Merry Christmas from Your Charlotte Irrigation Installation Company!

Charlotte irrigation installation company Irrigation & Lighting Specialist would like to wish all of our clients a merry Christmas! We hope that everyone enjoys the holidays with friends and family. This has been a great year for us and we are very appreciative of all of our clients!

"We have enjoyed being one of the top Charlotte outdoor lighting and irrigation companies and are proud to be part of this vibrant community," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "We're very proud of the work we've done and look forward to doing more great work in the future!"

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist's Commitment to Our Clients

At Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, we believe that what truly sets us apart is our unrelenting focus on delivering exceptional service. We view our role as more than simply fixing your sprinklers. Rather, we work hard every day to make sure your irrigation system investment is protected and that you have a lawn that you can be proud of.

"We strive to help you create and maintain the lawn you want," says Minor. "We want to ensure that you have a lawn that you are proud of when the neighbors see it and that you have the proper elements in place that allows you to control your water usage and bills."

Once again, Irrigation & Lighting Specialist hopes all of our clients have a safe and merry Christmas. We hope everyone gets to enjoy the holidays with friends and family and we look forward to making 2013 another great year!

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization Allows You to Enjoy a Healthy Lawn in the Spring

Beginning next week, the temperature will finally be dropping to below freezing levels. Have you taken care of your irrigation system winterization yet? This could be your last chance to properly shut down your sprinkler system for the winter!

"We offer a special rate for Charlotte homeowners that want to go ahead and make arrangements for their spring system start-up as well," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "This allows homeowners to kill two birds with one stone and saves them money in the process!"

When you sign up for our sprinkler winterization services, you can also sign up for the spring start-up services at a discounted price of $135. This not only allows you to obtain the piece of mind of knowing your irrigation system investment is properly protected, but it also allows you to save money!

Failing to Winterize Your System Could Cost You

When temperatures drop below freezing, it can cause the remaining water in the pipes and sprinkler heads to freeze. As the water freezes, it expands and causes the pipes and sprinkler heads to crack and burst. The damage that this causes can prove to be costly, especially when compared to the cost of properly winterizing the system.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist is the top Charlotte irrigation repair company and has years of experience helping homeowners properly winterize their irrigation systems. Their professionally trained technicians can ensure that your system is properly shut down and that it will be ready to go once spring arrives.

Make Sure Your Irrigation System is Ready for Spring

We've seen it time and time again: a homeowner forgets to properly winterize their sprinkler system and discovers that it has caused significant damage when they try to use it in the Spring. They are then left trying to make costly repairs and missing a time period of the year that is vital to their lawn's health.

"Many Charlotte homeowners that don't properly winterize their irrigation system find them damaged and unable to perform properly in the Spring," says Minor. "While they are have the system repaired, they often miss an important watering and seeding period. This often results is in a patchy lawn during the Spring and Summer months.

To schedule an appointment for your irrigation system winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you ensure your irrigation system is properly “put to bed” and ready to go again when spring comes around!

Save Money With Charlotte Sprinkler Winterization

If you're a regular reader of our blog, you know that Charlotte sprinkler winterization services are vital to preserving the health of your irrigation system. You know that neglecting to properly shut down your irrigation system for the winter can result in significant damage to your system and prove to be a costly mistake. Did you know, however, that properly shutting down your system for the winter can save you money in the spring?

It's true! When you sign up for our sprinkler winterization services, you can also sign up for the spring start-up services at a discounted price of $135. This not only allows you to obtain the piece of mind of knowing your irrigation system investment is properly protected, but it also allows you to save money!

"We offer a special rate for Charlotte homeowners that want to go ahead and make arrangements for their spring system start-up as well," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "This allows homeowners to kill two birds with one stone and saves them money in the process!"

Charlotte Sprinkler Winterization

When temperatures drop below freezing, it can cause the remaining water in the pipes and sprinkler heads to freeze. As the water freezes, it expands and causes the pipes and sprinkler heads to crack and burst. The damage that this causes can prove to be costly, especially when compared to the cost of properly winterizing the system.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist is the top Charlotte irrigation repair company and has years of experience helping homeowners properly winterize their irrigation systems. Their professionally trained technicians can ensure that your system is properly shut down and that it will be ready to go once spring arrives.

To schedule an appointment for your irrigation system winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you ensure your irrigation system is properly “put to bed” and ready to go again when spring comes around!

Charlotte Irrigation Company Warns Against Forgetting to Winterize System

Have you taken care of your irrigation system winterization yet? If not, you should call and schedule an appointment with Charlotte irrigation service company Irrigation & Lighting Specialist! Last night, temperatures reached 30°F. With December beginning, time is running out to protect your irrigation system from the dangers of freezing!

