Redefining Your Space

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Well Water Irrigation Systems and Rust Prevention

Posted 3:16 PM by

Do you have an irrigation system that runs on well water? If you do, you know the huge benefit of not having to pay water utility bills for your sprinkler system. But there can also be a dark side to running your irrigation system on well water - the side effects of staining caused by excessive minerals and particularly high iron content in the water. Water with high iron content can stain just about anything it comes in contact with, including driveways and sidewalks, fences, trees, flowers, and even your house, garage, or outdoor barn.

Outdoor Rust and Iron StainsHelp is finally here! By treating the high minerals and iron content we can eliminate the unsightly occurrence and give you the beautiful lawn and property that you intended to have when you installed the irrigation system in the first place. We will first test the water to understand the extend of your issue. Then we’ll eliminate the chemicals by installing mechanisms in your system to counter the high iron content. We highly recommend this service, as you’ll be able to see great results, and a much nicer looking outdoor living area (without rust stains) if your primary water source is well water.

Contact us to learn more.

* Thanks to Summit Brands for the above photo. Summit provides rust stain removers that can help clean up already impacted areas.

Start 2022 the Smart Way, with a Smart Sprinkler System

Posted 2:52 PM by

The year has just started and it’s just the right time to think of how you can make a ‘Smart Start’ to it. Granted this can be accomplished in many ways. Allow us to introduce one way to you: consider having a smart irrigation or in-ground sprinkler system installed on your residential or commercial property.

Benefits of Smart Irrigation and Sprinkler Systems

Smart Irrigation Systems in Indianapolis (The Peters Group)Imagine being somewhere far away and still being able to operate your sprinkler system from a smart device like your cell phone. Well, it is actually quite easy to accomplish. You can do just that by 1) installing a Smart Timer on your existing irrigation system or 2)  installing a new, smart sprinkler system on your property. On an existing system, we can pull out the old digital component and install a new one in its place, connecting it to your network and installing the application to your phone. We then connect and set it up. It’s so easy, that you could even do it all by yourself.

If you are considering a new irrigation system for your property, we can install a "Smart" system as part of the overall installation process.

A smart irrigation system will make your life even easier; now you won’t have to stand in front of the timer to program it, as it can be done right from your smartphone. Bring convenience, portability, and fun right in the palm of your hand, with a new smart sprinkler for your yard. Now that’s a ‘Smart Start’ for 2022.

Contact the Peter's Group today to learn more.

How to Stop Rust Staining from a Well Water Irrigation System

Posted 5:32 PM by

Problem with Ugly Rust Stains?

Outdoor StainsDo you have rust stains on your sidewalks, driveway, patio, or fences? If you do have that rust staining problem then you most likely have an irrigation system that runs on well water. That well water that keeps your water bill down can also cause unsightly staining because of the high iron, manganese, and calcium content of the water.

Rust Stain Prevention - How to Stop Rust Staining from a Well Water Irrigation System

The Peters Group can install a well water irrigation system that prevents rusting and staining, so your property looks clean again. Visit our Well Water Irrigation Systems page to learn more.

How to Irrigate Your Vegetable Garden

Posted 2:22 PM by

Flower and Vegetable Garden PotsNeed help creating your vegetable garden and drip irrigation system?

Learn about our new Vegetable Garden and Drip Irrigation Services. We can help set up your own vegetable and flower pots, planters, window boxes, and more. And we can also make it easy to water and maintain.

Learn more.

 

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An irrigation system in every yard

Posted 3:05 AM by

You have gotten estimates and have thought long and hard about it for some time now, well cutting to the chase, you want to have one of the best looking yards in the neighborhood, save money, save time, and most importantly save your energy to spend time with your family by going on vacations and worry less or just simply have more time to do what you want to do and not have to spend all that time time in your yard. Yes all that is possible by simply installing an irrigation system and for anyone who has one, just ask them and they will tell you in a heartbeat that it was one of the best things they ever did to enhance the beauty and value of their property. Think about the days when you have been pulling that water hose across your lawn in the hope of getting maximum watering for all your lawn and plants and still end up frustrated and dispondent. You will never be able to keep up with your yard and find the time to do anything else, so the smart thing to do is to have a sprinkler or irrigation system installed.

