Rain Rich is celebrating their 30 year anniversary! Owner, Richard Silverman and staff would like to thank all of their customers for making Rain Rich the successful company it is today.
Rain Rich has grown to be the preferred provider of irrigation services for homeowners, commercial properties, landscape companies, landscape architects, and construction firms throughout the New York metropolitan area. Rich Rain projects include Rallye BMW of Westbury, Citibank Park, home of the Long Island Ducks, Mill River Golf & Country Club and many more. In addition to providing all sprinkler system services, Rain Rich offers landscape lighting, holiday lighting, drainage systems, plumbing, backflow testing, water filtration, water service installation & replacement, electrical conduit installation and even missile & trenching services.
From the beginning, the mission for Rain Rich Sprinklers has always been to provide the very best service and the greatest value. We want to provide you or your business with superior customer service and to be your trusted resource for your irrigation and landscaping needs.
All Rain Rich technicians undergo constant training and education in all aspects of sprinkler system design, service, and troubleshooting. Our staff has over 100 years experience and have multiple licenses and certifications. In addition we have numerous relationships with plumbers, electricians, and various trades to assist and resolve problems that our clients may encounter. Providing excellent service is the number one reason we have so many satisfied customers.
If you’re looking for the answers to your automatic lawn sprinkler, drainage, plumbing, water filtration or electrical woes and you don’t know who to call on then there may be no better time to reach out to Rain Rich lawn sprinklers Long Island! Please contact our friendly office staff at (631) 423-2211 or visit www.rainrich.com.
This weekend marks a very special holiday, Mother's Day.
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever. ~Alfred Lord Tennyson
In celebration of this holiday most will buy flowers, plants or cards but we thought why not buy her something different that will last.
Get creative and give her something that gives her more time for herself. Buy her something amazing, a Rain Rich Gift Certificate.
We are pleased to announce that we now offer Gift Certificates for many of our services including:
- New sprinkler system installations
- Fertigation Systems
- Modifications to existing systems
- Drip Irrigation Systems for:
- Rose Gardens
- Vegetable Gardens
- Hanging Baskets
- Flower Pots
- Window Boxes
Rain Rich Gift Certificates are great gift for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. To get more information simply call 631.423.2211 and we'll be happy to help you. For more information about our services, please visit www.rainrich.com.
We wish all you a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Earth Day was recently celebrated and every year thousands of people recognize this day as a way to add a little more “green” to their lives. Teaching children from an early age to conserve natural resources reduce what they throw away, and take action to preserve Mother Nature is a great way to encourage them to take care of their environment. There are many things - some big, some small that you and your family can do to help conserve energy and water resources all year round.
15 Things you and your family can do to celebrate Earth Day (OR ANY OTHER DAY)
Conserve energy indoors:
1. Clean out closets and donate or recycle goods.
2. Purchase organic and eco-friendly products.
3. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.
4. Don’t leave the water running when brushing teeth.
5. Take a shorter shower and shallow baths to save water.
6. Repair leaky faucets, pipes, and toilets.
7. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
8. Hold off on the laundry until you have a full load.
Conserve energy outdoors:
1. Plant flowers, vegetables, shrubs, or trees in the yard.
2. Grab a trash bag and clean a local park or playground.
3. Bike or walk instead of taking the car.
4. Practice outdoor water conservation. Do not wash down driveways, streets or sidewalks.
5. Maintain your sprinklers and irrigation. Fix broken sprinkler heads and pipes and make sure that spray patterns are directed where they are intended.
6. Use mulch on your garden to retain moisture. Ideal mulch candidates include hay, manure, leaves, wood chips, bark, and newspaper.
7. Bring a tote bag to the grocery store to pack purchases.
Remember every day is Earth Day. For additional information on things you can do to help our planet visit http://www.earthday.org and the Earth Day Network.
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The Magic of Drip Irrigation- It really works!
