Add a New Sprinkler Head to Enhance Your Site and Get More Hits!

ENABLING BUSINESS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK

Add one more Sprinkler Head!

Several years ago, I wrote a piece called “one more sprinkler head” and I thought I would reprint it because what I am seeing on the Internet and the growth of the interactive options, this dated article will hopefully “spark” your call-to-action button to improve your web site.

“Last week before the rains started, our lack or rain was destroying my yard and the flowerbeds. And for those of us who are married, flowerbeds are very important to our spouse, so we (she) decided to have a watering system installed. The great day arrived where we could test the system and it started to rain. As I write this article, it is still raining but the weatherman told us that we would have clear and sunny tomorrow so we will wait. Finally, the new day began and it was a perfect day to test our new system and it worked beautifully except for one corner. My wife’s comment is “if we add one more sprinkler head we can be assured that our yard is fully covered and that we do not need rain to protect my flowerbeds. She probably is right and I told the watering guy to add another sprinkler head. What has this to do with the Internet? Well, in theory I has everything to do with it!

Think about it. You have a nice web site, you hired an Internet marketing company or you are marketing the site yourself and the site is starting to be found, but the expected results are not happening! The answer is to add “one or more INTERNET sprinkler heads” and here is what you do:

1. You must have a way to review what is happening on your site and that is called a web trends report. If your ISP does not provide this service, move your site or get a third party to provide it (bolt-it-on your site…your ISP can do this for you).
2. Re-think about what people will type in the search box on the top 4 or 5 search engines to find your site. I am always amazed that web site owners do not pay attention to this critical action and prepare their keywords or keyword phrases appropriately. People surfing the net are NOT to type in one word unless they are looking for IBM or MIRCOSOFT (Branded names). If they are planning a trip to Savannah, they will type in a phrase (their interest) such as: “Savannah lodging” “Savannah golf courses” or something that provides the specific answer (web site_ that answers their search request. As one real example, I was sent an email from our one of our popular Savannah Travel web sites asking for information on housing for her daughter. The lady resides in Venezuela. For all of you real estate agents reading this article, why have not added an appropriate phrase (student housing or SCAD (local art college) apartments or?) to your web site that addresses this “sprinkler head”?
3. Always add more value to your site. For those of you, who sell a product; add a coupon or special offer. It has been my experience that offering something of value gets attention. Many of you use a direct mailing service to send your coupons to a targeted address. Why not offer the visitors to your site the same advantage? Obviously, if your are selling cement blocks this is not a good tactic but for those who get in-store traffic or have a product that allows your to provide an incentive, why not put the offer on the web? It works!
4. I am becoming a great believer in adding the ability to gather email addresses from visitors who want to be told of a new product offering or to receive more information on your product or service via a newsletter. Look, if I can write a column, you can compose a newsletter for your service. This is a powerful marketing tool and you can get repeat visitors to your site, which is the best tool you can employ. Consider, you’re a tour company and you want to increase the number of people who sign-up for your tour. This is what you do: (1) Add a coupon (2) Write a newsletter about your city or tour and (3) Capture email addresses from people who are planning to visit your city and found your site and (4) Follow-up emails to all. In the minds of the readers, you are an expert on your community and therefore, a logic choice for a tour booking. These are “sprinkler heads”.

Marketing on the Internet is not “brain surgery” work but it is hard work. The Internet allows all business sizes to compete equally and the only limitation is you mind and creativity. It is “thinking-outside-the-box”. If you add “one or more sprinkler heads” you will be the right road to gain positive results from planting your product or service on the Web…Just add water!

Chuck St. Arnaud is the Chairman of Systems Connect, inc., a leading ISP in Coastal Georgia. Chuck is also a featured writer on the Internet for a local business publication and a frequent speaker on the Internet to business groups, associations and for the University of Georgia Small Business Program. He is also an adjunct professor at the local business university and teaches marketing.

Visit his blog at http://www.sysconn.com

Rain Shut Off Devices for Automatic Lawn Sprinkler Systems

Automatic sprinkler system controllers are programmed to go on and off on a certain day and at a certain time. The controller does not know if it is sunny and dry outside or raining. For this reason every lawn sprinkler system should have a rain sensor.

