Want Yard of the Month? Hire Rainstat!

Not really.  We had very little to do with these nice folks getting yard of the month, but it does point out that beautiful landscapes like this don't happen without water.  The right amount at the right place at the right time. 

If your sprinkler system could use some fine tuning, we'd love to help.

Call Drew at 254.829.3800 to schedule a free system check.

It's That Transition Time of Year

This is the hardest time of year to keep your sprinkler's controller up-to-date because the weather is changing. It's that time of year when a Rainstat Smart Controller does the most good and saves you the most money. Here's why:

During July and August it is HOT. Everyone knows it's going to be hot and your landscape is going to require a lot of water. Your water bill weighs a little more in your mail box during the summer and there's not a lot you can do about it. If it is 105º outside, there is going to be tremendous evaporation and your plants are going to be growing their fastest.

Likewise, when winter hits and we are dipping below the freeze mark every night, you don't need much water at all.

So, the time to install a Smart Controller in right now, during the transition time.

What is a Smart Controller, you say?

A Smart Controller replaces your present controller. The new controller "talks" to your on-site weather station so you water just enough each day. Never too little or too much. And you never have to touch it. It changes and "programs" itself daily.

We would be glad to show you one and give you an idea of what to expect. The new controller pays for itself in reducing the amount you are already spending on your water bill. And, your landscape will actually do better while saving you money.

Interested? Call me. My cell number is 254.744.1724.

September, The Foothills of Winter

September is when the weather breaks. Usually. It's a "transitional period" sprinkler-wise. And, it's one of the most water-wasting times for sprinkler system owners and managers because it is still summer and summer schedules seem to be sticky.

Here's the averages you need to start with: The average rainfall for Waco in September is 3". The need for water as expressed in the evapotranspiration (ET) rate is 5.7". So you need to replace 2.7 inches for the month. The reality of it though is the 2.7" needs to be weighted toward the first half of the month when, like today, Labor Day, it is supposed to be in the upper 90s.

So, if you don't yet have a Rainstat Controller (it makes your adjustments for exact water savings every day), please pay attention to your sprinkler's schedule and make the transitional adjustments.

Specifically, I'd stay with my August need of 5.7" until we start seeing some high temperatures in the mid 80s with cool nights. Then I'd drop the schedule to 25% of the August run-times.

Is all this Greek? Call me at 254.829.3800. It all has to do with conserving water (and saving you money) while keeping your landscape vibrant and healthy. The Rainstat Controller is a "Green" or "Smart" controller. It's like a thermostat for your yard.(sm)

Thanks for reading,
Doug

Can we agree on what is Complicated?

Today's home sprinkler system tools would utterly fail if they modeled how your air conditioner worked in your home. You would have to look at the hour by hour weather forecast, and schedule your air conditioner to come on when the inside temperature got uncomfortable. But before you could do that, you would have to know 1. how long it takes for the outside temperature to raise the temperature in your house and, 2. you would have to know how long it took to lower the temperature once the a/c started.

Let's say you knew these two necessary bits of information and could calculate when your air conditioner should come on and how long it needed to run. Fine, but now you need to have some way of turning it off at the right time and turning it back on when it gets too hot.

Thankfully, you have a thermostat. It senses the current, inside temperature regardless of how hot it is outside, compares that current temperature to the desired temperature (set by you, once) and either turns the a/c on or off.

Yet a few people have told me that setting their sprinkler system by predicting when their yard needs water is simple and that setting the Rainstat controller (once forever) is complicated.

I believe that some of these objectors are really saying, "I'm afraid to give up control of my watering schedule because I'm afraid I won't be able to afford the water bill." Keep in mind that the Rainstat Controller has proven itself in saving between 20% and 50% on your annual water bill. That is assuming that your landscape was green before and you want it to stay green.

Granted, if your grass is in a state of stress all summer because you will not water the inch and a half it needs each week during our Waco summers, you have reason for concern. But if your grass is green now, giving up control of when and how much it runs will be as hard as it is to set your thermostat on 72 degrees and enjoying the automatic cool.

That's why we say, "It's like having a thermostat for your yard." Please call us today at 829-3800 to get all your questions answered.