| MoogieBoogie |
Hi everyone.
Has anyone had in-ground sprinklers installed? I had sprinklers installed in June. Unfortunately, I'm not home much so I paid the company when the work was done without being able to see the work completed. When I returned home about two weeks after the installation, I was surprised to see that the sprinkler heads would shoot water out in a stream as opposed to a spray. I'm not a professional, but it seems to be effective in watering the lawn although I would think that a spray would be more effective in evenly distributing the water across the lawn.
Just wondering what your in-ground sprinklers were like. The company told me that they use the same heads as 90% of the other companies out there. I'm going to finally meet the person who installed the sprinklers this week since I have to get a few heads adjusted (it waters my driveway instead of the lawn area and there are a few dry spots that need to be pointed out).
Also, I posted a few months back how I was having a landscaping company come out to lay down topsoil and seed for my lawn. I called them and told them that I wanted a green lawn, and this is what they recommended. They finally came out in May and did the work. It's now August and I'm not happy with the results. The lawn looks almost the same as it did before. Scotts Lawn Service even mentioned that I should speak with them because it was basically a piss-poor job.
Do I have any legal recourse to get my money back? I paid them with a credit card - could I file a dispute? At first, they seemed to be cooperative and told me they would fix the problem. Now the guy hasn't called me back in two weeks. It's a business that's been around for twenty years and is registered with every landscape professional association possible.
Thanks,
-Brian. |
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| nightguy |
| I noticed almost instant results once the wounds healed up. I have the Hunter stainless steel heads. I adjust the diffuser so it spreads the water out more. My neighbor has a few of those "flower" type sprinklers on his short sideyard. Those put out a lot of water but don't have much range. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by MoogieBoogie
Hi everyone.
Has anyone had in-ground sprinklers installed? I had sprinklers installed in June. Unfortunately, I'm not home much so I paid the company when the work was done without being able to see the work completed. When I returned home about two weeks after the installation, I was surprised to see that the sprinkler heads would shoot water out in a stream as opposed to a spray. I'm not a professional, but it seems to be effective in watering the lawn although I would think that a spray would be more effective in evenly distributing the water across the lawn.
Just wondering what your in-ground sprinklers were like. The company told me that they use the same heads as 90% of the other companies out there. I'm going to finally meet the person who installed the sprinklers this week since I have to get a few heads adjusted (it waters my driveway instead of the lawn area and there are a few dry spots that need to be pointed out).
Also, I posted a few months back how I was having a landscaping company come out to lay down topsoil and seed for my lawn. I called them and told them that I wanted a green lawn, and this is what they recommended. They finally came out in May and did the work. It's now August and I'm not happy with the results. The lawn looks almost the same as it did before. Scotts Lawn Service even mentioned that I should speak with them because it was basically a piss-poor job.
Do I have any legal recourse to get my money back? I paid them with a credit card - could I file a dispute? At first, they seemed to be cooperative and told me they would fix the problem. Now the guy hasn't called me back in two weeks. It's a business that's been around for twenty years and is registered with every landscape professional association possible.
Thanks,
-Brian.
We have these sprinkler heads: Hunter Link . The stream looks like that shown in the upper left picture. They rotate through whatever arc is needed. The stream should be adjusted so that it is dropping water over the full length of the stream. If yours doesn't look like that, then maybe incorrect nozzles were installed.
Was the lawn properly fertilzed and watered after installation? If so, then they should fix the problem. You could try filing a BBB claim. Can't hurt to try the credit card dispute route. |
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| Warzau |
Hunters are the best and yes most irritations use that brand. Just like other have said if it looks like a stream ( rotary ) that is moving back and forth then it is working correctly. You don't see it but imagine a vertical flat spray that is how those work. It should overlap onto service walks or driveways a bit maybe 6 inches or so, but in wind it will look more. That is so the edge grass which gets the most punishment will get water since the concrete will soak up the water or it will evaporate in sun. Check coverage when there is little to no wind. If you have high winds try setting the irrigation to come on during the mornings. If the coverage is okay during low winds you might try adding a wind sensor. But those heads Those work efficiently in watering a larger area.
Spray sprinklers ( flower looking ) work by putting out water in specific areas, be is small where a rotary won't reach or it would waste water trying to hit that area. Also they work great in parkways. But you should have HEAD TO HEAD coverage regardless. Meaning water should reach from one head to another, in other words overlap. SO you don't get dry areas.
But If you are NOT satisfied get them back out there. But I hate to say it you biggest mistake is not to be there when it was installed. You could have check to see the heads being installed and asked the installer about the coverage when they tested it out.
