At Running Irrigation, we strive for 100% customer satisfaction and we believe our number one selling point comes from customer referrals. Our clients’ positive feedback is the backbone to our company name and we make every effort to ensure we achieve the same results for every new customer.

We aim to continue installing high quality, efficient irrigation systems while providing excellent customer service.

We have added just a few examples of what customers have to say about our Running Irrigation systems and business as a whole. If these aren’t enough, we will gladly provide you with further references to give you full confidence in selecting Running Irrigation as your irrigation contractor.

During an estimate, we will first need to obtain some key information in order to provide you with an accurate price quote that meets your exact needs. Following are a few of the key questions we will ask you and information we will gather:

Your specific watering needs for your property: What would you like to be watered? Do you want everything watered? Or just parts of your property (i.e. just the front yard? Front and back lawn but no garden beds? Etc.)?

Location of the controller: Where would you like the controller to be mounted? We can install it in the garage, or outside on an exterior wall. We will provide you with a quick rundown of how the controller works and show you a quick demonstration for operating it.

Valve box location(s): We will show you a valve box and explain it in some detail, including the components it houses. The valve box is a housing that contains the valves and wire connections. It’s purpose is to allow for easy access to the important components for servicing purposes). You will never have to access the valve boxes, however we like to show you how they look and work regardless.

Where would you like your valve boxes to be located on the property? With our recommendations and your concerns, we will determine a good location for each valve box that you are happy with.

Water source:

• City of Ottawa water: Locate water meter. We will need to determine the size of the pipe that we will tie into (3/4″ copper or 1/2″copper, etc.). This is key information we need to provide the licensed plumber that we will sub-contract.
• Well water: We will need to locate and determine the pump and well specifications (volumetric flow rate, horsepower rating, operating pressure, recovery rate for well, etc.).
• Open fresh water (river or lake): We will determine the pump size and specifications required and recommend a specific manufacturer and pump for you to purchase.

Operating Parameters: We will determine the water output at the source where it will connect to the irrigation system (input to main valve). This consists of measuring and calculating static and working pressure, as well as flow rate.

Design: Once this essential information is recorded, we will begin the design of the Ottawa irrigation system (for more information see blog post ‘Irrigation 101’). We will draw a map of your property and determine proper placement and zoning of automatic sprinkler heads, valves and the controller; and ensure that you are satisfied with how your final product will look. All designs will have head to head coverage. We do this to ensure maximum system efficiency and water distribution uniformity.

Special requirements:

• Size of property: Depending on the size of your property, we will determine whether the use of a pipe pulling machine (vibratory plow) is needed to install the irrigation pipes.
• Type of terrain: The type terrain on your property will also be inspected. For example, a very rough terrain (rocks, clay, tree roots, etc.) will require more careful installation than a normal terrain with regular dirt or soil.
• Planned/on-going landscaping: If landscaping is (will be) taking place, we will need to determine if/when we need to put sleeves under any future interlock, driveways, walkways, etc. Irrigation is best installed after final grade but before sod/seeding. We will talk with landscapers and determine the best date for installation.

Pricing: Once we know the number and type of automatic sprinkler heads and valves required, as well as take into consideration the size and terrain type of your property, we will calculate a final price for your system. We will provide you with brochures for the products and system components we use, as well as show you the written work contract that would be signed should you decide to proceed with having an irrigation system installed by Running Irrigation. We will also discuss possible dates for the irrigation system to be installed; and, a date can be confirmed once you accept and sign a contract with Running Irrigation.

Stay tuned for the next post describing more detail of what goes on during the irrigation system planning and construction/installation process.

Design: the design of an automatic irrigation system begins with checking the water output (pressure and flow rate) of the source water you that will be used for your landscape watering; as well as a survey of your landscape.

