A poorly designed landscaping irrigation system (or one that’s not designed at all!) can cause some of the same problems you might encounter with poorly designed indoor plumbing such as loud knocking pipes, low water pressure, too much water pressure and water leaks. All of these problems and others can cost you extra money.

Here are just some of the many benefits of starting your landscaping irrigation project with a thoughtful, professional design:

Save Money on Water

In addition to helping you incorporate and manage the cost of bells and whistles such as automatic rain shut off sensors, remote controlling apps, ground water sensors and others that can help you save money on water, an irrigation plan will help you prevent money from going down the drain by working in the option for your home’s second water meter. A second water meter that is dedicated to your irrigation will prevent you from having to pay waste water fees that are usually charged when water leaves your home for the sewer system. (The money you spend on the additional meter can typically be recouped within two years).

In addition, a well-designed irrigation plan will help prevent water leaks in the system. And although you don’t have to worry about water damage to your floors and ceiling when you’re talking about outdoor water leaks, the water you waste with such leaks can cost you a lot of money.

Avoid Plant Damage

A well-designed irrigation system will take into account the type and eventual size of your plants, which will not only prevent water waste, but will also prevent damage to plants. With a great irrigation design, you can better control the amount of water each plant is getting to ensure its survival. In addition, you can make adjustments for instances where plants don’t tolerate overhead watering well. When overhead water isn’t well tolerated, we can include alternative options such as drip irrigation or micro-emitters that water the soil around the plant rather than its foliage.

Save Labor Costs

When an installer is using an irrigation plan, they can work more efficiently onsite because they’ll know the exact materials needed for the project prior to arriving to your home and will have a map for the exact placement of pipe trenches and sprinkler heads. This type of information, which we include in all landscaping irrigation designs, will reduce the guesswork onsite and eliminate on-the-fly decision making that can slow the installation process and cost you extra money.

Easy Comparison

By using an irrigation plan, you also ensure that you’ll be able to easily compare installation estimates because you’ll know that each bid contains the exact same components as specified in your plan.

Because landscaping design and installation involve electrical work, plumbing, manual labor, connection to a water source and knowledge of the plant material in your landscaping, this is one instance when we recommend homeowners seek out professional assistance rather than taking it on as a weekend DIY project. The rare exception would be if you’re uniquely qualified. (If you have plumbing skills or other professional knowledge, you’re the exception to the rule!)

Working with a professional designer and installer will not only ensure that you’ll get a functioning end-product but it will also help you sort through the many irrigation products that are available for homeowners.

To find out when it’s ok to DIY rather than calling in a professional for other landscaping projects, check out our blog post: Should I DIY or Hire a Pro?

If you have questions about your landscaping irrigation in the Knoxville area, fill out our contact form or call 865-765-5550.