How to spot non professional contractors

Evaluate the Qualifications of Your Irrigation System Contractor

This information is designed to help you make the best decision about an important purchase - your irrigation system.
One of the Delaware Irrigation Association's most important goals is to educate you, the consumer, about what to expect from an irrigation contractor. The Delaware Irrigation Association achieves this goal by informing you of the basic standard practices in the irrigation industry. Understanding this industry will help you select an irrigation contractor and choose the appropriate options for your system. In general, a proper irrigation system should be suited to your specific needs and
relatively easy to operate and maintain. The Delaware Irrigation Association expects any system installed by one of our member contractors to provide you with years of satisfaction.

Consumer Checklist

To ensure that you are about to hire a reputable irrigation contractor capable of installing a quality system, the Delaware Irrigation Association recommends asking the following questions:
1. Are you a member of the Delaware Irrigation Association?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. Do you have a business telephone and address?
4. Do you have an irrigation service vehicle with your company name on the side?
5. Will you provide me with a copy of your certificate of insurance?
6. Do you have a State of Delaware business license to do this work?
7. Will you provide a list of references whom I may contact about your work?
8. Do you offer a warranty on parts and labor for the entire system, including warranty coverage of any dry spots that may appear?
9. Will you guarantee that overspray will be left to a minimum?
10. Are you going to zone the sprays and rotors separately to prevent over watering?

11. Will the system be designed to have head-to-head coverage and matched precipitation rates?
12. Will you install a backflow prevention device?
13. Do you provide me with an 'As-Installed Schematic' of my irrigation system that I may retain?
14. Following completion of the installation, will you instruct me in the operation of my system both in the automatic and
manual modes?
15. Will you demonstrate to me that each part of my irrigation system is completely operational before payment is received?

Terms to Know

As-Installed Schematics are maps of your irrigation system, to assist you in preventing inadvertent damage through mowing, digging and other home-improvement activities.
Backflow happens when contaminated water is drawn back into the water source. Backflow prevention keeps contamination
from entering drinking water.
Overspray occurs when water being applied to a landscape area also results in water being applied to streets, driveways, sidewalks, the sides of buildings, etc.
Zones are the areas controlled by each irrigation valve. The size and location of each zone is based on available water supply, type of sprinkler being used and type of vegetation being irrigated. Sprays and rotors should not be used in the same zone. Turf and plants should not be in the same zone.

Adapted from materials created by the Florida Irrigation Society.