Checking the water pressure and flow rate is necessary in determining the amount of sprinkler heads that can be installed on each valve zone for optimal performance. This allows the number of valves zones that are required to be calculated. An irrigation system is split into different valve zones so that each sprinkler head distributes water efficiently. For each additional sprinkler head in a zone, water pressure will be reduced at each sprinkler. This affects its performance and efficiency. Thus the determination of the correct number of sprinkler heads per valve zone is very important so that the zone will be operating at an optimal pressure for maximum efficiency. The water flow rate is important to determine how much water will be provided to the area. This is used for determining the watering duration of each zone in order to provide sufficient water at each watering time.

Separate valve zones are also used for different areas of your landscape because they have different watering requirements. By zoning these areas separately, it allows control of the watering duration as well as time of day to be programmed into the controller. 

A different type of sprinkler head will be used depending on whether the area being watered is a large or small area of your lawn, shrubs, flowers, or gardens, etc. Each different type of sprinkler head requires a different water pressure and flow rate to achieve the desired spray. The correct numbers of sprinkler heads is determined and they must be placed strategically in order to provide full coverage to each zone.

Sprinklers: the three main types of sprinklers are rotors, pop-ups, and risers:

Rotors: the large sprinklers used to water the lawn. As the water is turned on, these sprinklers pop up out of the ground and operate by spraying water in a rotating fashion covering the desired area. The degree of rotation can be adjusted, as well as the flow rate and distance of spray by the use of different nozzles in the sprinkler.

Pop-ups: these smaller sprinklers pop up out of the ground during operation. The spray is controlled by using a specific nozzle that controls the water flow rate as well as the angle of spray. They are mostly used for watering flower beds and other small grass sections of your lawn.

Risers: these sprinklers consist of a nozzle mounted on a long, thin tube (usually 12 or 18 inches) and do not retract into the ground. These sprinklers are mostly used for watering taller shrubs and bushes. Like the pop-ups, watering is controlled by the type of nozzle.

Installation: Once the design and placement of the sprinklers is determined, the construction of the system begins.

The first step is the plumbing. This involves tapping into the water source. The water source for most urban residences is the same city water that is supplied to your home; and that for rural residences will either be the well water source or can be pumped from a nearby lake or river. After tapping into the water source in your home, we will drill a hole to the outside to connect the source line to the main valve.

Backflow Preventer: This device is used in ever irrigation system and is the essential component of safety. This device prevents any water in the sprinkler system from flowing back into your home and into your waterline. It is connected between your water line and the main valve.

Valves: all of the valves are solonoid valves which function pneumatically. The water flow is controlled by a solonoid that receives an electrical signal and converts the energy into mechanical energy to open or close a diaphragm (thus turning the water flow on or off, respectively).

Main Valve: the heart of the system. This valve controls the water flow to all of the other valves in the system. Each time watering is to take place; this valve is opened and allows water to flow through the main line to all of the other valves.

Control Valves: each secondary valve controls the flow of water to the specific zone it is feeding. The valves are opened one at a time in order to water each zone individually, so that enough water pressure is present to water the entire area of that zone.

Automatic Controller: the brain of the system. This controller provides an electrical signal to each specific valve at a specific time in order to allow water of each zone at a time and duration chosen for optimal and efficient watering. The controller operates digitally and is very simple to program. We will take care of the initial programming of the controller for optimal watering.

Pipes: All pipes used with a diameter of less than 1.5 inches are polyethylene pipe.  If over 1.25 inch diameter, pvc pipe will be used. The pipe is installed underground at depths of 6-10 inches where as the ground conditions allow it. This is done by either digging a trench, or using a pipe pulling machine (vibratory plow). This is done in a careful manner where the grass is removed, a trench is dug, and then the grass is placed back over the trench, tamped and raked. You won’t even know there is a pipe under the ground.

Rain Sensor: this device overrides your program to prevent overwatering when it rains. Essentially if it is raining during a watering time, the rain sensor will turn off the system, essentially ensuring that no unnecessary water is used.

Once the entire system is built and connected, it is tested to ensure complete watering coverage to each zone and area of your landscape.

Stay tuned for the next post describing what you can expect during our visit to your Ottawa home to provide you with a free automatic irrigation system estimate.