See inground watering at work under a timed condition like early in the morning say three, four or five o'clock, while you are still asleep this system is doing the work for you. It will work for you while you are in bed, on vacations, at work or whenever you want it to. Believe it, you can have one installed at an affordable price and not break the wallet and time will prove that you made a pretty smart and cost saving decision. Unlike pulling hoses you have no control over how much water is put out and what washes down the drain, but now you will have controlled or timed watering and no more unecessary water loss.

We as a company are committed to bringing you all the best that the irrigation industry has to offer technology wise and with the latest developement in particular has seen major changes in tightening water output and thus making irrigation systems more cost effective to the customer and save the environment at the same time. We also have taken great care through our engineering expertise to design systems that will also give maximum water coverage for less cost. We are constantly working on this aspect to make all our customers happy as that is one of the questions frequently ask; "how can I get the more out of the irrigation system for less". Also with our seemless invisible installation technique no damage is done to the lawn as in employing this technique the yard look like we were never there in the first place, the installation is done a lot cleaner, faster and deliberately to not scare of future customers in neighbors looking on.

All in all you just can't beat having an irrigation sytem, it will change your life and bring home ownership to a whole new level. It is still good to look back and enjoy what you have invested your time and effort into and this project will definitely change that. So your yard is next to experience the joy from us of having an irrigation system.

What's New for 2016

Posted 3:43 PM by

We are excited to announce that beginning January 2016, our company as it continues to become a more eco-friendly one will communicate will all customers via email, our website and text messaging; if a customer does not have an email address then we will be left with no choice but to mail out communication materials. A detailed service order form will be left at all premises when we performed our services. However you will still receive an electronic invoice as backup so always check your email for it just in case for some unfortunate reason you don't see one in your mail box. To continue to reduce our carbon foot print as a General Contractor please note these changes.

  • Any change in your contact information should be communicated to the company, so please make sure that all of your information is up-to-date with our office. Also, please allow up to 3 business days for information to be processed on our end. 
  • Online/ Website Bill Payment Options. You can now pay your bill online here http://www.thepetersgroupllc.com/payments. However we still receive payment via sending in your check in the mail, calling with your credit card (5% processing fee). 
  • All important information can now be found in Blogs on our homepage.
  • All sprinkler or irrigation systems installations will be designed and installed for maximum water comsumption. 
  • A rain sensor will be attached to all systems to shut down operation when it rains.
  • In addition green programing of all controllers will now be done to reduce customers water bills.
  • Materials used in all projects will be checked against eco-friendly criterias and standards.

To better serve our customers, we are expanding our services. In addition to Irrigation Systems & Landscaping, we also offering the following services in both residential and commercial divisions.

  • Landscape and Outdoor Lighting. 
  • Wireless Dog and Pet Fence.
  • Property French Drain.
  • Lawn Care & Maintenance. 
  • Pool Installation and Maintenance.
  • Basement, Kitchen and Sun Room Remodeling.
  • Property Management and Restoration.
  • Water Features and Ponds.
  • Deck building, Concrete Work, Patios and Walkways.

Our Calendar of Events will be updated with important events concerning all customers like spring startup, backflow preventer testing proceedures and other events of interest so please check it regulary. Also we will email all customers of when their zipcodes will be scheduled for spring startup as that is the method by which all areas will be serviced.

Also anyone a customer refer to us and they sign a contract to have any of our services we will give a discount on future services. So whether your desire is for indoor or outdoor services allow us the opportunity to redefine your space with Style, Quality and Professional Touch. 