I have been installing drip irrigation for over 20 years and my clients and I really enjoy the benefit of having a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation works great for planting beds, perimeter border plantings, odd shape lawn areas, pots and window boxes, and commercial parking lots. I have installed many thousands of feet of drip irrigation tubing and it works great.
The difference between drip irrigation and regular sprinkler irrigation is:
1. With drip irrigation there is no spray of water. The water drips out of the tubing.
2. Drip irrigation waters very slowly allowing water to soak into the soil and not runoff.
3. Sprinkler heads water in gallons per minute vs. drip irrigation that waters in gallons per hour.
4. Drip irrigation requires a long duration of time to adequately apply enough water to percolate into the soil. On very hot days I recommend 30 -60 minutes of run time on the controller and have the program water every other day.
5. Sprinkler heads apply large quantity of water in a very short amount of time and are therefore less efficient.
6. Drip irrigation requires less maintenance and there are no moving parts or popping up and down.
7. Drip irrigation is less prone to vandalism and is a perfect irrigation product for commercial areas.
8. Drip irrigation works great at low water pressure! The water pressure is always lower on hot days.
9. Drip irrigation can be used anytime of the day. There are no municipal water restrictions regarding the use of drip irrigation.
The typical complaint I receive is that the owner cannot see the water coming out of the drip tubing when the system is on and Netafim has a great product that indicates when the system is on and operating. To learn more about all great benefit to drip irrigation please visit our website at www.rainrich.com.
Now that spring start ups are officially under way and many homeowners are now watering due to the dry weather there is a good chance that debris & sediment can work its way into your sprinkler system and into your water supply.
The demand for water the past two weeks has created increased turbulence in water supply pipes and an increase in unwanted particles entering your home and sprinkler system.
The debris can clog faucets and cause sprinkler solenoid valves to remain open. If you find a sprinkler zone that stays on even if you have turn the controller to the “off” position then chances are there is something stuck in the solenoid valve.
There are two things that you can do to fix the problem and they are:
1. Open and close the main valve to the sprinkler system several times to dislodge the debris and hope this clears it up. the valve should shut down on its own within a few seconds.
2. If #1 doesn’t work then you have to take the valve apart, clean, and reassemble. Make sure the water is off before you take the valve apart!
3. If you cannot do either #1 or #2 than please call us!
Overall, the best solution I have found is installing a water filter for the home and a debris filter for the sprinkler system. You would be amazed at the junk we trap in these filters! The filters pay for themselves in saving you from service calls and decreased component life. To learn more visit our website at www.rainrich.com or call 631-423-2211.
Summer Weather has Arrived!
The summer weather has arrived! We jumped from winter to summer in less than a week and lawn and plants are thirsty. Although you may not want to water every day or automatically this early in the season you may want to run your system manually once every few days or once a week. For those of you with Hunter Pro-C controllers, this video will help demonstrate how to activate your system.
If you want to have your system operate automatically then turn the dial on the controller to “run” and leave in that position.
Here are some other great videos posted by Hunter, click here!
Should you have questions and require more information than please visit www.rainrich.com and or call Hunter at 1-800-733-2823 for support or visit them online at www.hunterindustries.com.
Lawns are thirsty plants and require lots of water in the spring and summer. In the spring, all plants are flushing out new growth in the form of leaves and branches. Growth is rapid and it is vital that plants have plenty of water to move nutrients from the ground to the branch tips and carry out photosynthesis. It is important to have your sprinkler system operating in top shape and to also have it ready as early in the spring as possible. An early heat wave, warm spell, coupled with dry weather can be very damaging to plants during this time and will prevent them from looking their best during the summer.
Here is the procedure Rain Rich recommends and follows for turning the sprinkler systems on for the first time in the spring season:
1. Slowly turn on the main sprinkler valve to half open and pressurize the main pipe and supply. Check for leaks and other damage. Once water stops rushing in to fill pipe then open valve fully.
2. Pressurize manifold. Check manifold and solenoid valves for leaks.
3. Check solenoid valves, solenoids, and electrical wiring and connections for damage.
4. Open each solenoid valve separately and fill the zone. Let zone run for several minutes and check area for leaks, missing sprinkler heads, damaged equipment, etc.
