Charlotte Irrigation: Watering Your Garden

Spring has sprung and it won't be long before everyone is outside trying to get their garden in shape. If you are like most homeowners, reviewing the best gardening practices can go along way, especially when it comes to watering. In this week's blog post, our Charlotte irrigation specialists share some basic tips on watering your garden. 

Charlotte Irrigation Watering Basics

How much is too much water, and how much is too little? While water is essential for any plant, having too much or too little water can be harmful. One of the biggest things to consider is soil type. For instance, clay soil holds water best but takes a longer time to absorb it. Sandy soils absorb water quickly, but don't do a good job storing the water. Your soil should contain enough organic material to retain moisture and still allow enough room for air to reach the roots of your plants.

Here are some other factors you should consider when determining the amount of water your plants need: 

• Sunlight - Growing areas that are exposed to direct sunlight need more water because of evaporation, and growing areas in the shade tend to store more water throughout the day. 
• Humidity - It gets humid in the south, and that means it is harder for our plants to hold moisture. Days with higher humidity require more watering. 
• Plant Type - Different plants have different needs. Root depths vary greatly, so try to take note of how deep the roots are for your different plants. Group plants with deeper roots together. They need more water.

Watering Techniques: Hand-Watering vs Sprinklers 

Watering with a hose or watering can are simple techniques and are common when you have a small garden area to water. The biggest drawback, however, is that people get impatient and often water less than their plants need. They also tend to waste water. 

Sprinklers do the best watering job, especially if you have densely planted vegetables or a large gardening area. Perfect for lawns and home gardens, a sprinkler system is the easiest and most effective watering method. 

To learn more about Charlotte irrigation services or to schedule your spring startup service, contact John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you produce a beautiful and healthy lawn and garden this year! 

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization for 2014 Winter

Despite the chilling weather we've already experienced, the season of winter does not officially begin until this Saturday. If Charlotte's late fall temperatures are any indication of things to come, we are in for a cold one this year.

As the thermostat continues to fall as we approach the coldest part of the year, time is running out to get a Charlotte irrigation winterization.

"If you haven't already winterized your irrigation system for the winter, now is the time to do it," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "The cost of winterization is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of freeze repairs. In other words, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 

What Is Winterization? 

Your irrigation system is made up of underground pipes, connective plumbing, valves and sprinkler heads. When the system is running, water flows through this underground plumbing and pushes through its sprinkler heads. When the system is not running, water sits idle in the system. 

Once the ground freezes, the water inside your irrigation system will freeze. Since water expands as it freezes, your pipes can become cracked or split. 

The Charlotte irrigation winterization services offered by Irrigation and Lighting Specialist removes all of the water from your system to protect it during the winter. 

Reasons To Get Charlotte Irrigation Winterization 

Below are a few reasons why you should winterize your irrigation system this winter: 

• Winterizing ensures your irrigation system will be ready to run in the spring. 
• Failure to winterize may void your system's warranty. 
• It is less expensive to winterize your system than to repair it. 
• Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to your system. 

"There is really no reason not to winterize your irrigation system," said Minor. "It is the best way to protect your investment, and with below-average temperatures forecasted for Charlotte this winter, your system will definitely need it to avoid damages." 

For more information about Charlotte irrigation winterization, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or email John. We look forward to helping you protect your irrigation system for the frigid winter ahead! 

Save on Your Sprinkler System Winterization

If you haven't done so already, now is the time to schedule your sprinkler system winterization service. Temperatures will only continue to drop as we enter the month of December and freezing is expected to become a regular part of Charlotte's forecast.

"Charlotte homeowners should call as soon as possible to schedule their annual winterization and shut-down," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "We've already begun winterizing systems and the remaining appointments are filling up quickly. With our region already experiencing freezing weather and temperatures only getting colder throughout December, its more important than ever to protect your sprinkler system."

Sprinkler System Winterization Services 

The winterization process consists of removing all water from your sprinkler system and equipment. If water remains in your system, it will freeze, which causes pipes and fittings to burst, valves to crack and sprinkler and pump cases to split open. Getting a sprinkler system winterization service is the best way to avoid these costly damages. 