 

The Peters Group

Posted 5:56 PM by

Previously Known as Affordable SprinklersBusinesses are started with an idea. The Peters Group was no different. Owner Chris Peters started his business as an irrigation company back in 2004 named Affordable Sprinklers, LLC. Since then we have grown and morphed into something different. Recognizing that our customer needs have evolved we felt we should also evolve.

The Peters Group (previously known as Affordable Sprinklers)No longer are we Affordable Sprinklers, specializing only in irrigation systems, but we are now The Peters Group specializing in a one stop shop for all your outdoor landscaping needs. This allows our customers to have one company handling all their landscaping needs from designing their outside oasis to maintaining it. We are able to meet most of your lawn care needs. Whether you would like to install an irrigation system, add some outdoor lighting, or would like to do some landscaping, The Peters Group can handle that for you. After the installation of your sprinkler system or landscaping we are able to maintain, repair, and upkeep your beautiful new lawn with a simple phone call to the office to schedule your service.

This is not only a name change it is a transition into something special. We have upped our game to provide the best quality service we can. This means that we have smoothed processes to make it easier for customers. We have added services to create value for customers. We have streamlined our communications process by creating a new website. We have changed how we schedule our customers. We are always looking for ways to improve our customers experience with us. Join us on our journey to creating the best Lawn & Irrigation company in Indianapolis.

Lawn Watering Tips

Posted 5:54 PM by

1

Water only when your grass needs it. Water conservation isn't the only reason to limit the amount of water you give your lawn. Overwatering is also bad for your lawn's health and can contribute to the development of fungus and disease. Some types of grass require more water than others, and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind can dramatically affect how frequently you need to water your lawn. Fortunately, the most accurate way to determine whether your lawn needs water is also the easiest: just look at the grass:

  • When grass needs water, it will begin to take on a blue-gray tint, and the older leaf blades on the plant will begin to curl up or wilt.
  • Footprints will remain on the grass for longer than usual, as the grass won't "bounce back." When 30 to 50% of your lawn shows these symptoms, it's time to water.

2

Water deeply to encourage deep root growth. Frequent shallow waterings encourage weed germination, and they also cause the grass plants' roots to grow shallow, leaving the plant more susceptible to drought and to certain diseases. Watering only when your grass really needs it encourages the roots to grow deeper, but only if you apply enough water each time to penetrate the root zone.

  • The most accurate way to determine the depth of the root zone is to dig a small hole and measure how far the roots go down.
  • Alternatively, you can follow these general approximations: if you have a bluegrass lawn, each watering should moisten the soil to 6 to 8 inches, while for most other grasses, the water should penetrate 8 to 12 inches. You can determine how long to leave the sprinkler system on by using one of the following methods:
  • Turn on your sprinkler for 15 minutes. After 18 to 24 hours, find out how deep the water soaked in by digging a small hole in the watered area or using a probe (a probe will push easily through damp ground). You can also push a shovel into the ground and use it as a lever to spread the soil apart enough so that you can see several inches below the surface. Once you see how deep the water went in 15 minutes, you can calculate how long you need to leave your sprinkler on.
  • For example, if the soil is damp to 4 inches below the surface and your goal is to moisten the soil to a depth of 8 inches, you'll need to leave the sprinkler on for 30 minutes (2 x 15 minutes) each time you water.
  • Estimate how much water you'll need based on your soil type. In general, 1 inch of water will penetrate sandy soils to 12 inches, loamy soils to 6 to eight inches, and clay soils 4 to 4 inches. Using these estimates isn't quite as accurate as digging, but it's pretty close, especially if you have a good knowledge of your soil composition. To figure out how long you need to keep your sprinkler or sprinkler system on, calibrate your sprinklers.

3

Water early in the morning. When you use sprinklers, some water evaporates before it hits the ground. On a hot, windy day, the amount of water that never reaches your grass can be substantial. To reduce loss to evaporation, water sometime between 4 A.M. and 9 A.M., when the air is still cool and the wind is usually at its calmest.

