Grosse Pointe Backflow Notice Leads to a Complete 6-Zone Sprinkler System Replacement

A notice from the city about a required irrigation backflow preventer can sometimes uncover a much larger problem with an older sprinkler system.

That is exactly what happened on a recent project in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

The homeowner contacted Hunter HydroTech after receiving a notice stating that the property needed proper backflow protection for the irrigation system. At first, this sounded like it might be a straightforward backflow project.

Once we arrived and inspected the existing sprinkler system, it became clear that simply adding a backflow device would not address the bigger issue.

This property still had a very old-style irrigation system built with 1/2-inch copper piping running throughout the yard, individual manual gate valves for the sprinkler zones, no automatic sprinkler controller, and extremely poor operating pressure.

An Older Grosse Pointe Sprinkler System With Multiple Problems

The original irrigation system was from a completely different era of sprinkler installation.

During our evaluation, we found:

• Old 1/2-inch copper irrigation piping running throughout the property
• Extremely low sprinkler pressure
• Old manual gate valves controlling individual zones
• Zones that had to be turned on and off manually with a meter key
• No automatic irrigation valves
• No sprinkler timer or irrigation controller
• No automatic watering schedule
• Very limited convenience or functionality for the homeowner

The system could technically move water, but it no longer provided the performance or functionality that most homeowners expect from a modern irrigation system.

Older Irrigation Systems Are Common Around Grosse Pointe

We see variations of this situation on older properties throughout Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Farms, and nearby communities.

Many of these homes have been renovated, remodeled, or updated over the years while portions of the original irrigation infrastructure remain underground.

That can leave homeowners with sprinkler systems containing older piping, manual valves, abandoned lines, undersized plumbing, deteriorated fittings, outdated sprinkler heads, or irrigation layouts that were never converted to modern automatic operation.

An old sprinkler system does not necessarily need to be replaced simply because of its age. Many older systems can still be repaired or upgraded.

The important question is whether the existing infrastructure still makes sense to keep.

On this Grosse Pointe property, the combination of low pressure, small copper piping, manual zone control, no timer, and the new backflow requirement made a complete irrigation replacement the better solution.

The Existing System Used 1/2-Inch Copper Throughout the Yard

One of the biggest issues we found was the extensive use of 1/2-inch copper pipe throughout the sprinkler system.

Copper itself is not automatically a problem. The concern was how the old irrigation network was designed and how much water it could effectively deliver to the sprinkler zones.

A properly functioning sprinkler system needs sufficient water pressure and flow to operate its sprinkler heads correctly.

When water delivery is restricted, homeowners may experience symptoms such as:

• Sprinkler heads that barely rise
• Rotors that do not rotate correctly
• Short spray distance
• Weak zones
• Dry areas throughout the lawn
• Uneven sprinkler coverage
• Multiple heads performing poorly when operated together

This property had extremely low pressure while the irrigation system was operating, which was another major reason we did not recommend continuing to build onto the old system.

Every Sprinkler Zone Had to Be Turned On Manually

The zone controls were another indication of just how outdated the irrigation system had become.

Instead of modern electric irrigation valves connected to a sprinkler controller, the property had old gate valves controlling each individual sprinkler zone.

To water an area of the lawn, someone had to physically access the valve and use a meter key to turn that zone on.

When the watering was finished, the homeowner had to return and manually shut it back off. Running another section of the property meant repeating the process with another valve.

There was no:

• Automatic watering schedule
• Programmable start time
• Automatic zone run time
• Modern irrigation controller
• Simple way to run the complete property

This may have been acceptable when the irrigation system was originally installed, but it was no longer practical for the homeowner.

The City Backflow Notice Started the Conversation

The homeowner originally contacted us because of the notice requiring proper backflow protection for the irrigation system.

Backflow prevention is an important part of an irrigation connection because it helps protect the potable water supply from the possibility of irrigation water flowing backward into the water system.

But installing a new backflow assembly does not automatically correct problems throughout the rest of an aging sprinkler system.

If we had addressed only the backflow requirement, the homeowner still would have been left with the old 1/2-inch copper irrigation network, manual gate valves, extremely low pressure, and no automatic controller.

We wanted to solve the entire irrigation problem, not simply install one new component onto an obsolete system.

Our Solution: A New 6-Zone Sprinkler System

After evaluating the property and discussing the options with the homeowner, we moved forward with a complete new 6-zone sprinkler system installation.

Instead of continuing to depend on the old manual irrigation layout, the property would now have six independently controlled watering zones designed to operate as a modern automatic sprinkler system.

Dividing an irrigation system into zones allows different sections of the property to be watered independently based on the sprinkler layout and water requirements of each area.

Depending on the property, separate irrigation zones may serve areas such as:

• Front lawn
• Rear lawn
• Side yards
• Narrow turf areas
• Landscape areas
• Sections requiring different sprinkler coverage

The new installation gave us the opportunity to design the irrigation system around the property instead of continuing to work around the limitations of piping and valves installed many years ago.

Using Bore Shots to Install the New Irrigation System

Building a new sprinkler system on an established property often requires finding ways to reach different sections of the yard without unnecessarily disturbing existing hardscapes.

On this project, we completed several irrigation bore shots to get new piping where it needed to go.

Boring allows irrigation pipe to be routed beneath certain obstacles instead of opening the entire surface above them.

