Irrigation Systems?

Started by BillD16 • 4 replies • 287 views

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BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Is this an inappropriate place to ask about irrigation systems?

It is the time of year when irrigation equipment that broke during the winter is discovered and repaired / replaced.

We have a subcontractor who handles this stuff and bills us.

Without getting specific about manufacturers{1}, I’d like to ask:

- Are newer “app-style” controllers worth the money?
- Does Internet connectivity to weather data truly help to save water? (versus controllers that have a rain / freeze sensor?)
- Any thoughts on the reliability of new “Internet of Things” (IoT) equipment versus older, not-so-automated equipment?{2}
- Thoughts on cost vs durability? (Ie, is expensive equipment worth the money? Or is it better to go low-cost because all of this stuff breaks shortly after the warranty expires?)

Thanks!

BillD

{1} which may violate forum rules.

{2} I’m not convinced that everything is better when it has an app. But some things are.

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

It all depends on your water usage and the amount of you water/sewer bills.

Where I used to live, we had a controller system that was in our reserves that was up for replacement. The replacement cost was $12,000 for 13 controllers covering 132 stations. We upgraded to Smart controllers at a cost of $32,000 for the same system.

Our water bills averaged around $75K each month, for 467 homes. Th system in the first year save us a total of $147K, so the upgrade was well worth it.

Smaller communities may or may not benefit, again it depends on how and if the system is really monitored.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061

Posted:

Bill,

When I purchased my recent home, it was being used as a vacation home.
One of the first things I did was remote many things (lights, security cameras, irrigation system).

I can say that the irrigation remote control (also has weather data service) has saved a lot of water. It adjusts the watering time based on the amount of rainfall received or expected. It will also increase the watering time on hot days. I've had the device water one area and not others (due to slope of the landscape)when rain is expected.

I was also able to program restrictions into the program like don't water on trash collection days or mowing days. Don't water during certain months, etc.

Contact me and I'll let you know which controller I use: [email protected]

BarbaraT1 (Texas)
Posts: 821

Posted:

Hi Bill.

Being in Texas too, I can guess what systems are being proposed to you. There is a financial arrangement between the manufacturer and the landscape/irrigation companies, so the recommendation isn’t entirely pure of heart. Doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea, but something to bear I mind. Often they will offer you new controllers for “free” if you commit to an X year service term.

The association I work for now decided against them because they felt monthly subscription fees would have offset any savings. Our existing landscaping uses a lot of drought tolerant native plants anyway, and I’m on site and can manually turn off a zone if the rain sensor doesn’t work for some reason. And, given that we are in DFW, where the weather can be completely different in one part of town than another, it is entirely possible that the property wouldn’t be experiencing the weather indicated. There have even been times one side of the neighborhood has clouds and rain, and the other is sunny and clear!

If you do decide to get these controllers make sure the subscription is in the associations name, not the vendors.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Thank you all! My take-away is: yes, an Internet-connected system can help us save money on water - but be careful about business details (subscription, etc)(a common ‘leitmotif’ I’ve noticed in HOA World seems to be “service providers who latch on and never let go”).

I’m Treasurer of my HOA in Texas so as Barbara and others mentioned, water is a Big Deal. It’s one of our biggest expenses, so I don’t mind spending time on this.

I’m told that the outfit that’s handled our irrigation and landscaping for several years has been wanting to discuss a new system with us, so I’m going to make that happen. As skeptical as I am about hooking anything / everything up to the Internet{1}, this is an application where it could really make sense. I’d never thought about it until now, but the landscaper apparently has N controller units out there scattered over umpteen acres plus (I hope) a map that shows their locations; and making any changes involves sending someone out in a truck to find the controller box, unlock it, and tap in changes on a control panel that I’ll generously describe as ‘sturdy but baroque’ - seriously, I can tell just by looking that this thing was designed by someone even older than I am - I haven’t seen whatever they’re going to propose, but I’m thinking that we’ll end up with a single ‘virtual control panel’ website for the entire neighborhood. It should be a WIN for everyone.

BillD

{1} don’t even get me started about BlueTooth.

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

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