The rain sensor determines whether or not enough rainfall has occurred in order to skip an irrigation cycle. There are three basic types of rain sensors. They all serve the same purpose: keeping your system from over-watering the turf or your garden. How does it do that? The electrical connection between the sensor and your sprinkler system controller is interrupted when a certain amount of rain triggers the device. The sensor breaks the electrical connection so that electricity cannot flow to either the sprinkler valves or to a pump start (if your system is on a well without a pressure tank).

One type breaks the connection by weighing the water in a rainfall collection cup. The problem with this type is that leaves, sticks, or the occasional lizard will find its way into the collection cup and therefore turning off the system.

The next type uses electrodes to determine how much water is in the collection cup. This kind of rain sensor device also has a system problem of collecting things other than rainfall in the collection cup.

The most common type of rain sensor used by professionals is the expansion disk device. This kind of sensor does not use a collection cup; instead rainfall causes cork disks to expand. This device uses a pressure switch to break the electrical connection. These can be adjusted in increments of ¼” to the desired rain fall setting. This adjustment is usually set to turn off the sprinklers after ½” of rain has fallen.

The most important aspect of installing a rain sensor is where to place it. It should be installed in an area that is unobstructed by trees, roof over hangs, or anything else that might block rain from getting to the sensor. If it is a wired sensor, placement is generally near the sprinkler controller. The wires should be connected inside the controller’s valve wiring panel. This allows for easier electrical trouble-shooting of the system as the sensor can be easily disconnected.

In the last few years, FM wireless rain sensors have become very popular. Although they are more expensive than the wired devices, the ease of installation and increased placement options offset the cost. Most wireless units come with by-pass switches built into the device. Some digital controllers also offer by-pass options for both wired devices and wireless rain sensors.

No matter the type of rain sensor type that you choose, all rain sensors offer many advantages over not adding this detector to your automatic sprinkler system. Some of the immediate and long term benefits include:
• Saves Money. Whether you pay for city water or spend electricity running a pump, the money you save over time will more than pay for the rain sensor.
• Extends Sprinkler System Life Span. Irrigation systems are made up of moving parts. If the system parts are utilized less frequently (during the rainy season), they last longer.
• Protects Water Resources. By limiting the over use of your sprinkler system, rain sensors reduce excess water run-off that carries fertilizers and pest control chemicals into our shared water supply.
• Conserves Water. Less water is wasted when less supplemental water is needed for your turf and in your garden.

How much money can you save with a rain sensor device?

It will vary based on your water source (city, re-claim, or well) and where you live (water costs, electrical rate, climate). Here is one example that demonstrates the benefits listed above:
Seminole County, Florida.
System Description:
• Designed to irrigate a quarter acre of grass and programmed to apply ½” of water every time the system runs.
• This schedule would equal 6,788 gallons per irrigation cycle.
• This system (on City Water) pays $2.30 per thousand gallons.
• Every time the rains sensor interrupts a sprinkler cycle, you would save $15.61

According to a recent study in Florida, the use of a rain sensor device averaged a 45% savings in water for single-family residential water usage.

The next time you see a sprinkler system running in the rain, you now know it doesn’t have to be that way. Rain sensors are affordable solutions to conserving our water, protecting our water resources, and saving you money.

Craig Borglum CIC/CID/CLIA is a Certified and Licensed Irrigation Specialist in Central Florida. More information and articles on how-to irrigation solutions, click on sprinkler repair. A comprehensive Lawn Sprinkler Repair DVD is available at http://www.IrrigationRepair.com

The Motion Activated Lawn Sprinkler - Chase Away Those Critters

For any gardener or landscape lover, you know how difficult it can be to keep animals out of your garden or flowers. It can be a real pain, but now a company has designed a motion activated lawn sprinkler to solve this problem once and for all.

If you are like me, then you have had to deal with rabbits eating your carrots in the garden, or squirrels, dogs and other animals terrorizing your vegetation. Even deer can be a problem for some homeowners.

