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!

Fall for Charlotte Irrigation Installations this Season

Fall is right around the corner. In addition to football, colored leaves and pumpkin flavored treats, the season is also the best time to plant grass and to get a Charlotte irrigation installation.

"It is a common misconception that spring or summer is the ideal time to address the needs of your lawn," said John Minor, owner of Irrigation Lighting Specialist. "In actuality, the late summer and fall months are the best. Months like September and October present the best growing conditions for your grass." 

This time of the year brings a combination of conditions that are ideal for your grass. You get cooler temperatures, plenty of sunshine, the soil is warm enough to germinate grass seeds and the cool air promotes a strong root system. With the help of an adequate irrigation system, the work you put into your lawn will really pay off in the spring.

The Right Way to Irrigate Your Lawn

While taking advantage of this growing time, it is important to remember to hydrate your lawn. Whether you are planting seed to thicken your current lawn or planting a new patch of grass, water is essential to any growing process. To ensure your irrigating you are lawn correctly, here are a few tips. 

• Watering Basics - Water is one of the most important factors to a healthy lawn, but too much or too little can harm it. You want deep, infrequent waterings that get into the root zone. As a rule of thumb, water at least half an inch twice a week.  
• Best Time to Water - Early in the morning is the perfect time to water Charlotte lawns. There's less wind, less heat and your lawn has a full day to dry. Watering at night invites mildew and fungus, and watering in the hot afternoon can cause you to lose the majority of your water to evaporation.
• Use the Screwdriver Test - You can water carefully and properly, but if the water isn't being absorbed, your efforts are wasted. One way to tell if your water is being absorb properly is by testing it. Stick an 8-inch screw driver into the ground after you water it. If you are able to stick it in effortlessly around 6-inches, you are providing enough water. 
• Head-to-Head Coverage - An irrigation system that is properly designed should provide water coverage that overlaps. The water distributed from your sprinkler heads should reach the heads across and beside them. This reduces water wastage and helps your lawn get enough water. Hiring a professional for a lawn irrigation installation is the best way to ensure that this is properly done. 
• Be Accurate - How do you know how much you've watered? You can equip your irrigation system with a smart irrigation controller. This device automatically determines when your yard will be watered, how long it will be watered for and it automatically cuts your system off it it rains. Installing a smart irrigation controller is the easiest way to manage your lawn. 

"While the temperatures during this time of the year are ideal for planting grass, September tends to be one of the dryer months in the Charlotte region," said Minor. "Since there usually isn't a lot of rainfall, it is important to have a professional irrigation company install an irrigation system to help your grass grow to its fullest potential." 

To learn more about proper lawn irrigation or to schedule an appointment, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. Let us help you with your Charlotte irrigation installation so you can enjoy a heathy lawn in the spring! 

Smart Lawn Irrigation Systems: Technologies that Use Water Efficiently

July is Smart Irrigation Month, and the start of summer is a great time to improve the efficiency of your irrigation system. There are many smart technologies available that will allow you to maintain beautiful landscapes while maximizing water efficiency.

"Going green has never been easier than with an irrigation system that uses water-saving technology," says John Minor, owner of Irrigation and Lighting Specialists. "The advances in irrigation technology has been great to see, and it has done a lot for water conservation efforts. In addition to protecting the environment, these devices also help save you money by reducing your water bill."

Water Saving Devices for your Irrigation System 

If you are interested in saving water and money, here are some devices that can help: 

• Rain/Freeze Senors - These devices prevent irrigation systems from running when it is raining and right after excessive when irrigation is unnecessary. They also have the ability to stop irrigation when temperatures approach freezing to prevent ice on landscapes and hardscapes. These devices can reduce water usage up to 35 percent and help extend your irrigation system's life. 
• Weather-based Controllers - These types of smart controllers can automatically adjust your watering schedule based on local weather conditions. Some even factor in your exact landscaping needs based on the type of plant life you have. The water savings from this device can be substantial, and the convenience of these self-adjusting controllers is a gift in itself. 
• Sensor-based Controllers - These smart controllers rely on soil moisture sensors that are placed below your lawn in the root zones to determine if and how long to water. Soils may be maintained between lower and upper target-moisture levels for optimal plant health. Water-based and sensor-based controllers are available as stand-alone controllers or as an add-on to existing controllers. Each has been shown to reduce irrigation water usage up to 70 percent. 
• Pressure Regulation - All irrigation systems operate best at a certain water pressure. Using the ideal pressure allows water distribution to be uniform over the target area. That allows shorter run times for your irrigation system. Reducing high pressure also eliminates problems like misting sprinklers and potential irrigation system damage. For every 5-point reduction in water pressure, you use 6 to 8 percent less water. Those savings can add up quickly. Water pressure regulators are easily added to valves to control a whole irrigation zone or added to individual sprinklers. 
• Low Precipitation Rate Nozzles - Many quality sprinkler nozzles on the market today use lower precipitation rates to reduce run-off. They also improve water distribution uniformity, which is very important when trying to reduce watering run times. 
• Drip Irrigation - These systems are very different from the traditional pop-up irrigation systems. Rather than spraying wide areas, they generally utilize point emitters to deliver the desired amount of water to particular locations near plant root zones. Water drips slowly from emitters, either onto the soil surface or below ground. Less water is lost to wind and evaporation as a result, and weeds can be reduced. Drip irrigation systems are very water-efficent and customizable for different plants in a small area. 

"All of these water-efficient products can reduce water use and your water bills without sacrificing plant and landscape health," says Minor. "You can still enjoy all the benefits associated with attractive and enjoyable landscapes while helping conserve a precious natural resource." 

To learn more about water-saving irrigation system features, or to schedule an appointment, call John Minor at Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We love helping our customers reach the state of a healthy, vibrant lawn while saving water and money!