5. Close valve and check to make sure it fully closes.
6. Follow with next valve and take note of leaks and broken or missing equipment for each zone.
7. Check each sprinkler head for pop-up, rotation, spray pattern, and direction. Make adjustments if necessary.
8. Check controller, program, and replace battery if necessary.
9. Operate each zone from controller manually and make sure all come on and off from controller.
10. Visually inspect coverage of landscape and note changes.
11. Visually inspect backflow device for physical damage.
12. Visually inspect rain senor for physical damage. Check connection at controller and bypass switch should be “active”.
13. Present to owner a list of repairs with quote to fix.
14. Create a separate list of recommendations to improve sprinkler system and coverage with quote.
Many systems will require only minor repairs and Rain Rich can have those systems ready the same day. For those with major repairs or modifications, Rain Rich may have to schedule for another day with a larger crew and we promise to have ready before the heat of the summer. The key here is to have Rain Rich come early and activate the system before it is needed. If you would like to schedule an appointment and be placed on the calendar then please call 631-423-2211 or email Joanne at jsenk@rainrich.com. To see when and where we will be in your neighborhood please click on the scheduling calendar on our website at www.rainrich.com. If the repairs or improvements are time consuming then an additional appointment may be required to complete the spring turn on.
Please note that all systems turned on in March and April will have the controller set to the “off” position. The owner is responsible for turning the controller to the “on” position when ready to water or let us know that you would like it set to “on” and we will do that for you.
These are tough economic times and our goal is to make the most of the dollars we have. Saving money is as important as earning money and if we can follow some simple tips from the experts on how to save energy around the house then we can all put a few more dollars away for the things we really need or want.
Here are 12 simple low cost steps you can take toward saving energy around the home:
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1. Change light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, CFL’s, when your incandescent lights burn out. CFL’s use about 1/3 the energy and they have been improved so the light looks like the warm whites you are accustom to.
2. Install insulation behind wall outlets and switch plates. Cold air from outside can enter into your home through these non insulated openings. Hardware stores sell custom fitted insulation for these electrical coverings.
3. Install motion sensors in place of light switches. These devices will automatically turn on lights when you enter room and will automatically turn off lights when you leave.
4. Set your heating system thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The amount of oil/gas you will save over the course of the winter will be substantial compared to setting thermostat at 70 or 72 degrees.
5. Install a multiprogrammable thermostat that will automatically lower heating temperature during day or night when you are not at home and raise temperature when you are home e.g. evenings and weekends.
6. Install a humidifier for your home. Moisture in the air during the winter is healthy and makes the room feel warmer.
7. Insulate and caulk windows, doors, and openings, and heating ducts.
8. Insulate hot water heater and hot water pipes that are exposed. If your hot water is more than 10 years old then consider replacing. If your furnace/boiler is more than 15-20 years old than consider replacing. There are rebates and discounts available from many dealers and manufacturers. Check out T.F. Obrien.
9. Have your heating system checked out each season. A tune up is always needed and well worth the expense or should I say investment.
10. Change all filters on your heating system. This includes oil filter, air filter, and water filter. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and cause equipment to work overtime.
11. Make use of passive heating and keep drapes and blinds open on south facing rooms of home during sunny days. Let the sun heat your home.
12. Make sure all air ducts, heat registers, and baseboard heating is clean and open to allow air to move to be efficient.
These are just a few of the many minor inexpensive items that you can perform or have a professional perform at little or no cost. Look for future postings on additional ideas and links to energy savings. Check out www.energysavers.gov. For more information and or a free consultation please contact us at 631-423-2211.
Whether we want it or not winter is here. Extremely cold winter temperatures can damage your water pipes, leading to water waste and high sewer and water bills.
During the winter months, unprotected water pipes and water meters are vulnerable to freezing. This problem can be easily prevented by making sure that minimum heat is provided to all basements and other areas where the pipes and meters are located.