The motion activated lawn sprinkler uses infrared technology to detect movement around a 105 degree view. When an animal triggers it, water sprays out and scares off the animal.

The unit works day or night and does a great job I must say. As you can imagine it usually only takes one time of getting sprayed with water to keep the animal from returning.

The lawn sprinkler has a built-in stake that you simply stick into the ground and the unit attaches to any garden hose.

It also includes a dial that you can set to adjust the motion detector and another one that will allow you to adjust the force of the spray.

The sprinkler runs on a 6 month 9-volt battery and can keep everything from a small cat to a deer away from the area you have it set up in.

The motion activated lawn sprinkler is an ingenious idea that really works in keeping the animals away.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

You can find much more information on a Motion Activated Lawn Sprinkler as well as more information on all types of sprinklers at http://www.SprinklersA-z.com

BEST-LAID PLANS: Five Common Mistakes that Could Get Your Sprinkler Plan Rejected

The proper design and review of fire sprinkler systems takes months or years to learn. "These are very involved systems installed for the safety of buildings and people," said Vince Konwent, an instructor with the Building and Fire Code Academy, in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Konwent has more than 18 years of experience in the fire protection industry, specifically focusing on municipal consulting for the last 13 years. As a professional who performs sprinkler reviews and inspections on a daily basis, he has noticed that there are five common problems he sees most often:

1. Improper Design Classification or Labeling

Occupancy and commodity classification definitions are found in Chapter Two of NFPA-13, but some designers depend too heavily on the examples provided in the appendix.

"For instance, a designer may classify a retail facility with storage as an ordinary hazard facility," said Konwent, "but when the storage exceeds 12 feet in height it would be considered more of a storage facility. So Lowes, Home Depot, your Sam's Club - any store in which items are stacked more than 12 feet high - have to meet a different set of requirements."

Konwent added that properly labeling the plans is also paramount. "It would be impossible to determine the design criteria for a facility if the plans simply state the building is a warehouse facility," he said, "but we frequently see plans that say just that."

2. Missing or Inaccurate Water Flow Test Data

The drawings and hydraulic calculations must include the site of the flow test, and the date and time the test was conducted. The calculations must be taken to the point of the water flow test, not some fictitious or convenient point.

"You can't use some fictitious footage," said Konwent. "You can't put 100 feet in your calculations when the flow test was actually taken 500 feet from the building."

3. Installing the Wrong Sprinklers

It is important that the exact sprinkler indicated on the plans and hydraulic calculations is the sprinkler installed on the job site. There are numerous sprinklers available, each with a unique set of design criteria, flow pressure requirements, spacing requirements and specific obstruction rules. Installing the wrong sprinkler invalidates all the calculations and could put the building and its people at risk.

4. Inaccurate Hydraulic Calculations

"There are several areas in which mistakes can be made while performing a hydraulic calculation," said Konwent. "You have all the pipe lengths, pipe sizes, elevation changes, fittings, and set pressure losses (such as backflow prevention devices) that must be included in the calculations. There are many inputs - any of which could adversely affect a system."

5. Missing Design Documents

Chapter 8 of NFPA 13 lists approximately 44 items that must be indicated on your plans. If one of these items is neglected or missing, it may cause a number of issues that would have to be corrected later in the field. It is far more economical to find and correct these issues early in the design process.

The Building & Fire Code Academy, a subsidiary of B & F Technical Code Services, Inc., provides comprehensive and practical education in the administration, application, and enforcement of building and fire codes. For information on BFCA’s Understanding Fire Sprinklers© Class or any of our other course, visit http://www.BFCacademy.com

Does The Scarecrow Sprinkler System Work For Eliminating Garden Pests

If you have a garden or expensive landscape then you know full well how animal pests can destroy your hard work and efforts. In the old days people used scarecrows, noise makers, traps, and other deterrents to keep animals off their land, and some of these devices where less then humane. With the advance of technology there has been new deterrent devices designed such as the scarecrow sprinkler system. Before deciding on any new deterrent device it would be wise to investigate what it is and how it works, its effectiveness, and above all that it is humane to animals. It is the objective of this article to discuss the pros and con's of the scarecrow sprinkler system.

