Irrigation Questions

[grassmoker]

I'm considering having an irrigation system installed. I've been quoted by someone who is highly recommended to install a 6 zone Hunter system for $3,600. I think the price seems reasonable based upon what I've heard from in the Raleigh NC area. Do you agree? Also, I know nothing about irrigation systems. What sort of questions do I need to ask? Are they certain options that should be included that I need to ask about? Is the Hunter system a reputable brand? Thanks!

[Mike Leary]

That sounds cheap as all get out for our market...we'd be around $9k.
The only thing I'd do (& suggest to my would-be clients) is ask for a reference
or two three years old or more; you'll find out if they serviced & the coverage
was as advertised (no or little plant loss/stress). Hunter is good stuff.Do you
freeze down there? If so, ask about winterizing & testing backflow assemblies. Good luck.

[NCStateME]

$3600 is not bad for a Hunter six zone system in Raleigh... In fact, it seems a little on the low side. Hunter is a very reputable brand. Most professional installers use Hunter in sports fields, city parks, large commercial landscapes, etc. You can't get Hunter at Depot or Lowes.. only at professional distributors (and a few online sites). How big of a lot are you watering??

Questions to ask:

Is a rain sensor included?? There is nothing more embarrasing that watering during a thunderstorm.

Is it ALL Hunter (valves, controller, sprinklers) or just Hunter heads??

Will they install a pressure reducer if there is high pressure (>75psi)?? I live outside of Raleigh, and we have 120 psi at the street. That is WAY too high for sprinklers and I see quite a few systems in my neighborhood that have sprays running at 110 psi making clouds of mist.

How much for a master valve?? This will give you an extra level of comfort knowing all your valves are not under constant pressure.

Will they trench and do PVC pipe or pull poly pipe?? At this price I would assume pulling poly.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

That sounds cheap as all get out for our market...we'd be around $9k.
The only thing I'd do (& suggest to my would-be clients) is ask for a reference
or two three years old or more; you'll find out if they serviced & the coverage
was as advertised (no or little plant loss/stress). Hunter is good stuff.Do you
freeze down there? If so, ask about winterizing & testing backflow assemblies. Good luck.

That sound you hear Mike is irrigators stampeding to Suquamish WA.:walking: :walking: :walking: :walking: :walking: :walking:

[NCStateME]

Do you freeze down there? If so, ask about winterizing & testing backflow assemblies. Good luck.

I knew I forgot something in my previous post... Backflows!!

Most towns around Raleigh require a Reduced pressure Backflow (RPZ) for cross-contamination control. Make sure that he is going to install one above ground, somewhere that is easily accessible, and with unions on the pipes so it can be removed in the wintertime. It would be preferable to have the backflow under some kind of cover (fake rock, etc.), but you could do that after installation. You can use the two pipes sticking up for the backflow as your ports to winterize the system. The town I live in requires an annual backflow inspection by a licensed plumber once a year.

[Mike Leary]

That sound you hear Mike is irrigators stampeding to Suquamish WA.:walking: :walking: :walking: :walking: :walking: :walking:

We are on a pennisula & island with armed contractors on 24-7 patrol.

[Mike Leary]

I knew I forgot something in my previous post... Backflows!!

Most towns around Raleigh require a Reduced pressure Backflow (RPZ) for cross-contamination control. Make sure that he is going to install one above ground, somewhere that is easily accessible, and with unions on the pipes so it can be removed in the wintertime. You can use the two pipes sticking up for the backflow as your ports to winterize the system. The town I live in requires an annual backflow inspection by a licensed plumber once a year.

Any assembly can be winterized w/low pressure bicycle pump (7 psi is all).
Compressor air should never be put thu assemblies because of possible heat
damage. Whut, they don't certify sprinkler dorks for outside bakflow testing?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

We are on a pennisula & island with armed contractors on 24-7 patrol.

Well, that is a business model we should all emulate.

[Mike Leary]

Well, that is a business model we should all emulate.

I'm still having trouble getting used to your new handle...I think of
"Clonking Valve Beer" every time I see your post.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I'm still having trouble getting used to your new handle...I think of
"Clonking Valve Beer" every time I see your post.

Be nice about my new handle. I like it. If you keep teasing me about it I'm going to start writing in blue again.

[Mike Leary]

Aghhhhhhhh...please no more blue....I did misspell "Clonking", it's "Klonking"
Have you had problems w/ high/mega end or not gone after it? I bet Mark
has Rain Master..oh, wait...he's not doing well..replaced w/ Genie/Orbit/Jet.

[grassmoker]

$3600 is not bad for a Hunter six zone system in Raleigh... In fact, it seems a little on the low side. Hunter is a very reputable brand. Most professional installers use Hunter in sports fields, city parks, large commercial landscapes, etc. You can't get Hunter at Depot or Lowes.. only at professional distributors (and a few online sites). How big of a lot are you watering??

Questions to ask:

Is a rain sensor included?? There is nothing more embarrasing that watering during a thunderstorm.

