Irrigation
Everything here has to be emptied before it freezes
An irrigation system in the Sierra is a seasonal machine. It runs for about five months, it has to come apart in October, and a system designed without that in mind cracks its first winter. We build for the blowout, which mostly means valve placement and slope that someone thought about in advance.
What's included
- Drip on beds, because overhead spray at this altitude is mostly evaporation
- Valve boxes placed for access in the dark and the cold, when blowouts actually happen
- Lines sloped and fitted so they drain, rather than trapping water at a low point
- A controller you can run from your phone, which matters when the house sits empty
- Fall blowout and spring startup on a schedule, so it does not depend on you remembering
Worth asking anyone who bids this
If your house is a second home, ask who is responsible for the October blowout and get it in writing. This is the single most common cause of a spring repair bill up here.
★★★★★
“We are in the Bay Area most of the year. They blow it out every October without being asked and text me a photo of the gauge.”
Photographed, zone by zone, for your insurer
Every defensible space job gets photographed before and after in each zone, with the work listed against the requirement it satisfies. You get that packet as a PDF. When your carrier asks for proof, you send it instead of scheduling another inspection.
Thinking about irrigation?
We walk the property with you and send a written assessment in two business days. Free, whether or not you hire us.