New for 2012

McClaren Lawn uses Juniper Systems® rugged handheld computers with IntuiTrace™ irrigation mapping software to track your irrigation and landscaping plans.

Irrigation Systems Installation and Maintenance

With our irrigation systems you can be sure that your lawn will receive the right amount of water, in the right spots, and at the right time. You can forget about the hassles you generally encounter when manually watering your lawn, and you will also be helping the environment by not wasting as much water. Our sprinkler system design will not only enhance the beauty of your lawn by making it healthier, but it will boost its attractiveness because the irrigation system is out of sight when its not in use. Our professionally installed, automatic irrigation systems have proven to be one of the better investments a home/building-owner can make not only will our lawn sprinklers increase the value of your home, but they will also protect your landscaping investments as well.

A complete irrigation system is comprised of several different components, each serving a particular function and all working together in combination with the other. We are trained to help you make sure the right components are chosen and properly installed. We work with Hunter Industries, irrigation system innovators, to ensure the best possible system for you.

Check out our instructional videos on YouTube.

Links

We use products from Hunter®, Rainbird®, Irritrol®, Toro®.

Controls

A device that turns an irrigation system on and off at a desirable time and operates the system for a preset period of time. In essence, it “controls” the system…hence, the name.

Hunter©

Hunter units offer exceptional reliability. Power outages have no effect since the watering schedule is held in non-volatile memory and backup batteries are unnecessary. The controller is easily set by turning dials or pushing buttons, giving the user the ability to select such functions as when watering will start, how long each zone will water and what days watering will occur. Adjustments and bypasses can also be made for seasonal changes and inclement weather.
Hunter electronic controllers have the capabilities to meet the needs of today’s sophisticated, water conscious landscape designs. In addition, they can be programmed to apply water in short cycles, preventing run-off in the most steeply sloped areas.

Maxicom2©

Multi-Site Irrigation Central Control System
The Maxicom2 Irrigation Central Control System is designed for multi-site commercial or industrial irrigation applications. Hundreds of sites and weather sources can be controlled and monitored from one location through telephone, cellular modem, radio (450-470 MHz), spread spectrum radio (900 MHz), direct cable connect, short-haul modem, fiber-optic modem, Ethernet device server, Wi-Fi device server, or fiber-optic device server communication. Automated ET based irrigation control and the most flexible scheduling system allows control of multiple sites to exact specifications, making it ideal for municipalities, school districts, home owners associ</b>ations, and park and recreation departments.

TORO SitePro2© Computer Central Control

SitePro® is based on the popular, easy-to-use Windows® operating system, eliminating tedious keystrokes and layers of spreadsheets-replacing them with point-and-click simplicity. Though it's simple to use, we did not take away any of its features and vast capabilities. It's irrigation management that fits all your golf course irrigation needs.

Tucor© Controlers

WiFi (wireless fidelity) networks allow you to connect to the Internet without using wires or cables. WiFi service is available in almost all areas of the United States, so it's an easy way to connect your Tucor controllers to our servers and the Cycle Manager Web-based software. To use WiFi, you need an account with a wireless Internet service provider. McClaren is happy to use this controller for out Bloomington, IN Wallmart

WeatherTRAK® ET Pro2™ and ET Pro2 Smart Water Manager™

irrigation system controllers reduce water bills, landscape maintenance costs and liability risk. No other landscape and lawn irrigation system is proven to reduce water use by up to 59% and irrigation runoff and pollution by up to 71%. Enjoy beautiful landscapes. Protect your hardscape investments. Increase customer satisfaction. All Wallmarts in the USA have switched to this controller for 2011 in to 2012.

