Give us a call today: 416 663 4777 for a free upfront estimate!
If you use a professional to help you with your irrigation systems’ installation (sometimes referred to as a micro-irrigation system), you will find that installation is straightforward for just about any homeowner. Why would you want to use drip irrigation? For starters, there is little to no digging necessary when installing it, and it can be set up very quickly. We will discuss a few more of the benefits here.
Benefits Of Irrigation System
1. The cost is affordable
Remember that a drip irrigation system is quite affordable. When compared to normal sprinkler parts, the tubing and fittings are not as expensive. These are often more affordable than most sprinkler heads. This means that cost should not prohibit you from switching to a drip irrigation system.
2. Benefits in water conservation
When you use drip irrigation, you are wasting less water. You are not watering the surrounding areas, just the plants. When you focus your water use with a micro-irrigation system, you can be sure that you are going to start saving on water costs.
3. Your watering is consistent
It is not just your wallet that benefits either. Because you are providing more consistent and deeper watering, your plants benefit as well. Most sprinkler sprays are just going to splash the leaves and tops, but drip irrigation is going to hit the plants.
4. Reduce overall weed growth
When you waste water with traditional sprinklers, you are contributing to weed growth. You can keep the weeds down to a minimum by keeping the water close to the garden plants. You also do not have to worry about getting the entire area wet. You can use a ground cover or landscape fabric.
5. It is both adaptable and flexible
Because there are various fittings for these drip irrigation systems, they are quite flexible. You can water a larger area if you want, or you can drip deep down. Whatever your watering needs are, there is probably a drip irrigation part that is going to work for you.
6. Easy to automate
After your irrigation systems’ installation, you can leave drip irrigation to work on the autopilot. You can connect battery-operated timers to do everything for you. You can be sure that the automatic timer waters the plants when you want it to. You can also connect it to a regular sprinkler timer for a more permanent option.
Protection of Irrigation System From Winter Damage
Even though most of us do not want to think about it yet, winter does come after even the best summers. This means freezing temperatures, which means that you need to protect your irrigation system from winter damage.
What Type Of Damage Could Be Done?
Remember that when it freezes, water expands. It is one of the few materials that do so. If you leave water in your irrigation system, the pipes have to be able to expand to accommodate the expansion of the water. The problem is that most pipes are going to break instead of expand. Most fittings, valves, and pipes are made from Poly, PVC, and copper. Freezing water can destroy each of these different substances.
If you want to minimize the risk of freeze damage, winterizing your irrigation system is necessary. The three methods of protection of irrigation systems from winterizing include blowout, auto drain, and manual drain.
– Manual drain method
If you have manual valves located at the end and low points of the irrigation piping, you can use the manual drain method. This means that you would shut off the irrigation water supply and open the manual drain valves. Especially for first-time users, it may be a challenge to get all the water drain all the remaining water that is between the backflow device and the irrigation water shut off valve
– Automatic drain method
If you have automatic drain valves at the end and low points of the irrigation, this method may be preferable. These automatic drain valves will automatically open and drain the water, if there is less than 10-PSI pressure on the piping. Some areas may even have a combination of auto drain system on the lateral lines and manual drain system on the mainline
– The blowout method
This method uses an air compressor. After shutting off the irrigation water supply, you are mechanically introducing air into the system to push the water out. Remember this is a job best left to the professionals because it may be dangerous for those who have no experience.
When it comes to your irrigation systems’ winterizing, remember that having a professional take care of it for you does not mean an expense, it is an investment in keeping your irrigation system working for next year. If you are caught unaware of a late night freeze, remember that you can protect a number of different components in your irrigation system by turning off the water shutoff for the system.
Now you know different benefits with a drip irrigation system and how to protect it from winter damage. If you are unsure about the installation or would rather leave it in the hands of the qualified plumbers, remember that a faulty installation may actually cost you money instead of saving it.
Give us a call today: 416 663 4777 for a free upfront estimate!
