Appointments are never the same. While it may take 45 minutes to work on 1 system, it may take 2 hours to work on another. Since estimated repair times is not always accurate, Waterwell's policy is to book appointments by providing a window of arrival to our customers. These windows are no greater than 4.5Hrs. 

Click here to view our guide "Opening an Irrigation System"

Click here to search for your timer manual.

Most irrigation controllers require a battery to retain the programming information should there be a power outage, or if the controller is accidently unplugged. Contrary to popular belief, the battery will not power the sprinkler system if the power goes out. Newer timers have built in batteries and only require you to reset the current time and day in the event of a power failure.

The watering restrictions for each municipality are different for each. See watering restrictions of your municipality.

There is either a timer programming error (did you have a power failure?) or a zone is stuck open.  Check your timer programming or shut off the main valve for the irrigation system (should be identified with a Waterwell tag).

This means that there is a zone that is not shutting completely (usually called a valve stuck open or weeping valve).  This usually occurs when tiny rocks or dirt accidently enter into the main sprinkler pipe and get stuck inside an electric valve.  In most cases, by opening up and cleaning the valve, this is easily repairable.

Your rain sensor has been bypassed or it has not rained enough to trigger the rain sensor.  Check to see if your timer has a manual toggle switch enable/bypass for your rain sensor.  Also, your rain sensor may not be installed correctly, ie. on a wall or obstructed by trees.  (See also Understanding Your Rain Sensor)

Owning an irrigation system is similar to owning a vehicle - they both will require occasional maintenance. Standard wear and tear, animal interference, accidents and ground disruption are all factors which can affect your irrigation. Unfortunately, these circumstances cannot be controlled but they can be monitored by our technicians during a mid-season inspection. 

Items you can expect to see on your invoice are:

Senior labor rate: This is our regular hourly rate for a technician. Billed at $81/Hr in 15 minute increments. This line will also include an addition .5 Hr of labor to compensate for travel time.

Helper labor rate: This is for a technician's assistant. Billed at $61/Hr in 15 minute increments.

Gas surcharges: This line applies on all invoices to cover the fluxuating fuel prices.

Shop Supplies: This line appears when any parts are used during servicing of your system. This charge represents small items such as glue, filters, teflon etc...Shop supplies are calculated by our system in relation to the parts used and should be expected to change from one invoice to another.

This will depend on which city you reside in.  You will need to contact your local public works and inquire for more detailed information. 

Waterwell offers year round staff to assist you. During the season our office and exterior staff work 7 days a week, in order to provide the best service to our customers. We invest in training our employees, we pay into CSST, unemployment, and overtime. We don’t look for loop holes. Waterwell is fully insured should ever a serious incident occur while on your property. Our mission is to provide the best service possible to our customers and make sure to use the best tools available.

If you don’t verify your system yourself, then it is highly recommended, otherwise you will never know if anything is broken or not working properly, given that the system usually runs during the night. We recommend at least one inspection for the average residential system and two for commercial systems.

We can close down your system at an affordable price which includes a guarantee against damage caused by freezing (up until October 15^th). We remove the water from the pipes using an air compressor.

Choosing a wireless rain sensor is largely an esthetic decision. Wireless rain sensors don’t require a wire to be run between the rain sensor and irrigation controller.  However, they are usually only used in cases where it is physically impossible to run a wire or where the wire run is too long. This is due to our technicians being able to strategically and discretely run wires that are not plainly visible throughout the property.  Typically, wireless rain sensors require more maintenance (battery, calibration) than a traditional rain sensor and can experience connectivity issues.

Yes, irrigation systems are designed to spray only the required amount of water on the lawn and planting areas - no wasted water on driveways, streets, neighbour's property, etc. Also, the controller shuts the system off after the desired quantity of water has been distributed. Finally, all our systems are equipped with rain sensors so that it will not water after it has rained.

Yes, we can modify any system. We always recommend that any changes to your property are coordinated with us in advance in an effort to minimize costs and delays.

Usually, the average residential property (6000 to 7000 sq. feet) takes one full day to install (55 to 80 man hours of labour).

With modern equipment and experienced personnel, there is no damage to your existing lawn and gardens. Within a short period of time, your property will look better than it ever has!

We install systems from April to December. When making changes to your property (ie. installing a pool, patio or new walkways), it is always advisable to consult with us as well as your landscaper so that we can coordinate the work in the best possible way. Advise us of any future plans that may affect your property so that we can minimize costs for you in the long run.

Yes, we do this with two different types of micro irrigation - drip emitters (small adjustable sprinklers that irrigate with drips of water) and drip tubing (1/4" tubing with small perforated holes that allows water to trickle out into the soil).

Yes. An irrigated vegetable garden makes gardening much more relaxed and enjoyable because the chore of coming home to water the garden every day is gone!  If you are away for a few days or weeks, your crops will not suffer. If you want to irrigate your vegetable garden, simply give us a call and we’ll set you up with a free quote to satisfy your watering needs.

Generally we guarantee all parts and labor of a new system we install for 2 years.

It should be noted, however, that new systems do not break by themselves if they are installed correctly. In our experience servicing other new sprinkler systems installed by other companies, if there is a problem it can usually be traced back to poor installation methods or not following manufacturers recommended guidelines.

It does. A properly installed lighting system can improve your property's worth both aesthetically and in security, not to mention great curb appeal.

Click here to search for your timer manual.

While the initial cost is certainly more expensive than your typical halogen, the higher price far outweighs the future labor that would be needed to replace regular burnt bulbs more frequently, especially when fixtures are located high up in trees or on house soffits, where it often requires two technicians for safety reasons. In addition, they also use only about a quarter of the electrical consumption in comparison to standard bulbs.