The professionals at Irrigation and Lighting Specialists offer sprinkler system winterization service options to ensure you're protected this winter. These cost-efficient service options include: 

• Basic Winterization Service - $65 (Pre-Paid Pricing) - We will blow the water out of the lines and black flow to prevent cracking and bursting that is caused by freezing. This service is offered between now and January 5.
• Winterization/Spring Start-Up Service - $135 (Pre-Paid Pricing) - This is service option provides our customers with the best value. We will perform our winterization service by shutting down your system for the winter, and we'll reopen it during the spring.

Additional services we provide at a discounted rate during the winter include: 

• System Upgrades, Repairs and Renovations 
• Smart Controller/PRS Heads
• Fertigation Irrigation System 
• Landscape Accent Lighting
• Holiday Lighting

"If you are looking for some real savings after Thanksgiving, look no further. We offer a variety of valuable irrigation services to the homeowners of Charlotte," said Minor. "Our prices are very competitive, and our maintenance services will save you even more money when compared to the repair costs you will avoid."

To learn more about our irrigation services, like our sprinkler system winterization service, please call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or email John. We look forward to handling all of your irrigation and outdoor lighting needs! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Charlotte Irrigation Winterization Company

As Charlotte's number one choice for irrigation services and outdoor lighting installations, Irrigation and Lighting Specialist would like to wish all of our clients a happy Thanksgiving! We hope that everyone has a safe holiday weekend and enjoys this special holiday.

So far this year, we have a lot to be thankful for. We continue to be one of the top Charlotte irrigation and outdoor lighting companies and could not be more thrilled to be part of our vibrant community. Trusting us with something as important as irrigation winterizations, irrigation installations and outdoor lighting installations is something we appreciate and take seriously. 

"For almost 30 years, our team has worked hard every day to provide our clients with the highest quality work and customer service," said John Minor, owner of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "As a result to our commitment to customer satisfaction, we have been able to establish ourselves as one of Charlotte's most trusted irrigation companies, and we will continue to raise the bar on our services." 

Our Thanksgiving Thanks! 

During this time of year, it is customary to give thanks to what you're grateful for. At Irrigation and Lighting Specialist, we are most thankful for our loyal customers. So much of our success depends on their support, and it has been a great pleasure to serve all of them. Over the years, we have gotten to know some great Charlotte homeowners, and it is very rewarding helping them meet their home improvement needs. 

Secondly, we are very grateful for the excellent work that the Irrigation and Lighting Specialist team continues to deliver. So far this year, we have finished some really impressive irrigation and lighting projects, and we expect a lot more coming up. 

"Our team is second to none," said Minor. "They really take pride in the quality of their work, and the results are happy customers and fantastic projects. We continue to amaze customers with our hard work and dedication."

To learn more about Irrigation and Lighting Specialist or our services like irrigation winterization, call John Minor at 704-747-0235 or email us. We look forward to being Charlotte's continued choice for high quality irrigation and lighting projects!

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization is Essential

You may want to invest in a thick coat because this winter is going to be bitterly cold. According to the Farmers' Almanac, Charlotte will have above-average snowfall and colder temperatures this year. With the thermometer expected to drop into the 40's by the end of the month, now is the time to start preparing for Jack Frost.

Depending on your home, preparing it for the winter may include cleaning the chimney, reversing your ceiling fans, insulating windows and covering your pipes. But, if you have an irrigation system, it is important to add Charlotte irrigation winterization to your list of things to do.

"Winterizing your irrigation system is a must this year, especially with the freezing weather our area is expected to have," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "Your irrigation system is just like any other feature in your home, it is an investment and needs to be taken care of. Winterizing your irrigation system extends its life and helps you avoid irrigation repairs in the spring."

Irrigation Winterization Basics

When preparing your irrigation system for the winter, it is important that it is done correctly. A properly winterized irrigation system will help you avoid damages and ensures your system is ready to operate come spring. 

The winterization process consists of expelling all of the water from your irrigation system and equipment. This is necessary because water freezing in your irrigation system can create a lot of damages.

Mot substances get smaller as they get cold, but not water. It expands and increases in volume by one-eleventh. For example, 11 cubic feet of water will form about 12 cubic feet of ice. This expansion creates enough force to cause pipes and fittings to burst, valves to crack and sprinkler and pump cases to split open.

Quick Facts About Charlotte Irrigation Winterization  

• Do not trust manual or automatic drain valves. Pressurized air should be used to blow out the system. 
• Know the gallons per minutes that flow through each zone to determine the best sized compressor for your system. 
• It is required to have a back-flow prevention device if your irrigation system is attached to your house's main water line. 
• You should hire the seasoned professionals at Irrigation and Lighting Specialist to handle all of your Charlotte irrigation winterization needs! 

