Tips On Lawn Irrigation In Northern New Jersey.

This article will help anybody who is considering the purchase of a lawn sprinkler system for their home. We interviewed 21 year lawn irrigation expert Greg Tanzer of Greg Tanzer Sprinklers in Bergen County New Jersey, to find out exactly what you should know when considering a lawn sprinkler system. What we found out was very interesting. We also scoured the Internet to find the best resources that will help prepare you with the information you need to make the right decision. We started by asking Greg Tanzer to tell us what are the most common questions that new customers have when considering a lawn sprinkler system.

Many people inquire about rain sensors. They want to know if rain sensors are a necessary item for their system. In the state of New Jersey rain sensors are required by law. However, some sprinkler installers will tell you they are optional and add an additional cost to include rain sensors. All price quotes in New Jersey should have rain sensors included. Under the New Jersey mandate, even older systems that do not have rain sensors are supposed to be upgraded.

Another question many people ask is, "should I use drip irrigation?". According to Greg Tanzer, drip irrigation was developed in areas of the country that have limited water supplies such as areas of Arizona, California, and New Mexico. New Jersey is fortunate to have a good amount of available water. Some instances of when drip irrigation is appropriate are when plants are positioned in an awkward location such as a terraced landscape, or when you are providing irrigation to indoor plantings in a mall or greenhouse. One of the disadvantages of drip irrigation is that if it fails you are unlikely to know about it until there is dead plant material. That is because drip uses water in gallons per hour verses sprinklers that use gallons per minute. When a sprinkler fails you have a "wash out" that produces a lot of noticeable water on the lawns surface, however by the time you realize there is a problem with your drip system, you generally have dead plant material.

Many people don't know that an improperly installed lawn sprinkler system can contaminate household drinking water causing severe illness that can even be fatal. Because of this, in New Jersey it is required by law to have a state certified backflow inspector install a backflow device in your system. This is a specialized check valve that will prevent the sprinkler water from mixing with your household water supply. If you go to sell your house and you do not have a backflow device installed in your sprinkler system, you will have to have one installed. Therefore it is critical to make sure your installer is a licensed backflow inspector as well.

It is not uncommon to have very costly damage to your property during a sprinkler system installation that can cost you thousands of dollars. The best way to avoid this is to have a "mark out" done on your property. This is when all the utility companies come to your house and put their small flags on the lawn that show where there pipe or cable is buried. This is the responsibility of your installer. They must contact each utility company and request the mark out for your property. If your sprinkler company says that a mark out is not necessary, demand it or find another sprinkler company.

These are just some of the critical things you must be aware of if you are considering a lawn sprinkler system for your home. Another great resource that answers these questions as well as the questions you should be asking your lawn sprinkler company is called, "Tips That Can Save You Thousands On Lawn Irrigation In Northern New Jersey". This excellent buyer's guide is free and can be found at NJlawnsprinklertips.com. This is a must read for anyone in New Jersey considering a lawn sprinkler system for their home.