 "Charlotte homeowners should call immediately to schedule their irrigation system winterization," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "Temperatures have already been reaching below freezing. It's more important than ever to take the steps necessary to protect your irrigation system from unnecessary damage."

Charlotte Irrigation Systems in Danger

Many people think that because Charlotte typically enjoys milder weather, there is no need to worry about freezing temperatures during the winter. This is incorrect and Charlotte residents need to take the proper precautions to protect their irrigation system investments during the winter months.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charlotte averages around 2.1 inches of snow each January and a little over an inch in February and March. While this may not sound like blizzard conditions, it does mean that the temperatures drop low enough to pose a significant danger to your irrigation system.

When temperatures drop below freezing, it can cause the remaining water in the pipes and sprinkler heads to freeze. As the water freezes, it expands and causes the pipes and sprinkler heads to crack and burst. The damage that this causes can prove to be costly, especially when compared to the cost of properly winterizing the system.

"While it's true that Charlotte enjoys great weather, it doesn't mean that we don't also have at least a few periods of harsh conditions during the winter," says Minor. "It makes financial sense to recognize that and properly shut-down your irrigation system so that you aren't faced with enormous repair costs in the Spring."

To schedule an appointment for your irrigation system winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you ensure your irrigation system is properly “put to bed” and ready to go again when spring comes around!

Happy Thanksgiving from Charlotte Irrigation Installation Company

Charlotte irrigation installation and repair company Irrigation & Lighting Specialist would like to wish all of our clients a happy Thanksgiving! We have enjoyed being one of the top Charlotte irrigation installation and repair companies and could not be more thrilled to be part of this vibrant community. Trusting us with something as important as your irrigation system is something that we appreciate and never lose sight of. Irrigation & Lighting Specialist works hard every day to provide our clients with the highest quality work and customer service.

“We’ve been working with Charlotte homeowners for 26 years and have received tremendous support from the community,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "As a result of our commitment to customer service, we have been able to become one of Charlotte's most trusted irrigation installation and repair companies."

What We Are Thankful For

First and foremost, we are thankful for our clients. Obviously, none of this would be possible without them. However, our clients always seem to go above and beyond when we’re working with them. Over the years, we have gotten to know some of the most interesting people in Charlotte. It has been a true joy to be able to provide them with the irrigation installation and repair assistance they need to protect their landscaping investment and create a lawn they can be proud of.

Second, we are thankful for the Irrigation & Lighting Specialist team. Our team is second to none! It is made up of trained maintenance professionals who take pride in the quality of their work. We continue to be amazed at their hard work and dedication. For this, we are thankful!

To learn more about our irrigation installation and repair services, contact John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you achieve and maintain a green lawn that you can be proud of for years to come!

Charlotte Holiday Lighting Dangers

Installing your own outdoor holiday lighting, is not only a hassle, but it can also be dangerous. Whether it's falling off a ladder or suffering minor burns, the possibility of suffering an injury while haphazardly putting up holiday decorations is a real threat.

The holiday season is a time meant for enjoying the company of family and friends. For many families, it represents the only time of the year that their entire family can get together. Spending multiple hours in the emergency room is the last thing anyone wants to do. Why not enjoy the time with your family and let a professional take care of your holiday lighting and decorations?

"It may sound a little sensationalist, but injuries related to putting up holiday lighting and decorations is an extremely common occurrence," says John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "The combination of large amounts of wiring, using ladders, and the winter weather comes together to create dangerous conditions."

Professional Holiday Lighting Prevents Injuries

After monitoring a three-year period, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that around 18,000 individuals were treated in emergency rooms for holiday decorating falls. Further, this number only includes individuals who were injured bad enough to seek emergency care. It is estimated that the actual number of holiday lighting related injuries is actually much higher.

Below are a few other injury statistics to keep in mind:

• Each year, emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries related to holiday lights, electrical decorations, and Christmas trees. These injuries include falls, cuts, and shocks. 
• 200 fire-related fatalities and injuries occur during the two days between December 31 and January 1.
• Each holiday season, nearly 6,000 emergency room patients are seen due to holiday decorating falls.
• Holiday decorations and Christmas trees are responsible for nearly 2,000 fires and more than $41 million in property damage each year.

Why not let the professionals take care of your holiday lighting so that you can enjoy the time with your friends and family? To schedule a free holiday decorating consultation, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you create a gorgeous holiday lighting display and still be able to enjoy the holidays!

