Charlotte Irrigation Company Provides Smart Control Systems for Homeowners

With mounting water-use regulations and the Charlotte area having recently recorded the worst drought in its history, the days when Charlotte homeowners could overlook water inefficiency are long gone. With more droughts and restrictions likely in the future, now is the time to start using water conservation methods.

Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, Charlotte’s premier irrigation installation company, 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. With concerns over water conservation on the rise, this can provide an invaluable tool for Charlotte homeowners.

“The ease and speed with which you can program your specific lawn is remarkable,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “You simply put in a few key variables, like your zip code, allowed watering days, and the plant or soil type for your lawn, and the ESP-SMT system does the rest.”

Instant Rainfall Shut-Off

The ESP-SMT system outsmarts other Smart Controllers. Most Smart Controllers simply suspend irrigation when it rains, regardless of the amount of the rainfall. ESP-SMT systems, on the other hand, are smart enough to account for rainfall. These systems measure instantaneous rainfall data, determining effective rainfall and calculating a net replacement value. Unlike other Smart Controllers, the ESP-SMT system knows exactly how to adjust your watering schedule, preventing under or over watering your lawn.

“With the ESP-SMT systems, you’re able to achieve maximum water conservation because the system accounts for actual rainfall rather than simply suspending the system if it detects any rainfall at all,” says Minor.

Other Weather Sensor Features

The smart, weather sensor features don’t stop there. Below are a few of the other weather sensor features offered by the ESP-SMT system:

• Removable debris screen ensures accurate rainfall measurement.
• Adjustable, heavy-duty mounting bracket allows for easy leveling.
• Solar shield protects temperature sensor from reflective heat.
• Removable tipping rain bucket measures effective rainfall.

To learn more about how a Rain Bird® ESP-SMT Smart Control System can save you time, money, and water, call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping you achieve the most efficient use of water resources while ensuring you have a green lawn that you can be proud of for years to come!

Charlotte Irrigation Company Offers Fertigation

Let’s face it, Charlotte homeowners are proud of their lawns. Many of them have worked with irrigation professionals like Irrigation & Lighting Specialist to design and install custom irrigation systems. However, they’re not stopping there. Charlotte homeowners are also taking advantage of the hot new trend of “fertigation.”

“We have seen a recent increase in our requests for fertigation systems,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “We’ve been helping more and more homeowners utilize fertigation to truly get the most out of their irrigation system investments.”

What Is Fertigation?

Fertigation, as the name implies, is the combination of fertilization and irrigation. It’s the process of dissolving fertilizer and applying it to your lawn through an irrigation system. While the practice of fertigation has been used in agricultural settings for over 50 years, recent advances in injector systems and fertilizers have allowed it to become much more cost-effective. As a result, fertigation has become one of the newest trends in residential irrigation. 

Why Use Fertigation?

Fertigation is widely considered to be superior to traditional fertilizing techniques. Below are a few of the benefits that fertigation provides:

• Costs less.
• Reduces water consumption.
• Reduces labor requirements because the irrigation system does the work for you.
• Overfeeding and underfeeding is eliminated.
• Provides continuous rather than intermittent fertilization.
• Reduces fertilizer runoff and loss.
• Improves plant leaf tissue absorption.

To learn more about fertigation and how it can increase the effectiveness of your irrigation system, call 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 and ensuring that you get the most out of your irrigation system investment.

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!

Charlotte Outdoor Living Lighting Company Offers Tips for Effective Outdoor Lighting

Designing and installing an outdoor lighting system is an art form. Done right, it can accent the landscaping and beauty of your home, increasing your home’s safety, curb appeal, and value. Done wrong, it can become an expensive eyesore.

At Irrigation & Lighting Specialist, we use subtle and unique lighting design methods to help your home stand apart from others. In order to do this we focus on how you will use your home during the darker hours and what kind of lighting best accents the landscaping and beauty of your home.

“Designing outdoor lighting perspectives is a skill that takes a good eye for details,” says John Minor of Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. “Properly placed lights can bring a natural blending of functionality and beauty to your home and landscaping.”

Below are a few tips to help guide you through the outdoor lighting design process.

Less Is More 

Outdoor lighting is a subtle art form. This lighting is meant to create drama through subtle overtures and nuances. Rather than lighting up your backyard like a sports stadium, the idea is to create an effect that is simple, yet elegant.

“Overdoing the lighting is probably the number one mistake we see do-it-yourselfers make when creating their own lighting systems,” says Minor. “It’s important to understand the principle that less is more and follow it.”

Energy Saving

Outdoor lighting may seem like a sizeable expense to add to your electricity bill but this doesn’t have to be the case. With a little research and planning, the cost can be minimal.

First, you can use solar power. These outdoor lamps are relatively inexpensive and charge themselves during the day. The only cost associated with using solar is the initial cost of the lamps. The only downside of using this type of lighting is that they must be placed in areas with direct sun exposure.

Another option is to use LED outdoor lighting. These lights use much less energy than traditional light bulbs and they are more durable. If you already have a lighting system, LED lights can work as a great compliment or replace the entire system.

“LED lights have become really popular,” says Minor. “The combination of the economy and people becoming more environmentally conscious has caused the demand for LED lights to soar.”

Additionally, you should consider not leaving your lights on all the time. Leaving your outdoor lighting on during the day, for example, is a waste of energy and would cause a needless increase in your electricity bill. This is perhaps the easiest way to save money.

Now is the perfect time to add a custom outdoor lighting system. With fall quickly approaching and days getting shorter, outdoor lighting would be the perfect way to add an aesthetic to the night landscape or make your entertainment area functional after dark. For more information please call John Minor with Irrigation & Lighting Specialist at 877-433-5833 or email John. We look forward to helping your home stand apart from others with a unique and elegant outdoor lighting design.