GOOD LUCK!! Keep us posted |
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| MoogieBoogie |
Found out my sprinkler heads are Levoc or something? The sprinkler company told me that these are one of the best and that there are no manufacturers which are considered "best in the business."
I have an appointment for this Friday, so I'll let you guys know what happens.
As for the landscaping company, no response yet. I think I need to speak to a lawyer to see if I can dispute the charges with my CC and win in the event they file a claim in small claims court.
Thanks,
-Brian. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by MoogieBoogie
Found out my sprinkler heads are Levoc or something? The sprinkler company told me that these are one of the best and that there are no manufacturers which are considered "best in the business."
Hunter, Toro, Rainbird - never heard of Levoc. I would make sure they are readily available in your area in case you need replacement parts out of warranty. |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by MoogieBoogie
Found out my sprinkler heads are Levoc or something?
Could they have said Orbit ? That stuff is generally available at Home Depot. |
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| Dr. Ken |
| I have a sprinkler system with the rotating, streaming water heads. The first thing that I did after the "professional" installation was to adjust the screw on the heads so that the stream became a slight spray. This took care of most of my dry spots. Then I adjusted the watering pattern to roughly 2 hours on every 4 or 5 days. This allowed for deep soaking of the grass. The result: nice green lawn always. :2: Now, what to do about the moss! |
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| MoogieBoogie |
My sprinkler head says Weathermate. I should have done my research before having them installed. Didn't know that AcuraMDX owners would have so much good knowledge and experience with this stuff.
On the drive from Chicago to New York, I stopped at a rest area and saw underground sprinklers on. So I bent down and took a look at the heads: Hunter. People looked at me funny when I got up, but I could care less.
Thanks guys.
-Brian. |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
Hunter, Toro, Rainbird - never heard of Levoc. I would make sure they are readily available in your area in case you need replacement parts out of warranty.
Here where the last rain is in May and doesn't rain again until September, we know sprinklers.
There is a huge amount of engineering in a well designed and executed landscape irrigation system- the key is to have a uniform preciptation rate across the law. This means that a small cup, set out for say 10 minutes, will have the same fill no matter where you place it on the lawn. Whether you have a hunter gear drive head that sends a stream out that cycles across an arc, or a spray head that sends a curtain of water- you need adequate overlap, at least two heads on any area, to avoid dry spots.
Yon need to balance circuits- too many heads and the pressure drop will prevent adequate flow rates...
most landscapers are really fly by night....
Hunter, toro, rainbird are the industry leaders. period. anyone disagrees they are lying or stupid.
I run 26 circuits on a 10 ac parcel. Most drip, 7 area lawn/grass sprinklers.
Don't sweat the heads- they are simple to change, a few bucks and you just screw them off and put on toros or whatever. The BIG problem is if the underlying piping anc circuitry was not properly designed, any head will give you a crappy job!! |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Ken
I have a sprinkler system with the rotating, streaming water heads. The first thing that I did after the "professional" installation was to adjust the screw on the heads so that the stream became a slight spray. This took care of most of my dry spots. Then I adjusted the watering pattern to roughly 2 hours on every 4 or 5 days. This allowed for deep soaking of the grass. The result: nice green lawn always. :2: Now, what to do about the moss!
You have mentioned one of the biggest mistakes made by everyone, including the so called professionals, is setting up lawn sprinklers. "deep soaking of the grass" is most important. Set your time so that you get al least 3/4 inch of water each time the sprinklers are used. Do not water too frequently. Let the roots chase the water down into the ground and develope a deep rooted sod. In theory you should never water until you can see that the grass needs water. In practise this is dificult.
The above is how you water an established lawn. A lawn just being established must be watered accouding to the current weather and soil conditions. The company/person putting in the lawn should give advise on this.
There are many reasons why establishing a new lawn fails. Watering and fertilizing are two of the most common problems. DO NOT use a high nitrogen fertilizer on a new lawn. It will burn it. I would not use ANY fertilizer until the lawn is mowed at least once. After that use a slow release, preferrably organic, fertilzer in low application.
Last, but certainly not least, contact your county agricultural extension agent. He/she can give you specific recommendations for your area. The growing conditions for grasses varies greately. In just traveling 30 to 50 miles the correct watering and fertilizing schedule can change greately. The type of fertilizer varies accoriding to soil conditions just as it varies according to the type of grass being fertilized.
I would highly doubt that you would have any legal claim against the company that attempted to put in your lawn. There is just too much that you personally are responsible for after they have left.
Good luck. |
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