Reminder: Time for Charlotte Irrigation Winterization

Charlotte's leading irrigation installation, service, and repair company, Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, would like to remind Charlotte homeowners that now is the time to schedule your irrigation system winterization. Tonight's low is expected to be around 28° and next week isn't supposed to be much different.

These cold temperatures can be especially dangerous to your irrigation system. When the temperature drops below freezing, it can cause any water remaining in the system to freeze and expand, cracking the pipes and sprinkler heads. The resulting damage can prove costly, especially when compared to the cost of properly winterizing the system.

"Charlotte homeowners should call as soon as possible to schedule their annual winterization shut-down," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "We've already begun winterizing systems and the remaining appointments are filling up fast. With temperatures already reaching freezing, it's more important than ever to protect your irrigation system."

Frost Before Your Winterization

One of the most common questions we get is whether an irrigation system is in danger from early frosting before it has been properly winterized. The short answer is that while there is a potential danger, it is much less than the danger caused by solid ground freezes typically associated with the winter months.

"It's common to experience several frosts before the colder winter temperatures officially set in. When these frosts occur, there is a potential for any water in the system to freeze and cause damage," says Minor. "The likelihood of this causing significant damage is small because these drops in temperature are usually quick and followed immediately by warmer conditions. These quick changes prevent the ground from freezing deep enough to affect the underground irrigation system."

In order to protect your irrigation system investment as much as possible, Irrigation & Lighting Specialist recommends scheduling your annual winterization as early as possible. This allows most homeowners to enjoy the piece of mind of knowing that they do not have costly repairs waiting for them next spring.

For more information about protecting your system or to schedule your irrigation system winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you ensure your irrigation system is properly “put to bed” and ready to go again when spring comes around!

Benefits of Professional Charlotte Holiday Lighting

Believe it or not, we have officially entered the month of November! With a little over three weeks until Thanksgiving, Fall is officially upon us. Here at Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, one of the top Charlotte holiday lighting companies, we can hardly believe it!

Like many Americans, you are probably getting together with family for Thanksgiving. This means you should begin the preparations soon. Find the turkey, begin cleaning your house for the guests, start figuring out the seating arrangements, and the hundreds of other things that go in to preparing for the day.

The last thing you want to think about is the fact that you should also be preparing for the Christmas holiday as well. Thanksgiving is typically the time to begin pulling out all of the Christmas decorations and searching for the perfect tree. Add to this the fact that you also need to start shopping for Christmas presents and you can practically hear the stress building.

The good news is that there's help! Irrigation & Lighting Specialist provides professional holiday lighting services! We're here to take away some of that stress and let you enjoy the holidays.

"Holidays should be events that you can enjoy, not dread," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "We try to relieve some of the stress for Charlotte residents by designing and installing their holiday lighting and decorations. We are of the belief that any time you don't have to spend on things like this is time you can spend enjoying the holidays with your friends and family."

Below are a few of the additional benefits of using professional holiday lighting rather than doing it yourself.

Holiday Lights Provided

Holiday lighting professionals like Irrigation & Lighting Specialist provide you with the necessary lights. You don't have to worry about waiting in long lines or searching all over Charlotte for the correct lights. You also avoid purchasing too many lights or not enough lights. We take care of everything for you!

You Get Exactly What You Want

No more hanging lights and re-hanging lights. You don't have to worry about putting up your holiday lights only to realize that you've missed a spot. Irrigation & Lighting Specialist works with you to design the exact type of display you want and then we make it happen. Our professional lighting experts have years of experience and are ready to make the holiday lighting display you imagined a reality!

Holiday Lights Taken Down & Packed For You

No more spending the holidays dreading having to take all of your lights down and pack them up. Irrigation & Lighting Specialist will not only install your lighting display, we will also come back after the holidays, take all of the lights down, and pack them up so that they can be safely stored until next year.

To learn more about having a professional take care of your holiday lighting or to schedule a free holiday decorating consultation, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you create a gorgeous holiday lighting display and still be able to enjoy the holidays!

Charlotte Holiday Lighting Company Offers Tips

Believe it or not, Christmas is two months away! If you're anything like us, you love the holiday season. Here at the Charlotte holiday lighting company Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, we enjoy the time with our family and friends, the good food, and, most of all, the beautiful decorations! The problem is that enjoying holiday decorations and installing holiday decorations are two very different things.

As anyone who has ever attempted to put up holiday lights can attest, it's not an easy job. Once you have moved all of your lights out of the attic, untangled the strings, and checked for burned out bulbs, you usually don't feel like doing much else. In addition to this, it's not uncommon for Charlotte homeowners to begin hanging their lights and realize that they do not have enough lights or that an extension cord doesn't reach the power outlet.

