How to Choose an Irrigation and Sprinkler Company in SWFL

In Southwest Florida, a sprinkler system can keep a lawn alive through the dry winter months, or it can quietly waste water, stain walls, flood beds and run up a bill while you're away. A good irrigation company sets the system up for local watering rules, fixes leaks and broken heads, and adjusts the schedule as the seasons change.

Know the watering rules first

The South Florida Water Management District sets year-round landscape irrigation rules, and counties and cities add their own. Lee and Collier Counties limit lawn watering to assigned days and hours, often based on your address, and Lee County generally allows two days a week. Rules can tighten during droughts. Ask any irrigation company to program your controller for your local schedule, and check your city or county website for the current rules.

Rain sensors are required

Florida law requires automatic sprinkler systems installed since 1991 to have a working rain sensor or similar device that stops the system after enough rain. Sensors wear out and get bumped or disconnected. Ask the company to test yours on every inspection. Some homeowners upgrade to a smart controller that adjusts to weather and can be checked from a phone, which is handy when you're up north.

Reclaimed water and wells

Many SWFL homes water with reclaimed water from the city, a private well or a pond rather than drinking water. Each has its own issues: wells and ponds can carry iron and sediment that stain walls and clog heads, and reclaimed lines have their own rules about connections and backflow. Make sure the company has experience with your water source, and ask about rust stain prevention if you have a well.

Common problems in a seasonal home

Broken or tilted heads from mowers, cars or crews.
Zones that run too long or too often, causing fungus, runoff and high bills.
Heads spraying the house, which stains stucco and feeds mildew. See our exterior painting guide.
Leaking valves or pipes that run unnoticed for weeks.
A controller that reset after a power outage or storm.

Ask your home watch provider or lawn company to report wet spots and broken heads, and consider shutting off or reducing the system while the home is empty if your HOA allows it.

Licensing and insurance

Florida doesn't have a single statewide license for lawn sprinkler contractors, and requirements vary by county and city. Some local governments require an irrigation contractor license or certificate of competency, and connections to drinking water lines usually involve plumbing and backflow rules. Check with your county's contractor licensing office, and ask any company for proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Industry certifications, such as those from the Irrigation Association, are a plus but aren't required.

What a quote should include

Inspection: a zone-by-zone check of heads, coverage, valves, controller and rain sensor, with a written list of findings.
Repairs: price per head, nozzle, valve and pipe repair, plus any trip charge.
Programming: setting run times for your watering days and adjusting them seasonally.
Maintenance plans: how often they visit, what's included and what's extra.
Warranty on parts and labor.

Find providers in Estero, Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Sanibel & Marco Island.

General information only. It is not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Check with your insurer, HOA and licensed professionals.