hammer issues could ultimately destroy your system, leading to even bigger headaches.

A Charlotte irrigation expert can diagnose potential problems by first checking your water pressure. Using a special pressure gauge, they can see if the problem leads back to pressure issues. This is important, as some noises in your pipes may have benign causes, such as loose pipes banging into each other. This is important to identify before digging up your entire yard.

If you do have pressure problems, it may be due to a loose fitting on a pipe connection. However, if a pipe is broken, the problem may be much worse. When you have your inspection done by a Charlotte irrigation professional, they will be able to tell, based on the water pressure, wet patches in your lawn, and other factors, how serious the issue may be, and what can be done about it.

If the problem is too much pressure, causing air hammer issues, a Charlotte irrigation company can recommend, and install, valves that are specifically designed to reduce and regulate pressure in your irrigation system. Furthermore, if the pressure issues are caused by incorrectly sized meters, they will be able to recommend and install the proper equipment to maintain the proper flow of water through your pipes. Remember, noises in your pipes should not be ignored. It is always important to have a Charlotte irrigation expert investigate any problems before they become a much more serious issue.