Picking a contractor
If you choose to have a contractor install your sprinkler system, be warned: There are more than a few fly-by-night outfits out there that will promise you everything and deliver nothing.
A good contractor will encourage you to ask questions and provide all the information you need to make a decision.
They will visit your property to assess soil conditions, water sources and pressures and the types of plants and lawn you have.
The contractor should then provide you with a formal estimate and design that details what will be installed, how it will be done and by what time. The plan should have a detailed estimate of the costs for design, materials and installation.
Basic questions to ask
•What type of controller, valves, rotors or spray heads are best for my landscape?
•What kind of after-sale service is provided?
•Does the system come with a warranty and exactly what does it cover? A one-year warranty is common.
•Does the contractor have references?
•Is the contractor licensed, bonded and insured? Get the license numbers and check with the state and Better Business Bureau.
•Be wary of a contractor that offers to do the work for significantly less than his competitors. Materials come from the same suppliers at about the same cost, so the only way a contractor can reduce the cost is to use less materials and undesirable cost-cutting techniques.
Beware of these shortcuts
• Not including a backflow preventer: This prevents water in the sprinkler line from flowing back into your drinking water supply under certain circumstances. It is required by local codes in most cities in the Inland Northwest.
• Installing sprinklers too far apart: There should be head-to-head coverage.
•Mixing rotor and fixed head sprinklers and/or drip heads with different application rates on the same line: This causes one area to be over-watered in order to sufficiently water another. Each type should be separate.
• Not using special watertight connectors and a protective valve box: These components are necessary to safeguard the electrical elements, guard against short circuits and prevent corrosion. They also make maintenance much easier.