  • Avoid watering your lawn with hot water. On hot days, the water inside your hose can become very hot from solar energy—hot enough to scald! It's better to just skip watering that day, and water early the next morning. Run your hose after the sun has gone down, to empty out any hot water.

4

Aim your sprinklers to water the lawn. That's the part that needs the moisture—not the sidewalk or street! Slight adjustments to your sprinklers can save a lot of water. Ideally, you shouldn't water your sidewalk, patio, street, or driveway at all.

5

Avoid creating runoff. Even with sprinklers correctly targeted at the lawn, many people water until—or even after—water begins to run off the grass and into the street or driveway. This can waste a lot of water, and it isn't doing your lawn any good.

  • If water starts to run off your lawn before you've been able to give it a deep watering, turn off the water for 15 to 20 minutes to let the ground absorb the water, and then continue watering as needed (rotating a sprinkler between one area and another will also do the trick).
  • Some soil types absorb water more slowly than others, but runoff can also be caused by excessive thatch buildup, which can promote disease—which is sometimes caused by routine overwatering.

6

Let the rain do your work for you. Nothing looks more wasteful than running your sprinklers while it's raining. If your sprinkler system is on a timer, get and install a rain sensor that automatically turns the water off when it rains. If possible, also avoid watering if rain is expected later in the day or during the next day. Your grass should be fine, even if it looks stressed.

  • Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain you received, and then water a bit more only if needed.
  • If you're expecting rain, and your soil is dry, run the sprinkler to moisten it so that the soil absorbs the rain more easily.

7

Get a Rain Barrel. Use a rain barrel to water gardens and landscapes. A properly installed rain barrel harvests rain water from the gutters of your home and provides ample water for gardens and landscape areas. Capturing this rain water reduces the amount of run off that may otherwise be picking up garbage, oils, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants that are on your lawn, sidewalk and street. This also reduces the amount of pollution getting into our rivers, lakes, streams and ocean.

8

Water problem areas by hand. Many lawns have one or two spots that require more water than the rest of the lawn. A south-facing slope (or, in the Southern Hemisphere, a north-facing slope), or an unshaded area in an otherwise shady lawn are two common examples of these "problem areas." If you water your entire lawn every time you need to water these hot spots, you'll likely overwater everyplace but these spots. Instead, water them by hand or use a separate sprinkler that's not attached to the rest of your irrigation system.

Sprinkler System Emergency Shut Off and Tips

Posted 5:57 PM by

If you have a leak coming from your Sprinkler System you can take the following steps

To turn off water to system from the pit

  1. Sprinkler System Tipsfind the origin of the leak and flag it
  2. locate the system shut-off valve in the water pit
    1. the valve is made of pvc with either a blue or red plastic handle
    2. in some cases the valve is brass with a blue handle
    3. the handle should be facing down
  3. turn the handle clockwise so that if faces crossways

To turn off water to system from the basement

  1. find the origin of the leak and flag it
  2. locate the system shut-off valve in the basement
  3. turn the handle clockwise so that if faces crossways

To turn off water to syetem from the back-flow preventor

  1. find the origin of the leak
  2. if the leak is starting from the meter pit or before the backflow preventor
    1. open the meter cover with channel lock pliers
    2. turn the ball valve for the sprinkler system off
  3. if the leak is after the backflow preventor
    1. turn the handle to a cross position rather than the original parallel position

Rain sensor operation

  1. the sprinkler system has a rain sensor and when it rains the system will not run

Manual sprinkler operation

  1. your owner’s manual will give you the steps to run your system manually.
  2. you can call the office and we will walk you through the steps if needed

Schematic diagram and future development

  1. a schematic irrigation diagram is available for any future landscape construction plans
  2. this will help prevent damage to underground pipe

important note: do not turn the shut-off valve for the water meter or the supply line to your house.

 

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