Irrigation System

Billy had an irrigation system installed at our house last year sometime, or might have been the year before, and he loved using it. I can recall him rambling on about being able to water different sections of the yard all from the touch of his phone. He used an app called “Rachio” and I haven’t taken a look at it yet. It does seem like a neat system, but I’m left with the seemingly daunting task of learning to use it – or should I just get rid of it? It seems like a complex system which requires being blown out each fall and I’m not even sure how to start it up in the spring or which spigots I can use that aren’t part of the irrigation system. It seems like a lot to learn, but I’ve heard from many people that once I learn it I will love it and won’t be dragging around wet, heavy hoses. A friend of mine has an “irrigation guy” that can help me learn the system when and if I’m ready, but I’m just not sure. What are your guys’ thoughts?

If it’s already installed then I wouldn’t “get rid of it”. A big plus to the home should you ever move.

Really… they are pretty easy to use. If you don’t want to use the app you should just be able to turn it on and off at the main control box.

I agree that the maintenance part (cost) is somewhat of a downfall. But basically for $75 per year to have the lines blown out in the fall is really all you need to do. It’s simple to turn the water on in the spring once you know how.

I wish I had one and there is no way if I did have one I would get rid of it. Sorry I do not have any info to share as I have never had one. There should be a way to set it to the humidity at least my dad’s is that way, so it doesn’t water the already wet lawn. By the way Sharon I would like to say you do not know me, but I have read your posts about Billy and even though I never met him he sounds like a great guy. Sorry again for your loss. If I can help with anything shoot me a PM.

Set up a time with your friends guy and learn it, The cost will be around $80 a year for him to do fall blow out and spring start up. Well worth it.

lindyrig79 wrote:

f it’s already installed then I wouldn’t “get rid of it”. A big plus to the home should you ever move.

That’s a good point.

John Rasmussen wrote:

By the way Sharon I would like to say you do not know me, but I have read your posts about Billy and even though I never met him he sounds like a great guy. Sorry again for your loss. If I can help with anything shoot me a PM.

Thanks, John. I really appreciate it.

As others have noted, sprinkler systems are pretty easy to operate once you learn the components. It sounds like you’ll have three ways to turn each zone on: the main control panel which is normally in a garage, maybe basement, etc., the Rachio app you referenced, and there may be manual on/off levers at your valves. Your valves will be in the ground in a box or potentially sticking up out of the ground likely in your side or backyard. Each valve controls a section of sprinklers. Since you can control each valve with the Rachio app, I’m guessing that the control panel connects to your wifi and then you can “add” the panel to your phone. Should be instructions in the app or online.

As far as use, it’s really about how much you care about a green lawn/garden. In mid Summer when we haven’t had rain in a while, it’s easy to flip the system on versus dragging a hose sprinkler around. But, if it’s not a big deal, you can leave the water to the valves (shutoff valve) off, never use the sprinklers, and then you don’t need it blown out in the fall saving you the cost. I would definitely have your friend’s irrigation guy or any irrigation company come out to show you the ropes. They’ll be able to show you the shutoff valve for the system, the valve for each zone, the control panel, the actual sprinkler heads, etc. And they can run each zone and identify any issues.

I don’t have an irrigation system and I would like one! The only problem with some of these is that people run them when its raining…

I would have the irrigation person come out. As they explain it take a lot of pictures with your phone and write out instructions in your own words. The system probably has a control switch in your garage that may be easier to use compared to an app. They would need to blow it out in the fall, spring is an easier operation which you may choose to do yourself. My wife insisted we have one installed and i admit it has been great.

gim wrote:

I don’t have an irrigation system and I would like one! The only problem with some of these is that people run them when its raining…

I know ours has a thing that makes it cancel the programmed run time if it’s been raining. Which is a great feature.

Man I am glad I have old school basic system lol.

I have the Rachio system – it’s great. Super easy as well. You just install the app and with user name and password you’ll probably find the schedule already there. You turn it on and don’t think about it again until the fall when you hire someone to winterize it by blowing out the lines.

In the spring, it’s normally just a matter of making sure the valves on the water lines are in the right position and then you tell Rachio to start watering again. You can pay someone to start it up in the spring and check everything over, but as mentioned its typically very easy. Billy was a smart man to get a good system!

Have a Rachio system too and it is great. The Rachio will skip watering if the weather calls for rain and it runs off your smartphone. You will love it once you learn but as others have said there is a yearly cost to the system. In the fall you need someone to blow the system out as stated around $ 80.00 a year and in the spring you may have a sprinkler head that needs to be replaced. So there is some cost involved to maintain the system. Overall it is a time saver and will keep the lawn looking good and you do not have to do anything all summer. I think once you learn it the cost is well worth it, at least for me it is. I would not remove it if you do not turn the water on into the system you do not have to do anything or incur any cost and if you ever sell the property will add value to your home.

I am new to the in ground sprinkler systems as well and I would definitely use it. This will be my second season with an in ground system, I’m still learning it but it’s not that hard. I don’t have a smart controller, I follow the weather and watch how much rain we get each week in my rain guage. I run my system so that the grass gets about 1 inch of water a week combined between the rain and the sprinklers. I would have an irrigation guy help you through it the first year, you will learn a lot. My neighbor is an irrigation guy and helped me last summer. Once you learn your system and yard it is not that hard, even replacing heads isn’t as hard as I thought would be. Also there are lots of helpful you tube videos out there.

Well step 1 of this hurdle is done. I downloaded the Rachio app and was successfully able to login to our account. I can see all the zones and schedules Billy had programmed for our system. The app seems easy to use and has a nice layout. I printed out a bird’s eye view of the property and marked the zones and most of the sprinkler heads and control boxes. There are some heads I can’t seem to find yet. One hurdle down!

The next step should happen this weekend. A coworker of Billy’s is going to help me get the water turned on and fire the system up. He wants us to walk around, find all the heads and make sure they’re working. Hopefully it goes well and I don’t have to keep filling the watering can in the kitchen half a dozen times a day to water the plants!

Since it might rain in our area on Sun my friend came over tonight to help me with the irrigation system and guess what?! I LOVE IT!

We spent about 2 hours learning the system and making sure all the heads popped up when we fired up each zone. I didn’t even know where my turn on/off for the outside spigots/irrigation system was before tonight. We played around with the Rachio app and looked at the schedules and made some adjustments. I thought it was going to be a complicated system to learn and was feeling quite overwhelmed by this, but now that I’ve done some learning I feel much better! And it really helps to have someone who mostly knows what he’s doing who can come over and help. 😁💦👍

Good to hear, glad you like it!

Ah Sharon, you’re quite the lassie. Snow Blower lady. Lawn mower lady. Watering system lady. Great cook by the looks of the meals you’ve post. Nothing like self-sufficiency and you’re well on your way. And that beautiful red hair….it goes well with all of those tasks. Happy for you digging in and taking care of what needs taking care of.