1. Where did the name
“REAMS” originate?
REAMS is an acronym for the original
family members in the business.
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2. Don’t underground
sprinkler systems waste water?
A properly designed, installed, and
managed sprinkler system saves water versus wasting
water due to the application of an exact amount of
water for a specific time. Not too much, and not too
little.
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3. Why do I see sprinklers
operating while it is raining?
The reason is that the system does not
have a moisture sensing device that automatically
turns off the system when it rains. The most common
shut-off device is attached to an exposed part of a
house or building, and is preset to turn off the
system when a predetermined amount of rain has
fallen.
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4. Can a rain shut-off
device be installed after original installation?
Yes! Typical installation costs range
from $150 to $500 depending on the scope of the
project.The typical rain shut-off device can be
either wireless, or hard-wired to the irrigation
controller.
The wireless configuration has become more popular
because it’s easier to install, especially for
retrofit projects.
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5. My irrigation controller
shows that the sprinklers are running, but no water
is coming out. What’s wrong?
The first thing to check is if the
water is turned on to the sprinkler system. If the
water is turned on, it may be an electrical issue.
You can check for a loose connection in the
controller, or verify that no digging has occurred
that may have nicked or cut the wire. There may also
be a problem with the controller. If you cannot find
an obvious problem, we suggest calling a
professional sprinkler service company.
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6. I have water shooting up
where a sprinkler should be. What do I do?
That probably means the sprinkler is
broke. You can set your controller to “0 minutes”
for that zone so you can continue to run the other
zones until the broken sprinkler head is replaced.
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7. Can sprinkler heads be
fixed, or do they have to be replaced?
Most sprinklers heads cannot be fixed,
and must be replaced with a new one.
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8. My landscape lights
won’t turn on.
If they have worked up to this point, you may have a
blown fuse, or a power surge may have affected the
timer. We also suggest checking your GFI sockets to
see if they have “popped”. If this doesn’t resolve
the problem, contact a professional landscape
lighting service company.
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9. How do I manually turn
on/off my sprinkler system?
Each sprinkler controller is different. Refer to
your owner’s manual. If you do not have the manual,
most manufacturers offer their manuals online. Check
the manufacturers website for more information.
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10. I want to have a
sprinkler system professionally installed, why
shouldn’t I just choose the lowest price? All
sprinkler systems do the same thing; they all water the
grass…right?
It’s true that all sprinkler systems do
the same thing: water the grass. But there are major
differences in how this is accomplished. The things
to look for are:
Design – A proper design is the architecture for a
quality installation. A good design includes
properly spaced sprinklers that throw water from
sprinkler to sprinkler (head-to-head coverage),
proper positioning of valve boxes on the property,
and a properly placed controller. A poor design can
result in brown patches, or cause the need to
over-water by trying to compensate for the poor
design.
Product – There is a large range in product quality
within the industry. Most products will work
properly for the first season. But the true mark of
a quality product is its longevity and ease of use.
Installation – A proper installation by a
professional should look as though nothing was done.
There can be slight damage to grass yards, but it’s
kept to a minimum by a quality installer. Sprinklers
should be not be exposed, valves boxes should be
flat, and controllers should be level and at the
proper height.
A quality system may cost a little more upfront, but
the savings in water, time, and headaches are worth
it. It’s like everything else - you get what you pay
for.
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