"Most people never consider the amount of work that goes into holiday decorations, especially holiday lighting," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "For every beautiful holiday lighting display, there are hours of work that went into creating that spectacle."

Here's a few tips from Charlotte holiday lighting services company Irrigation & Lighting Specialist that should make creating your display a little easier this year.

Create a Budget

It is important to set a budget before you begin your holiday lighting project. Once you are in a store, it's very easy to go overboard. There are so many great options available that it can be hard to stop yourself from purchasing one of everything.

It's also important to take into consideration that this is the holiday season, where gifts are being exchanged. If you max out your credit cards before you've bought the first present, it's going to be a long holiday season for you.

An additional tip is to plan in advance to save money. By purchasing your holiday lights in January, for example, you can save up to 50%.

Plan Your Design

Once you've created your budget, you can begin to plan what your display will actually look like. This is where your personal creativity really comes into play. From roof displays to nativity scenes, the possibilities are only limited by your budget and imagination.

It is important to measure your home's windows when you are planning your design. By taking these measurements, you will be able to determine the amount of light strings needed. It is also important to determine where the power sources are around your home and plan accordingly.

Choose LED Lights Over Traditional Lights

LED holiday lights look the same as traditional holiday lights but use 84% less electricity. LED holiday lights are also safer because they generate less heat and are less likely to start a fire. Further, these lights last much longer than traditional lights because they are much less fragile and do not burn out for several years.

Consider Hiring Professional Holiday Lighting Specialists

Let's face it, creating a beautiful holiday lighting display is an enormous amount of work. The process involves hours spent working during time that you should be enjoying with your family and friends.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist is here to help! Our professional lighting technicians are trained to install and maintain your holiday lighting. They will replace bulbs, repair any damage, and do all necessary wiring to ensure a safe and lasting display.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist will also take down your holiday lighting for you. After the holidays, our lighting technicians will take down, wrap and safely package your lights for storage. We take care of everything!

To learn more about having a professional take care of your holiday lighting or to schedule a free holiday decorating consultation, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you create a gorgeous holiday lighting display and still be able to enjoy the holidays!

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization Avoids Costly Damage

As the weather cools, it is important to prepare your irrigation system for the onset of freezing temperatures. In Charlotte, the temperature typically drops down to around 40 degrees in November and around 30 degrees in December. This means that it is vital for you to winterize your irrigation system before December's freezing conditions arrive.

Charlotte's leading irrigation installation, service, and repair company, Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, urges Charlotte homeowners to call now to schedule their irrigation system winterization.

"It's important that you call as soon as possible to schedule your annual winterization shut-down," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "We begin winterizing systems in mid-November and appointments fill up fast. It's important that you schedule your shut-down as early as possible to safeguard from the cold."

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization Protects System

In addition to helping prevent costly repairs, winterization also helps ensure that your irrigation system will function optimally when you start it back up in the Spring.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist helps Charlotte homeowners prevent significant damage to their irrigation systems by providing professional winterization services. First, they shut down the system and ensure that any automatic timers are turned off. Next, they use a commercial, high volume air compressor to push air through the lines at low pressure. This ensures that all irrigation lines and parts are free of water, as any water left in the system can freeze and cause the pipes or parts to crack and split.

Perfect Time to Add Smart Controller

This is the perfect time to add a Smart Controller to your irrigation system! Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, offers installation of Rain Bird® ESP-SMT Smart Control Systems. These systems combine the proven simplicity of the Extra Simple Programming (ESP) controller with the accuracy of weather-based control, creating an innovative system that is engineered to save valuable time, money, and water.

"Installing a Smart Controller is the perfect way cut back on your water usage and, as a result, decrease your monthly water bill," says Minor.

For more information about adding a Smart Controller to your system or to schedule your irrigation system winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you ensure your irrigation system is properly “put to bed” and ready to go again when spring comes around!

October is Irrigation Winterization Month

October means it's time to schedule your winterization service! Call us to service, modify or upgrade your irrigation system to accommodate your landscaping plan this fall and be ready for the colder temperatures! Also consider a subtle, attractive landscape lighting system to accent the beauty of your home and landscape. We would be happy to meet with you to assess your lighting needs and give you a quote on the spot.

Irrigation Upgrades!

Ask us how you can save 30% or more on your irrigation water usage by upgrading to the Level I and Level II Water Saver Systems!

Let Us Handle Your Holiday Lighting & Decorating!

Let us decorate your home this holiday season!  We don't just offer beautiful Christmas and Holiday decorations, we also offer a high level of service - from installation of your selections to custom design consultation to complete take-down and storage. Our professional design consultants will meet with you to determine what will best suit your design needs, whether residential or commercial.

