Response from Custom Nature
When I first started doing sprinkler evaluations through Angie's List 3 years ago, it quickly became a pet peeve. Now it has become a personal vendetta. I have seen so many ludicrous, improperly installed and maintained systems that it has become a nightmare of wasted water. Not just cheap parts that wear out in 5-8 years, or poorly planned out systems, but the worst offense is there being way too much pressure. The water companies in our area supply 80-110 lbs of pressure to homes, and we only need 50 lbs to have sprinklers work properly. The standard controls for sprinklers are primarily flow controls. They adjust the volume of water passing through the valves and spray heads. Volume is the major need of any sprinkler system and so reducing it creates more problems. When there is too much pressure, requiring a pressure regulator, nothing can be done to adjust the spray pattern as the built in controls are not made for that. Trying to use flow controls to adjust for pressure will just exacerbate the problem. When there is too much pressure, water is being atomized as it comes out the nozzle, turning it to mist and not giving it a chance to gently sprinkle where it's needed. This not only produces dry areas in the spray pattern, but the slightest breeze blows the water all over the place, onto concrete, into the street etc... Cutting cost in your landscaping by skimping on your sprinkler installation is the biggest waste of money I can think of. Your sprinklers are the heart of your yard. Properly installed, and maintained, a sprinkler system should last 12-15 years before needing any major repairs. I have seen 3-5 year old systems that should have never been installed. With the water companies wanting us to conserve, and the public desire to reduce our carbon footprint, spending a goodly amount on a properly installed system is a must. A strong and healthy yard can accomplish both, and it starts with the sprinkler system!