Bore shots can be useful when sprinkler piping needs to travel beneath areas such as:

• Sidewalks
• Walkways
• Driveways
• Other established hardscape areas

This allowed us to connect the different sections of the new irrigation system while minimizing unnecessary disruption to the property.

The Customer Wanted a Simple Sprinkler Timer — Not a Wi-Fi System

Choosing the correct sprinkler controller is not always about choosing the controller with the most technology.

We regularly install modern Hunter Hydrawise Wi-Fi irrigation controllers for homeowners who want smartphone access, remote control, weather-based adjustments, and additional system management features.

This homeowner wanted something different.

They specifically wanted a sprinkler timer that was:

• Easy to understand
• Easy to operate
• Reliable
• Not overly complicated
• Not dependent on a smartphone
• Capable of automatically operating all six irrigation zones

For this installation, we chose a 6-zone Hunter X2 irrigation controller.

Why the Hunter X2 Was the Right Controller for This Home

The Hunter X2 sprinkler controller was a great match for what this homeowner wanted.

It provides traditional irrigation controller operation that can be managed directly from the timer. The homeowner can control watering days, start times, zone run times, and manual operation without needing to rely on a phone for normal sprinkler operation.

That was a major improvement compared with the system that was there before.

The homeowner went from physically opening and closing old gate valves with a meter key to having a controller capable of automatically operating the entire six-zone sprinkler system.

Not Every Homeowner Needs a Wi-Fi Sprinkler Controller

Smart irrigation controllers are excellent products, but they are not automatically the best choice for every customer.

Some homeowners want remote smartphone control and advanced scheduling features. Other homeowners simply want to walk up to their sprinkler timer, turn a dial, select what they need, and operate the system.

Both are perfectly reasonable choices.

At Hunter HydroTech, our goal is not to install the most complicated controller available. Our goal is to install the right irrigation controller for the homeowner and the property.

For this customer, the straightforward operation of the Hunter X2 was the right fit.

Why We Replaced the Old System Instead of Continuing to Repair It

One of the most common questions homeowners have about an aging irrigation system is whether they should repair the existing sprinkler system or replace it.

There is no single answer that applies to every property.

An older irrigation system with a broken sprinkler valve, damaged head, wire problem, or failed controller may still be an excellent candidate for repair.

Replacement begins to make more sense when several major parts of the irrigation infrastructure are creating limitations at the same time.

On this Grosse Pointe property, we were dealing with:

• Old 1/2-inch copper irrigation piping
• Extremely low operating pressure
• Manual gate valves
• No automatic irrigation valves
• No sprinkler controller
• No automatic watering functionality
• A new backflow protection requirement

Continuing to add new components to this system would have meant investing more money into infrastructure that still would not provide the functionality the homeowner wanted.

A new installation allowed us to address the property as a complete irrigation system.

Before and After: From a Meter Key to an Automatic 6-Zone System

Before

The home had an aging irrigation system with 1/2-inch copper throughout the property, extremely low pressure, old manual gate valves, no sprinkler timer, and no automatic zone operation.

Each sprinkler zone had to be physically turned on and off by hand with a meter key.

After

The property now has a new 6-zone sprinkler system with automatic zone control and a Hunter X2 irrigation controller selected specifically because the homeowner wanted simple, reliable operation without depending on Wi-Fi or a smartphone.

Strategic bore shots helped us route the new irrigation piping through the established property and rebuild the system around modern irrigation functionality.

What started with a city backflow notice ultimately became an opportunity to replace an outdated manual irrigation system and bring the property back to life with a sprinkler system that the homeowner could actually use and enjoy.

Have an Older Sprinkler System in Grosse Pointe?

If you own an older home in Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Farms, or another nearby Southeast Michigan community, your irrigation system may be considerably older than many of the visible improvements made to the property.

Hunter HydroTech works with both older and modern irrigation systems. Depending on the condition of your system, we may recommend a targeted repair, system revamp, controller upgrade, valve replacement, backflow work, or complete irrigation replacement.

We diagnose and repair problems involving:

• Low sprinkler pressure
• Old manual irrigation valves
• Gate valves
• Outdated sprinkler piping
• Backflow preventers
• RPZ and backflow systems
• Sprinkler valve replacement
• Valve manifold replacement
• Wire tracking and electrical troubleshooting
• Sprinkler controller replacement
• Hunter X2 controllers
• Hunter Hydrawise Wi-Fi controllers
• Weak or non-working sprinkler zones
• Complete irrigation system revamps
• New sprinkler system installations

Sometimes an older sprinkler system only needs a repair. Sometimes part of the system can be modernized.

And sometimes, as we found on this Grosse Pointe project, a properly designed new irrigation installation is the better long-term solution.

Grosse Pointe Sprinkler System Installation & Repair

Hunter HydroTech LLC is a family owned, licensed and insured irrigation company serving Grosse Pointe and communities throughout Southeast Michigan.

We provide sprinkler repair, irrigation system replacement, new sprinkler installations, backflow services, valve repair, controller upgrades, system revamps, wire tracking, troubleshooting, seasonal service, and more.

Explore our sprinkler repair services, learn about irrigation backflow replacement, or view the communities in our Southeast Michigan service area.

Call Hunter HydroTech:
586-221-0730
313-636-1387