Turfbuilders Irrigation, Inc.
How do I start up my sprinkler system?
1. Close the ball valves, test cocks, & drain outside and in the
basement. When the ball valves and the test cock screws are
closed, they run in the opposite direction that they are on. It
looks like you are crossing a T.
2. After everything is closed, turn the water on in the basement
3. When you hear the water fill up and stop, go outside and
open the 2 ball valve handles. When they are open all the way,
the handles run in the same direction as the pipe they are on.
Leave everything else closed.
4. Your system should be turned on, and you will be able to
start watering
How do I drain down the backflow?
1. Close the main shut off valve in the basement
2.Turn the ball valves (handles to the side and below the
backflow preventor in the picture) to 45°
3.Turn the test cock screws shown in picture as to a 45° with
a straight screwdriver
4. Open the outlet drain valve, located outside, all the way
5. Open the upstream (inlet) drain valve, after you place a
bucket underneath to catch the draining water in the basement
Note: Open and close ball valves slowly at all times to prevent
damage to the system. See attachment PDF here.
Do I have to have my lines blown out?
It depends, the newer systems are self draining. Call to find out
if your system is self draining.
Are you members of Better Business Bureau?
Yes! We are an Accredited member of the BBB. Visit the BBB
website to see our report or click here. You can also view the
BBB Standards for Trust.
Do you sell parts over the counter?
No, we are not a retail outlet. Please call us for a list of
recommendations for where you can get the parts you need.
Do I have to be a current customer to receive service?
No. We welcome new customers as well as our current
customers. We are happy to help you in your irrigation needs.
Can the service person run the system from outside?
Yes. As long as the water is on to your system, our service
crew can run it from the valve box. You don't have to be home
for adjustments!
What do you suggest for setting up a watering
schedule?
A schedule for watering is somewhat a personal decision
depending on how much you want to spend on water and
whether you are using the system for "survival" of plants and
turf or whether you want to keep them at their lushest.
The time of the year also affects watering time as the hotter
the weather, the more the plants and grass will lose water and
the more often you have to replenish it.
We suggest generally, you should apply 1" of water per week
in hot weather.
During spring and fall, you might reduce this to 1/2".
Grass is generally best watered less frequently, but longer, in
order to insure deep root growth. However, flowers and
garden vegetables generally like more frequent watering.
Rotary sprinklers will generally apply 1/2 inch of precipitation
per hour. Fixed spray heads, on the other hand, will generally
apply 1 to 1.5 inches per hour.
That is the reason that fixed spray heads should always be
valved on zones separate from rotary sprinklers.
Using those numbers, you can select a schedule for days you
want to water and the length of watering time. If you don't
want to change the watering times on each station as the
seasons change, you can use the % feature. Set your
watering times for what you want to apply in spring and fall.
When summer arrives, just click up the % and then reduce the
% again for fall. I assume your system is shut off and
winterized for the winter. Generally it is best to water during
early morning hours of 3 to 6 am. One other suggestion, if you
have hard clay soil or steep slope in some zones, you can
allow water to soak in rather than runoff by using the multiple
start time feature. If you use this feature, you will divide your
total daily watering time by two or three, depending on how
many start times you use to avoid runoff.I hope this is helpful. It
is really very difficult to give an exact schedule for each
location and application. www.weathermatic.com
1. Close the ball valves, test cocks, & drain outside and in the
basement. When the ball valves and the test cock screws are
closed, they run in the opposite direction that they are on. It
looks like you are crossing a T.
2. After everything is closed, turn the water on in the basement
3. When you hear the water fill up and stop, go outside and
open the 2 ball valve handles. When they are open all the way,
the handles run in the same direction as the pipe they are on.
Leave everything else closed.
4. Your system should be turned on, and you will be able to
start watering
How do I drain down the backflow?
1. Close the main shut off valve in the basement
2.Turn the ball valves (handles to the side and below the
backflow preventor in the picture) to 45°
3.Turn the test cock screws shown in picture as to a 45° with
a straight screwdriver
4. Open the outlet drain valve, located outside, all the way
5. Open the upstream (inlet) drain valve, after you place a
bucket underneath to catch the draining water in the basement
Note: Open and close ball valves slowly at all times to prevent
damage to the system. See attachment PDF here.
Do I have to have my lines blown out?
It depends, the newer systems are self draining. Call to find out
if your system is self draining.
Are you members of Better Business Bureau?
Yes! We are an Accredited member of the BBB. Visit the BBB
website to see our report or click here. You can also view the
BBB Standards for Trust.
Do you sell parts over the counter?
No, we are not a retail outlet. Please call us for a list of
recommendations for where you can get the parts you need.
Do I have to be a current customer to receive service?
No. We welcome new customers as well as our current
customers. We are happy to help you in your irrigation needs.
Can the service person run the system from outside?
Yes. As long as the water is on to your system, our service
crew can run it from the valve box. You don't have to be home
for adjustments!
What do you suggest for setting up a watering
schedule?
A schedule for watering is somewhat a personal decision
depending on how much you want to spend on water and
whether you are using the system for "survival" of plants and
turf or whether you want to keep them at their lushest.
The time of the year also affects watering time as the hotter
the weather, the more the plants and grass will lose water and
the more often you have to replenish it.
We suggest generally, you should apply 1" of water per week
in hot weather.
During spring and fall, you might reduce this to 1/2".
Grass is generally best watered less frequently, but longer, in
order to insure deep root growth. However, flowers and
garden vegetables generally like more frequent watering.
Rotary sprinklers will generally apply 1/2 inch of precipitation
per hour. Fixed spray heads, on the other hand, will generally
apply 1 to 1.5 inches per hour.
That is the reason that fixed spray heads should always be
valved on zones separate from rotary sprinklers.
Using those numbers, you can select a schedule for days you
want to water and the length of watering time. If you don't
want to change the watering times on each station as the
seasons change, you can use the % feature. Set your
watering times for what you want to apply in spring and fall.
When summer arrives, just click up the % and then reduce the
% again for fall. I assume your system is shut off and
winterized for the winter. Generally it is best to water during
early morning hours of 3 to 6 am. One other suggestion, if you
have hard clay soil or steep slope in some zones, you can
allow water to soak in rather than runoff by using the multiple
start time feature. If you use this feature, you will divide your
total daily watering time by two or three, depending on how
many start times you use to avoid runoff.I hope this is helpful. It
is really very difficult to give an exact schedule for each
location and application. www.weathermatic.com
Frequently Asked Questions
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