Is it ALL Hunter (valves, controller, sprinklers) or just Hunter heads??

Will they install a pressure reducer if there is high pressure (>75psi)?? I live outside of Raleigh, and we have 120 psi at the street. That is WAY too high for sprinklers and I see quite a few systems in my neighborhood that have sprays running at 110 psi making clouds of mist.

How much for a master valve?? This will give you an extra level of comfort knowing all your valves are not under constant pressure.

Will they trench and do PVC pipe or pull poly pipe?? At this price I would assume pulling poly.


I have about a third of an acre. Thanks for all the great questions to ask. I really appreciate it.

[Mike Leary]

Ho ho ho, I wonder if the would be contractor surfs this site?:clapping:

[grassmoker]

Ho ho ho, I wonder if the would be contractor surfs this site?:clapping:


That would be fine with me. If I were in the business and was selling something as significant as an irrigation system, I'd expect the person to do a little research as well.

[Mike Leary]

That would be fine with me. If I were in the business and was selling something as significant as an irrigation system, I'd expect the person to do a little research as well.

If there was a "hall of fame" for great homeowner lines..that'd be there!
If some of us have a bad rep..it's we were not forthright about what we
were doing & back it up w/"boiler plate" specs to knock the bottom feeders
bak to where they belong...& seem to thrive.payup Nice handle, by the way!

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Aghhhhhhhh...please no more blue....I did misspell "Clonking", it's "Klonking"
Have you had problems w/ high/mega end or not gone after it? I bet Mark
has Rain Master..oh, wait...he's not doing well..replaced w/ Genie/Orbit/Jet.

I don't like situations where I deal with a middle person. When it is a landscaper it is barely tolerable. When it's the butler it is ridiculous. If I can't deal directly with the homeowner I just avoid the job. Commercial jobs are a little different in respect to the middle person.

[Mike Leary]

I don't like situations where I deal with a middle person. When it is a landscaper it is barely tolerable. When it's the butler it is ridiculous. If I can't deal directly with the homeowner I just avoid the job. Commercial jobs are a little different in respect to the middle person.

Perfect point....high end seldom gets you to the client..& confusion reigns,
I've had some that would have worked great if I could have communicated
w/client....but middles screwed it up to cover their own a.s. LAs & Generals
could give a rat about us...LOSS...(last-on-site-subs). I like high end, tho,
how else could I have Rain Masters????

[Tadams]

$3600 would be about right for this area. I charge $600 per zone as long as I don't have to bore under anything.

[grassmoker]

If there was a "hall of fame" for great homeowner lines..that'd be there!
If some of us have a bad rep..it's we were not forthright about what we
were doing & back it up w/"boiler plate" specs to knock the bottom feeders
bak to where they belong...& seem to thrive.payup Nice handle, by the way!


I appreciate everyone's advice. I tend to get a little nervous about plopping down $3,600 on the lawn. I had a different contractor do some grading and drainage work a few weeks ago and I wasn't overly impressed with his "French Drain". It wasn't dug very deep and he put very little stone around the pipe. In fact, I'm just waiting for a good rain to see if it actually works (no rain in about a month... unless you count the 5 minute sprinkle we got this evening). I'll probably never see the guy again!

[PurpHaze]

I had a different contractor do some grading and drainage work a few weeks ago and I wasn't overly impressed with his "French Drain".

Expect it to eventually fill up with silt and stop working altogether. :)

[PurpHaze]

We are on a pennisula & island with armed contractors on 24-7 patrol.

Just run an Airstream past them. They'll follow it and the entrance will then be unguarded. :)

[Mike Leary]

Just run an Airstream past them. They'll follow it and the entrance will then be unguarded. :)

Damn...you found the secret passage.:waving:

[h2oman]

I'm considering having an irrigation system installed. I've been quoted by someone who is highly recommended to install a 6 zone Hunter system for $3,600. I think the price seems reasonable based upon what I've heard from in the Raleigh NC area. Do you agree? Also, I know nothing about irrigation systems. What sort of questions do I need to ask? Are they certain options that should be included that I need to ask about? Is the Hunter system a reputable brand? Thanks!

The pricing could be in the ball park for the installer, if he/she does not have any overhead. If they rent the equipment, have few employees(low payroll), etc., etc.. Our prices are per head, but fall in the $ 750 - $ 850 per zone range. I would agree with the other posts; are winterizing and spring start up included? Is there a labor warranty? Unless the contractor is doing this ILLEGALY he has to install a backflow. You can't miss it it is a big hunk of brass connected by plastic pipes sticking up out of the ground. In Wake Co. suburbs there are no rules where the backflow can be installed, but it must be outside of the foundation 12" and 3' from the power box, but check township code to be sure, each township is different.
We offer PRO-C controller and wireless rain-clik at no extra charge. Don't go for anything less...well almost anything.

[PurpHaze]

Damn...you found the secret passage.:waving:

It comes with the secret decoder ring. :)