The scarecrow sprinkler system was developed by a company named Contech Electronics L/G. Contech claims that it designed this system to protect landscape, gardens, fish ponds, and other areas of land from animals such as deer, cats, dogs, raccoons, rabbits, gophers, possums, and even crows and other birds. The scarecrow sprinkler system is said to work similarly to the motion activated security lights around many people's homes by detecting heat and motion. When it sees an intruder, it instantly sprays the target with a 3 second burst of water under full garden hose pressure which is around 2 cups. The fact that this is an automated system, the detector will not know what is shooting at so keep pets and friends clear.

The scarecrow sprinkler system claims that it can see a 100 degree zone and protects an area 35 feet deep and 45 feet wide. Even if the animal bounds out of the way before getting wet, it will be scared and leave the area. Over time, intelligent animals like dogs, cats, and deer, will learn which areas are likely to scare them and no longer frequent them. Scarecrow Sprinkler is said to protect day and night for up to 6 months or 3000 activations on one 9 volt battery. The company claims that the scarecrow sprinkler can be set up easily with just a garden hose to guard a farm, lawn, or backyard and that no professional installation is required.

Animals that get on your land can ruin landscapes and gardens by nibbling on berries, smashing plants, digging holes, eating vegetables, defecating, or scratching outdoor furniture. If you have a fish pond with expensive fish then birds can also be a problem. If you have issues with animal pests you may lose patience over time and decide to take any action that works, often injuring or killing the pest. I beg you to reconsider this type of action as what you consider to be a pest may be somebody else's pet and even if not, a humane approach to animal control is always desired. Because the scarecrow sprinkler uses water with no chemicals and does not rely on ugly barriers or shock treatment, it is said to be completely safe for animals and people. It is said that the jet of water simply scares the target away without doing any physical injury. Of course if you have your own pets then it would be wise to keep them out of the area and let visitors know about your scarecrow system as getting blasted with a stream of water may not be harmful, it is sure to be irritating to guests, visitors, meter readers, and salespeople.

If you have a problem with animal pests tearing up your garden or landscape then you are looking for a solution. The scarecrow sprinkler is said to be humane, safe, and effective and although most companies trying to promote a product will say such things, reviews indicate that people have benefited from this device. As already stated, this system may cause problems with friends, neighbors, and pets who can accidentally get wet not to mention that you would need a great deal of water pressure to shoot a stream 45 feet in distance. While this system may work fine for small gardens or landscapes, it would seem that you would need to find a better solution for larger areas.

To learn more about pest control and the scarecrow sprinkler please visit the ScareCrowSprinkler-Reviews website today.

Conserve Water - 6 Tips For Proper Sprinkler Setup

Recently Southern Californians have been asked to reduce water consumption due to an extremely dry season. Surely there are many parts of the world in similar conditions. In order to avoid a potential future drought, action needs to be taken to conserve water. One of the most effective ways to conserve water is to properly setup your sprinkler systems.

Here are 6 tips to proper sprinkler setup:

1. Fix sprinkler heads that overshoot onto the sidewalk or you neighbors driveway. This is usually an easy fix by simply turning the sprinkler head to face the proper direction. You may also need to change the head to the proper shape to avoid over spray.
2. Don't water during heat of the day. The main reason for this is that water will vaporize and evaporate much more in heat.
3. Water in early morning hours. This reduces evaporation and is a healthy time to water for lawn and plants.
4. Reduce runoff by setting timer for two shorter periods. set periods 15 or 20 minutes apart. For example, if you currently water each of your timer zones for 10 minutes, you can reduce runoff by setting a 5 minute time, wait 15 minutes then set another 5 minute time. This allows water penetration into the soil.
5. Turn timer off on a rainy day and leave it off for two or three days after rain or set the "rain delay" feature on timer.
6. Convert some of your spray heads to a bubbler or drip system. In areas where most of the water is hitting bare dirt, a bubbler or drip is a direct hit on the plants that need water.

Do your part in water conservation by giving your sprinkler system a tune up.

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