Frequently Asked Questions

That depends if you are currently manually watering your lawn and shrubs. If you are, then no, you shouldn’t see a significant increase in your water bill. In fact, many customers have found decreases in their water bill after installing a lawn sprinkler system because running a sprinkler system is more

We can work off almost any well. There are many pros and cons with using well water. Every well is different, and we do need a well report to determine, at a minimum, how much water is available.

Most of our residential irrigation systems are designed to use about 8-10 gallons per minute. If your well has a recovery rate of less than 10 gallons per minute we can design a system to use less water by using less heads per zone or using lower volume type heads.

We can also program systems to run shorter time lengths and then use a time delay between watering zones to allow the well to recover. One of the biggest benefits of using well water is that there is no water bill associated with your water use.

Also, a lot of the minerals in the well water are beneficial for the lawn and garden. Using well water does bring its challenges, though. Many of the pumps that are used for homes are on the smaller side and pump less water.

The pressure tanks can use pressure switches that run at the lower end of what is required to have an irrigation system. We can recommend upgrading to a constant pressure pump or installing a booster to help with this.

Another challenge can be the sediment and/or iron count in your well, which can lead to future maintenance challenges like clogged or stuck valves. We recommend upgrading to dirty water type valves and or a type of filter for a solution if this becomes a problem.

For most of our installations, we use a Ditchwitch vibratory plow machine that puts a pizza knife type slice in the lawn and pulls the pipe to minimize yard damage.

We will need to hand dig where every head is placed as well as around any of the marked utility lines. We also need to hand dig in plant beds. For most plant bed areas, we move the mulch back and can dig around the existing plants to install the lines so it’s very hard to tell we did any digging in those areas when we are finished. In the lawn areas, a lot depends on the the existing lawn and the temperatures when we do the work.

If the yard is healthy, the soil is good, and the temperatures are cool, then the damage is minimal. If the yard is not in good shape, and/or we are working with rocky soil, you will see more visible signs of digging.

If it’s extremely warm out, you will also see the lawn areas wilt and yellow after we are finished. We recommend lightly watering the yard before we install and keeping the yard wet after we install to help with the quick recovery of lawn areas.

Standard residential irrigation systems use a combination of water volume with pressure to function. At a minimum, we look for 10 gallons per minute at 55 psi. Most homes on municipality water have a pressure reducer installed on the home’s main waterline.

The reason is that, on average, a 5/8” home water meter in most areas is producing more than 15 gpm at pressures near or above 70psi. The reducer is used to protect smaller in-home water lines like the refrigerator and or dishwasher lines.

When we install our waterline for irrigation systems, we recommend whenever possible to install the tie-in below the home’s pressure reducer to have the volume and pressure we need for irrigation.

Homes that don’t have the minimum pressure required can upgrade the pressure with a booster pump

Yes, we have a master plumbing license and are licensed and capable of installing sub meters in Virginia when requested. Each municipality is different.

For example: If you are a resident in Fairfax County and reside outside of a local town and you receive a County water bill, then it is unnecessary to install a sub-meter because the County uses your average winter use to lock in your sewer cost quarterly.

Loudoun County has a similar policy. However if you live in a city / town limit, such as City of Fairfax or Town of Vienna, then you can apply for a sub meter with the municipality. We can install and help you through that process.

There can be quite a bit of added expense to do this so it’s important to first look at the size of your lot to determine if this is a cost savings benefit overall. If you have a small property, it may take you years to reap the cost savings of installing a sub-meter.

Please ask our customer service and or sales representatives for more details.

Unfortunately, the majority of the lighting jobs I see when driving around at night stink. Either they weren’t designed right from the beginning or the systems haven’t been properly maintained. Experience is very important. If the sales representative has only been in the business a few years or doesn’t visit his or her job site, his jobs probably look bad. Here is a list of things to ask or do in your research:

• Look at their website, how does their portfolio look? If those pictures don’t look good then there is a good chance your jobs won’t either. What brands do they list? The major brand names are Kichler, Hadco, Vista, Unique, BR, and Cast. If you don’t see those companies listed, they are probably using cheaps knock-off brands made in China or cheap plastic Home Depot lights.
• Does the sales representative have any pictures to show off jobs he or she has done
• How long has the sales representative been doing lighting? What training have they received? Are they Certified?
• Ask general questions such as “How many amps will the system need” “How much will it cost me a month” “Will you voltage test my lights to avoid premature burn-outs” “How do you compensate for voltage drop”. These questions probably don’t mean anything to you at the moment but a great lighting designer will be able to explain what these things mean and why it is important for the longevity and safety of your lighting system.
• What brand lights do you use? Be leary of companies that only offer one brand. Lights all have different price points. Some customers may be more value-focused, others may prefer to pay a little bit more for a better light if they understand the value. Also, certain manufacturers manufacturer better lights for certain applications. A good company should carry at least 3 different brands.

Affordable Lawn Sprinklers and Lighting is the complete package. We are experts in lawn sprinkler systems and low voltage lighting systems. Here are 5 huge reasons why we are a great pick:

• We have been the highest consumer rated sprinkler and lighting company since reviews became popular in 2009 (Angie List, Yelp, Google)
• We have custom selected the best materials to construct a system that will last 20-30 years with proper maintenance.
• All project managers have 10+ field experience and are bilingual to ensure a smooth customer experience
• We have a huge service department that services a densely populated service area that is dedicated to providing outstanding service. Beware of companies that are located more than 20 miles away.
• We have 6 dedicated office people to help answer your questions and schedule your service needs and 16 service technicians

When selecting your irrigation contractor, one must look long term. Who is going to be able to properly service this system for the next 10-20 years? If you are going to spend thousands of dollars, you need to make sure you are putting in a system that is going to last a long time.

Do your research, look at the BBB, subscribe to Angie’s List or Washington Checkbook, check references, ask for a detailed drawing of your plan, look at their website, call their office and make sure someone answers your call.