"It's important that you schedule your annual winterization shut-down as soon as possible," said Minor. "We usually begin winterizing systems in mid-November and appointments fill up fast."

To learn more about Charlotte irrigation winterization or to schedule an appointment, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. We look forward to helping prepare your irrigation system for the harsh winter ahead! 

Hassle-Free Lawn Care In Charlotte: Residential Irrigation Systems

Digging channels, purchasing irrigation equipment, situating hosing networks, seeding all areas of the lawn. It’s a lot to ask of anyone who has a busy schedule normally. Charlotte homeowners can escape these labors and time investments with Lighting & Irrigation Specialist’s Residential Irrigation Systems. Our services will remove the hassles associated with irrigating a homeowner’s lawn and reward them with free time, and peace of mind that their lawn will be more aesthetically pleasing than ever before.

We provide, install and monitor a full service, beginning to end, residential irrigation system for you. That is, a completely programmed, independently operating irrigation system to maintain your lawn’s hydration schedule. We want to highlight this service to our customers because we really believe it can spare them from daunting hours of labor, and allow them to instead spend more time doing what they really enjoy.

“Charlotte homeowners can release things like the time investment and physical labor required to ensure all equipment is functioning properly,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “Our customers can relax while we come in and network a residential irrigation system that maintains peak performance levels when you need it to perform.”

Our crew is highly skilled in the design, installation and maintenance of lawn irrigation systems.

System Maintenance

Here are a few tasks that our irrigation professionals perform for your system:

•  Replacing moving heads for better performance.
• Replacing shrub heads with drip irrigation to save water and meet “water restrictions” rules.
• Adding new heads, zones and reworking existing zones for proper coverage, sometimes to accommodate new landscaping, construction or simply to expand the system.
• Possibly upgrading your system to a Water Save I or II to make it more water usage efficient. 

Other benefits of our irrigation services that allow customers to do more at less of a hassle, include maintenance on existing systems in your lawn, repairing any damages due to system aging, and upgrades to premiere irrigation technology. We want to do as much as we can to make sure you never have to divert any attention to the irrigation of your yard, unless it’s to enjoy it.

The benefits to homeowners don’t end there. To further the peace of mind, we want our customers to have with their hassle-free irrigation system, we have a residential irrigation maintenance and service department which includes a full-time computerized department.

Our computerized office examines servicing schedules, our own crew, as well as construction management to handle new installations and warranty services.  What our team doesn’t catch, our service department will. Go for a run, catch the game on TV, or grab the kids and go see a movie, because you won’t have to worry about being out in the yard irrigating, replacing or monitoring anything. 

We have incorporated every phase of lawn irrigation so that you can enjoy more and work less. To learn more about our residentialirrigation system services or to schedule a free consultation, call John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to designing the lawn that will really accentuate your house, at less of a hassle to you!   

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!

Charlotte Irrigation System Winterization

Would you believe me if I told you winter was right around the corner? Unfortunately, the warm days of summer are coming to an end. Yesterday, sunset in Charlotte was expected to be around 8:00 p.m. and on September 1^st it’s expected to be around 7:45 p.m. The days are, in fact, getting shorter and the cooler weather is on its way.

With winter sneaking up on you, it’s time to start thinking around winterizing your irrigation system. To many people, winterizing an irrigation system seems like an afterthought. The reality, however, is that failing to winterize your irrigation system is one of the most common causes of irrigation system repair.

“Each winter, your irrigation system needs to essentially be put to bed,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “The cost of having your irrigation system winterized is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of freeze repairs. In other words, an ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure.”

What Is Winterization?

Irrigation systems consist of underground pipes, connective plumbing, valves, and sprinkler heads. When the system is running, water flows through the underground plumbing, eventually coming out through the sprinkler heads. When the system is not running, water still sits in the system.

Once the ground freezes, the water inside the pipes and sprinkler heads freeze. As you know, water expands when it freezes. So, when the water inside the irrigation system freezes it will expand, potentially cracking the pipes or sprinkler heads containing it.

Reasons to Winterize Your Irrigation System

Below are a few of the reasons why you should winterize your irrigation system:

• Freezing temperatures can severely damage your irrigation system.
• Failure to winterize may void your warranty.
• Less expensive to winterize your system than to repair it.

For more information 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!