IMMS in Sports Turf Application

"We spent $15,000 and it saved $55,000," says Grounds Manager Chris Ralston of the IMMS-ET at his baseball stadium in Lake Elsinore, CA. Now with the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA team for the Oakland Athletics, Ralston is making sure the capital city sees the same kind of savings.
Ralston needs a good system: In Sacramento, he has 82 irrigation zones, including turf, rose beds, shrubbery, and trees. His four-employee operation (plus 20 seasonal workers) has to keep everything green for the 72 home games plus numerous concerts and events that the stadium hosts. So simplicity is key, and Ralston relies on the IMMS-ET.
"I think the best feature is the fact that it has an ET sensor on it," says Ralston. With IMMS-ET, everything is on-site and acts as a weather station.
Ralston explains the system's ease of use was a factor in his purchase decision.
"We have five clocks on site and it puts all five on them on one screen. I pick the start time and the computer does everything for me," he says. "I double check it, but the fact that it hasn't failed me, the grass is green and I'm saving 15 to 20 percent on water use means it's hard to go wrong."

Maintenance

McClaren Lawn & Landscaping will help maintain your existing underground irrigation system, regardless of what product line you currently have. We offer our services at a rate of $45/ hour with a standard $10 trip charge.

Throughout the year, lawnscapes can be changed or altered. If you damage a sprinkler head or put a shovel through an irrigation line, we can fix it. Need a head moved? Remodeling you yard (in addition to house, new deck, rock beds)? We can help. Whatever the reason, we will do the work in a speedy manner and our service rates are competitively priced.

As Fall approaches, it is time to flush out the lines to avoid the underground lines from freezing. All but a few customers contract these services to contractors like us. During this process, we bring a large compressor to "blow-out" every line in your system. Our "winterization" is a guarantee from us that nothing in your irrigation system will freeze (or we'll fix it for free!!).

For residential and/or commercial systems our winterization rates are as follows:

• • $10.00 Compressor fee
• • $8.50 per station
• • Systems over 10 stations are $7.50 per station.

Common Sprinkler Problems

Sprinkler being blocked by a plant or other object

• • Keep the plant pruned back to prevent blockage. Check regularly. NUMBER 1 PROBLEM.
• • Add an extension or riser on the PVC piping under the sprinkler so it is above the obstruction.
• • Although popular, this option is many times inefficient as it throws water higher into the air where it will be affected by evaporation and wind.
• • Relocate the sprinkler out in front of the obstruction. If necessary, adjust or replace the nozzle so that all plants are watered.
• • If in a plant bed, replace sprinklers with micro-irrigation devices that can be moved as plants grow. Micro-irrigation is not permitted on lawn grass.
• • Determine whether the plants can survive without the sprinkler.

Sprinkler being blocked by lawn grass

• • Replace sprinkler with a model that pops up higher.
• • Add an extension between the PVC pipe and the sprinkler, ensuring that the top of the sprinkler remains just above soil level to avoid breakage when mowing.
• • Clean out grass around the sprinkler and install a concrete “donut” around the sprinkler.

Water is squirting out around the sprinkler head

• • Check sprinkler head, piping and fittings under the sprinkler for leaks.
• • Check rubber or plastic seal inside the top of the sprinkler for debris and wear; replace with recommended seal if it is damaged or worn.
• • Spray nozzles and rotor heads may need cleaning.
• • Replacement of sprinkler may be needed.

Time clock is not operating

• • Make sure it is plugged into a working outlet and switched to “on” or “automatic”.
• • Make sure that the backup battery is not corroded or low on charge.
• • Has it rained recently? Perhaps the rain sensor is interrupting clock operation. This is normal until the cork disc dries out.

Rotor sprinkler does not rotate correctly

• • Check to ensure the sprinkler or the piping below it is not clogged. Clean sprinkler by soaking.
• • Check if there is adequate pressure in the zone to operate this type of sprinkler. Another nozzle with a lower flow rate may need to be installed.
• • The sprinkler may be broken. Replace it with the same type as others on the same zone.
• • If the head is at the end of the main water supply line for your system, there may not be enough pressure to operate the sprinkler properly. The head should be capped, or a new zone should be installed. This may be a point where a licensed irrigation contractor should be contacted.

 Spray head sprinkler not putting out any water

• • Check to ensure the sprinkler, nozzle, filters or piping are not clogged. Clean parts by soaking.

Contact us for more information.