Atlanta Irrigation Repair

Have your sprinklers been going off during these rains we've been having? If you say yes you either need to replace your existing rain sensor or get one because you may not have one. One of the best ways to save on your watering costs is a simple, inexpensive rain sensor.

Hunter Solar Sync

The Hunter Solar Sync is a rain sensor on steroids and an ET system (evaprotranspiration). Not only will the Solar Sync shut off the system when it's raining, prevent it from watering after rainfall but it will also automatically adjust the watering time based on the ET. Evaporation of water from the soil + usage of water by plants = ET. This is a very inexpensive way to have a super, water efficient irrigation system using some of the very latest technology.

Irrigation System Atlanta Rain Sensor

So, rain sensors work one of two ways. Either (1) by immediately shutting off the irrigation system at the first sign of rain (usually .10") or (2) at a set amount of rain (also usually .10"). An rain sensor will also prevent the irrigation system from running if it detects wetness within the sensor itself. For instance, it rains at 3 am and your system goes on at 5 am. The sensor should prevent additional and unncessary irrigation. Nothing drives me more crazy than to see an irrigation system running in the rain. Your irrigation system is meant to supplement rainfall to increase the beauty and health of your landscape.

How to make sure your irrigation system doesn't run when it's freezing?

You don't want to wake up to an ice skating rink so...if you water your lawn into the winter months you need a Solar Sync or a rain freeze sensor which both prevent watering below certain temperatures. The Solar Sync will also use weather data to control the watering and thereby save you money. The Rain Freeze Sensor will to by just preventing watering during rain or while the sensor is wet.

Rain Sensor: Wireless or Wired

Everything seems wireless these days including rain sensors for your irrigation system. I think it is totally a personal preference whether you chose a wired rain sensor or wireless rain sensor as long as you chose a rain sensor! In some locations, upon installation, the wired rain sensor's wires are barely visible and that are less expensive.

Irrigation Systems: Rain Sensor versus Rain Freeze sensor

The title should explain itself. However, I get asked all the time do I really need a "freeze" sensor. If you properly winterization your irrigation system at the right time then no. If you're one of these folks that believes winterization in Georgis isn't necessary - think about last winter. Not only will your system not run when it detects rain BUT when the temperature drops below a certain temperature. Bump it up a notch and get both with Hunter's Solar Sync which also takes history of humidity, temp, etc. and waters only what you need and is slightly more expensive then a rain/freeze sensor and does more.