You guys repair sprinkler heads?
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703 Posts
We provide that service, so yes we do. Nozzles and heads.
James
James
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2,442 Posts
We do irrigation as well. I have enough parts in my truck to build a small system.
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3,768 Posts
I do carry some rotors, spray bodies and spray heads along with PVC odds and ends. I do not have a irrigators license so if I break a head while mowing I would call one of my buds that do have a irrigators license and tell them I was going to replace it. Also if the person had a valve or something leaking I would tell the person and then I would call my buds and if they all were busy for awhile I would fix it and let them know the property address and the problem [working under their number]. But I guess all that is going to change this year because here in Texas the new law says that a licensed person has to be on site.
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22,465 Posts
The reason I don't mention it much is because those risers run close to $15 each and it irritates
the crap out of me that first there's this shroud of secrecy surrounding the subject, then they
won't sell just the top pieces as parts to replace, especially when that's usually all that's broke.
Doesn't matter where you go, H/d or Ebay or some of these so-called "reputable" parts dealers,
every last one of them the price is all about the same, some kind of long-winded scam if you ask me,
the bit about the "irrigation license" just sounds like more of the same, even if it's true.
Charge $80 for one of these specially licensed individuals to come out and turn on two faucets
as part of "de-winterizing" the system, costs another $80 when a $5 valve has to be replaced,
they don't look that special to me but these folks are so ripping the customers off and they didn't want
anyone else to get in on it so that's why there's this constant throwing of the curveballs, way I see things.
It ain't nothing but basic plumbing, now maybe you need a license to prove that you won't flood the neighborhood
and waste 20,000 gallons of water in the process, that I wouldn't know but it's still basic plumbing.
Regardless, $15 a head, and it doesn't repair, you have to replace it.
the crap out of me that first there's this shroud of secrecy surrounding the subject, then they
won't sell just the top pieces as parts to replace, especially when that's usually all that's broke.
Doesn't matter where you go, H/d or Ebay or some of these so-called "reputable" parts dealers,
every last one of them the price is all about the same, some kind of long-winded scam if you ask me,
the bit about the "irrigation license" just sounds like more of the same, even if it's true.
Charge $80 for one of these specially licensed individuals to come out and turn on two faucets
as part of "de-winterizing" the system, costs another $80 when a $5 valve has to be replaced,
they don't look that special to me but these folks are so ripping the customers off and they didn't want
anyone else to get in on it so that's why there's this constant throwing of the curveballs, way I see things.
It ain't nothing but basic plumbing, now maybe you need a license to prove that you won't flood the neighborhood
and waste 20,000 gallons of water in the process, that I wouldn't know but it's still basic plumbing.
Regardless, $15 a head, and it doesn't repair, you have to replace it.
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85 Posts
I always carried a milk creat full of any type head or fittings, more of the less popular but always at least one, and a roll of funny pipe and fittings. If it was a head that is just in the wrong place or that a short nipple would not get it low enough to mow over I would just take a piece of funny pipe and fix the problem so I would not have to worry about it again. I sold alot of irrigation jobs by showing the customers things like how the head sticking up above the grass line takes away from the apperance of the lawn, rust on the walls, fence, or pavment, or landscape thats getting to much water or not enough, same with the grass. After a sometime of saving the good pieces of heads you will be able to just replace a small broken part on a head.
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1,116 Posts
Part of the mowing deal, u will have to dig up a head sooner or later. The key here for the irrigation techs and companies that install/work/repair systems is that a "license" is needed to perform the work, thus allowing them to charge the same across the board. We gladly added a licensed irrigation tech to the company a few years back. Spring start up and fall shut down alone pays his salary and then some. $65,$75 and hour, The Lawn care industry as a whole needs to organize and lobby states to create a license for basic lawn and landscape company's to have basic knowledge, heck I even see that sima has tests for guys to become certified snow plowers..!
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3,768 Posts
In the great state of Taxes, oops I meant Texas, yes you do. This is how the law reads.
A person may NOT sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair, service or inspect an irrigation system - or consult in these activities - in this state unless the person is licensed by the TCEQ, [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality]
Like I said I used to work under, when needed, one of my buddies license because I am going to break a head or two and I also turn on my commercial properties systems once a month to make sure they are working right and not waisting water if something was/is damaged.
But now that they changed the law so that a licensed irrigator has to be on site directly supervising, well this just blows, because I sure as hell do not want to pay someone a 50 buck service call plus parts to replace a 2 buck nozzle. Also you cannot go buy a nozzle and tell the homeowner how to do it because that would be consulting.
This is kind of like having an pesticide applicators license. In the years past, since I have only done my mowing clients, the price of having and maintaining my license was almost a wash. But now that I am trying to change gears and starting do do less mowing and trying to build up more pest control. I guess I will eventually get my irrigation license and start doing more repairs also, although some of these can be a pain.
This is why it is hard as hell to compete with Johnny Come Lately lawn service, because I am thousands in the hole before I cut my first blade of grass, ect........
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1,564 Posts
Does the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality have
a satellite in orbit spying on you waiting for you to change
a sprinkler head? How the heck are they gonna know that
you changed Mrs. Jones's sprinkler head that day?
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3,768 Posts
No they do not, well they might, I'm not sure. The trouble with some of these laws is that they have them but not enough people to enforce them. I like to have a legit business though but I am not sure why because it just causes more grief. The main thing you have to worry about is like a licensed irrigator seeing you do this and then get mad and turn you in. I do know of a case where my buddy was fined 500 bucks for not putting his license number on a add he put on something where it was a donation type paper for a school year book.
I just like to be legit because it would be wrong for me to gripe about Joe Blow who is not.
I will give you another example of a Texas law that many probably do not know.
If you are the end seller of plants then you need a Texas Nursery and Floral certificate. What this means is if you do installs, say shrubs and annual color, and go buy these are have them delivered to you - plant them and charge for plants and install then you need one. These are 75 bucks a year for what I do, and to be honest with you, since I have not been doing many installs and money is kind of tight, mine is expired.
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