Soil moisture sensors are mandated in Florida for any automatic irrigation system. This is in an effort to conserve water throughout the state. The most recent version of this statute (2010) says the following: “Any person who operates an automatic landscape irrigation system shall properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture.” (Florida Statute 373.62)
Rain sensors detect rainfall in an area and automatically override the sprinkler system to shut it off. This conserves water, saving money, and cutting down on wear and tear on the sprinkler system.
Rain sensors detect rainfall in one of three ways. The most common is the expansion disk. Cork disks are placed inside of the meter and when they expand, it overrides the sprinkler system, shutting it down. The meter is easily adjusted so it is not affected by small rain falls.
The two less common rain sensors are through water weight and the conductivity of the water. However, these two methods are difficult as water or dirt can sit in the collecting dishes for extended periods of time, causing the sprinkler to be consistently shut off.
In order for the system to function properly, it is important that you have routine maintenance performed. American Irrigation Services offers a variety of maintenance packages from monthly to yearly.
Contact us today for your maintenance or installation. Rest assured that our family owned and operated company works with the highest quality standards.