We appreciate your business and we look forward to servicing your irrigation and outdoor lighting needs in 2012 and 2013! Please call us toll free in Charlotte and Lake Wylie at 877-433-5833 to schedule your service calls, new equipment and installation appointments, or if you have a question about your systems. Or please email us here to request service or more information.

Charlotte Holiday Lighting Services Help You Enjoy the Holiday Season

Believe it or not, the holiday season is right around the corner. In fact, Christmas is only 91 days away! With Halloween and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, it will be Christmas day before you know it!

That's why now is the perfect time to begin planning your holiday decorations! Start by calling the Charlotte holiday lighting experts at Irrigation & Lighting Specialist and schedule your free holiday design consultation.

"Everyone loves holiday decorations, especially Christmas lights," says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. "The problem is that people don't think about them until the last minute. By then, it feels like too much trouble to pull all of last year's lights out and hang them."

Professional Holiday Lighting Installation & Take Down

During the holiday season, people look forward to spending time with their families. Time spent pulling out old lights and untangling them, dragging out the ladder, and hanging the lights is time not spent enjoying your family and loved ones.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist is here to help! Our professional lighting technicians are trained to install and maintain your holiday lighting. They will replace bulbs, repair any damage, and do all necessary wiring to ensure a safe and lasting display.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist will also take down your holiday lighting for you. After the holidays, our lighting technicians will take down, wrap and safely package your lights for storage. We take care of everything!

"As one of the top Charlotte holiday and Christmas light installation companies, we are able to draw from more than 26 years of experience. We can take care of everything so that all you have to do is spend time celebrating the holidays and enjoying your beautiful holiday lighting and decorations," says Minor.

Holiday Lighting Process

Once you schedule your free holiday decorating consultation, we begin the following process:

• A professional design consultant will meet with you to determine what will  best suit your design needs.
• Our professional lighting technicians will install your holiday lights and decorations.
• Our lighting technicians will also complete any maintenance needed to ensure your display is safely working.
• After the holidays, we take the lights and decorations down and prepare them for storage.

To learn more about having a professional take care of your holiday outdoor lighting or to schedule a free holiday decorating consultation, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you create a gorgeous holiday lighting display and still be able to enjoy the holidays!

Charlotte Irrigation Company Offers Water-Saving Solutions for Homeowners

Did you know that Charlotte has a long history of high water pressure problems? Today, most Charlotte homes have higher water pressure than needed for optimal appliance function. Unfortunately, the problems caused by this high water pressure don’t stop at your home appliances. Most Charlotte irrigation systems also suffer the consequences of this excess pressure.

Have you ever watched a sprinkler running and noticed a “mist” being produced? That mist is an indication of high water pressure. Irrigation heads are designed to use 30 to 40 psi of pressure, but most Charlotte homes maintain at least 60 psi of pressure. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find a Charlotte home with 120 psi or higher!

While this misting may produce what appear to be small rainbows in the sunlight, it’s more accurate to imagine your hard-earned dollars floating away in that mist. As the excess water pressure causes increased flow and velocity, large amounts of water are being released in the form of a mist rather than reaching the intended irrigation target. With the prevalence of droughts and increasing water costs, the costs associated with this wasted water can be substantial.

Pressure Regulating Systems

The solution to this high water pressure problem is to use a Pressure Regulating System (PRS) irrigation head, such as a Rain Bird® 1800-PRS Series Spray Head. These irrigation heads have patented PRS pressure regulators built into their stems that maintain optimum water pressure for ideal spray nozzle performance.

By regulating the high water pressure at the head, PRS irrigation heads can help you save approximately one gallon per minute per rotor or spray. This could result in the average homeowner saving thousands of gallons of water each season.

The Rain Bird® 1800-PRS Series Spray Head, for examples, ensures optimal nozzle performance at 45 psi. When you consider that it has been estimated that every 5 psi reduction in pressure reduces water usage by 6-8%, you could be looking at an 18% reduction in your water usage. That reduction means more money in your wallet!

“Given the recent increases in droughts and high water prices, cutting back on water usage is an easy way to save money,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “Using PRS heads is one of the best ways to reduce your water bill and maintain a healthy lawn."

Additional Benefits

Saving water is not the only benefit that PRS heads can provide. Below are a few of the additional benefits offered:

• Eliminates head to head pressure variation.
• Improves distribution uniformity.
• Extends system life by minimizing wear and tear caused by excess pressure.

For more information about PRS heads and other water-saving methods, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you reduce your water usage and water bill, while still maintaining a beautiful lawn!