FAQs

For a residential property currently in the province of Ontario, no you don’t need a permit.  What a homeowner does need is confirmation of locates (location of underground utility services; water, hydro, gas etc.)  Once we receive your installations deposit, we do all the leg work in obtaining the confirmation of your properties locates.

The equipment and machinery we use to install the pipe underground is designed to have limited damage or scarring to your existing lawn.  There will be a small amount of scarring from the machines blade that pulls the pipe underground.  Many customers can’t believe how little damage we do.  A few weeks of regular watering and your lawn will be back to normal. 

No it will in fact use much less water.  A properly designed and installed sprinkler system will have a limited amount of overwatering on driveways, sidewalks etc and you will never have to worry about leaving your sprinkler or hose running if you were hand watering. 

Low water pressure could indicate a serious problem.  But there are several things you can check.  First make sure all of the valves on the water supply line to your irrigation system are open all the way.  Ball valves are put in a ½ closed position or on a 45 degree position for Winter.  This can cause low pressure.  Also do a thorough search on the property for any leaks that may be present. 

This is not an uncommon problem especially with older sprinkler systems.  It sounds like one of the solenoid valves has malfunctioned or has some debris stuck inside of it.  This should be repaired by a qualified technician.  Shut the water off at the source and book a service call. 

There could be many different things that can cause the system not to function properly.  A broken wire, a bad fuse, a faulty rain sensor or a major leak could all cause your sprinkler system not to come on.  Book a service call now and have one of our professional experienced irrigation technicians figure things out for you.

“8 Days” is the only irrigation company in Ontario that offers a Lifetime Warranty.  This warranty does not cover any physical damage to your sprinkler system.  To qualify your sprinkler system must be installed by “8 Days” and we must continue to maintain and service your sprinkler system each and every year, Spring and Fall.

Yes you can, however it all depends on what your GPM (gallons per minute) rate is on your well recovery.  More specifically how well your well performs.  If your well can’t recover water quick enough then you would need to look at another water source for your irrigation system.  Situations like this happen few and far between.

If you are making the comparison between watering by hand or traditional above ground sprinklers versus automatic underground sprinklers, then the answer is YES.  There are many reasons for this; 

A well-designed “8 Days a Week” SMART watering underground sprinkler system applies water to your softscapes much more uniformly.  Also, the fact that it is automated and programmed to come on in the early hours of the morning when less water is lost to evaporation.  Using a SMART WIFI water savings controller gives you the ability to pull local weather data to generate more water savings than traditional conventional irrigation controllers.

At “8 Days” we generally only use an exterior hose bib as a last resort water source for the sprinkler system.  Reason being, that most existing household hose bigs are ½ inch size in diameter which means a smaller water source to feed the sprinkler system.  The only reason to use an outdoor hose bib as a water source is where there is no access to indoor plumbing (basement fully finished) to bring out a larger water source than ½ inch”.

Every property and project is different.  It all depends on the size and complexity of the scope of work that determines the length of an installation.  For an average suburb home in a city in Ontario, it would approximately take 1 to 2 full days to install an automated irrigation system.

No – an automatic sprinkler system with a WiFi controller will actually help you save water. A well-designed, efficient system delivers the precise amount of water your landscape needs, eliminating waste from overwatering or forgetting to turn off a hose. With a WiFi controller, you can easily adjust watering schedules from your smartphone, ensuring optimal efficiency.

At “8 Days” we use a vibratory plough machine to pull most of the sprinkler system poly pipes into the ground.  This will still cause some scarring to the lawn/turf, but way less damage than hand-digging trenches.  Some hand-digging will have to take place in areas where there are underground utilities, installing sprinkler heads, valve boxes, mainlines, pipe connections, and tight areas, etc.

With residential irrigation installations, irrigation pipes are installed generally 4-8 inches (10 to 20 cm) in depth.  These pipes need to be deep enough so they can avoid damages such as aeration.  Some areas where we may not be able to achieve preferred depths would be large tree rooted sections of a property. 

It all depends on where you live, the size of your property and how much you want to irrigate.  In and around the Hamilton area in 2024, for the average sized residential subdivision home, the average cost was $4,500.00 or higher.

Getting your irrigation system ready for spring is essential to ensure it runs efficiently after being inactive during the colder months.

• Turn On the Water – Gradually open the main water valve to allow pipes to fill
• Controller Power – Make sure the controller is powered on and online (wifi)
• Unlock Gates  – Make sure gates are unlocked for your scheduled appointment for Technician access

Yes, you do. Every fall, most of the water must be expelled from the irrigation system. Otherwise, it will freeze, expand, and damage your underground irrigation system in the winter.

Yes, our trained service technicians are familiar with all types of systems, as well as major and minor brands. With 30 + years of experience, we can provide excellent service for any system.

No. While DIY installation may seem like a way to cut costs, it can actually lead to higher expenses in the long run. A professionally designed and installed irrigation system ensures optimal water efficiency, preventing overwatering, leaks, and uneven coverage that could increase your water bill or require costly repairs. Our experts have the knowledge and experience to install your system correctly the first time, saving you time, money, and unnecessary disruption to your landscape.

No, operating your sprinkler system is simple, especially with modern controllers. Most systems come with user-friendly  WiFi-enabled controllers that allow you to easily set and adjust watering schedules. With a WiFi controller, you can manage your system remotely from a smartphone app, making changes anytime, anywhere.

An automatic sprinkler system consists of several key components that work together to efficiently water your landscape:

1. Controller (Timer or WiFi Controller) – The “brain” of the system that automates watering schedules. A WiFi controller allows for remote control via a smartphone app.
2. Valves – These control the flow of water to different zones in your yard, opening and closing based on the controller’s instructions.
3. Sprinkler Heads – Deliver water to your lawn and garden. Different types include pop-up spray heads, rotary heads, and drip irrigation emitters, depending on your landscape’s needs.
4. Pipes and Fittings – Underground pipes distribute water from the main supply to each sprinkler head.

Yes! A sprinkler system saves you time by automatically watering your landscape, so you don’t have to spend time manually moving hoses or remembering to turn sprinklers on and off. With a WiFi-enabled controller, you can easily manage your watering schedule from your smartphone, making adjustments as needed without ever stepping outside – even when you are away from home!