Here are 5 great tips that will help protect your home’s plumbing from winter water damage:
1. Cover all outside exposed pipes and wrap them with insulation. This can be obtained at your local hardware store. This will help keep your pipes warm and should prevent freezing. See Jeff at Greenlawn Hardware or visit his website at www.greenlawnhardware.com.
2. Check for any cracks in your foundation. Be sure repairs are made and potential problem situations are resolved.
3. If pipes do freeze, cut off main water valve. You can call your local water department and request they come out and shut off your buffalo box or simple call Rain Rich we are happy to help.
4. If you are leaving for an extended period of time you can shut your water off at the main valve. Also, you can lower the temperature of your furnace, but don’t shut it off. Set heat no lower than 55 degrees as this will prevent costly repairs to your plumbing.
5. Leave faucets dripping slightly overnight in extremely cold weather. If weather is below 32° for more than 3 or 4 nights turn your faucet on just enough for a slight trickle, by doing so you will have constant movement of the water which will prevent freezing
The goal is to be safe, secure and stay warm throughout this winter. If you need help with any of the above then please call us 631.423.2211 for a free consultation.
So far this winter season has been mild compared to our normal arctic experience. Good for us in many ways with lower heating bills, less snow to shovel, and easier travel. With over 60+ official days of winter remaining I am sure that we will have old man winter rattling our homes and sounding like a freight train running through the yard. Now would be a good time to take inventory of how well prepared we are before we are surprised by the blizzard of the century!
15.5 Tips to help you prepare for the snow and extreme cold weather:
1. Have snow shovels handy and available.
2. Have ice melt. Rain Rich has plenty of high quality safe ice melt in stock.
3. Make sure your snow blower is ready. If you do not have then now would be a good time to purchase. They are lower in cost then they ever were and are easy to use. If you only use once or twice in a season then it is still worthwhile to have. They don’t go bad!
4. Have plenty of birdseed. Birdseed is good to throw down on icy patches and helps the birds because that cannot find food when snow blankets the ground.
5. Make sure your water pipes are insulated. If it is super cold and windy outside it is not a bad idea to keep some faucets dripping to keep water moving in pipes and prevent from freezing. Moving water does not freeze as quickly as non-moving water.
6. Use heated pipe cables on water lines that may be exposed to the cold. e.g. cold water lines that run through a crawl space or garage or outside wall.
7. 
Place inexpensive water alarms in basement, under sinks, by laundry room. Rain Rich has plenty in stock.
8. If you leave to go on vacation and the house is vacant then think about shutting down water supply to the house to prevent damage while you are away.
9. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
10. Have boiler serviced and fuel filter changed to prevent emergencies. If you have an old boiler then consider changing. Check with your fuel company as they have sales and there are many rebates. The cost may pay for itself quickly.
11. Stock up on firewood while it is still relatively inexpensive and easy to deliver and store.
12. Make sure your chimney is clean. Have a professional clean it annually.
13. Clean gutters and leaders. Have downspout extended to move water away from basement and cellar windows. Frozen ground does not allow water to seep in and water will find its way into your basement!
14. Install heat cables in gutters and leaders and prevent from freezing and creating and ice dam on your roof. Ice dams on your roof can damage roof shingles, gutters, leaders, downspouts, and allow water to leak into your home creating damage inside! Maneuvering snow, ice, water off the roof and away from your home is critical during the few storms we may get.
15. Install dry wells to capture water from ground surface and from downspouts and to maneuver water away from home and safely into the ground.
15.5. Consider the purchase of a gas powered generator. They are also lower in cost and if it is powerful enough to keep your heating system working then it will more than pay for itself.
There is plenty to do when owning a home and protecting your most valuable investment by being prepared and practicing these few preventative maintenance listed above will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm, and happy while keeping your overall costs low. I would certainly appreciate your feedback and if you have any questions or comments then I will also be happy to answer. Rain Rich can also help you with any of the above and please call 631.423.2211 or request a free evaluation.
