Green Guru Blog
Any contractor can dig a hole. We engineer the hole so you don’t have to dig it again.
If you compare a Green Guru quote to a more typical quote, you may notice specific part numbers instead of generic line items. That’s intentional. These are the Green Guru Baseline: standards we use to keep repairs from repeating and to keep systems serviceable when it’s time to troubleshoot.
More: Irrigation · Lighting · SRMS™ · Products
Reliability
Fix the root cause and use components that hold up in real-world Michigan conditions.
Serviceability
Clean access and documented standards make troubleshooting quicker and more predictable.
Discipline
Pressure, coverage, and scheduling discipline reduce waste and the symptoms that drive callbacks.
Our baseline isn’t about buying the most expensive part. It’s about selecting components that reduce the most common failure modes we see in Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Troy: clogged intakes, low-head drainage, corrosion failures, and pressure-related misting.
If you want the short version: we build for the next service call. That means access, documentation, and parts that make the system easier to maintain.
The problem: surface-water irrigation systems (lakes/ponds) can suffer mid-season restriction from algae and organics. Small intake screens clog, pumps lose prime, and coverage drops.
Our baseline: right-size the intake so suction is spread across a larger screen area.
Why it matters: more intake area usually means lower restriction and longer intervals between clean-outs in the same water source. It protects the pump and keeps flow stable during peak growth.
The problem: after a zone shuts off, gravity drains water out of the lowest head on the run. That creates puddles, erosion, and wasted water—especially on sloped sites.
Our baseline: use built-in check valve spray bodies in the right places.
Why it matters: SAM-style check valves hold water in the lateral line after shutdown, reducing drainage and stopping the symptom immediately when the site is a match.
The problem: most low-voltage lighting failures start at underground splices. Freeze/thaw and moisture lead to corrosion and intermittent faults that are hard to chase.
Our baseline: bring splices into a serviceable hub instead of burying them loose in soil.
Why it matters: hub enclosures turn a buried failure point into an accessible service point—so future repairs can be confirmed cleanly.
The problem: it’s not uncommon to see high municipal pressure (sometimes 80+ PSI). High pressure increases misting and drift, stresses components, and can drive repeat failures.
Our baseline: measure pressure under flow and regulate when it prevents repeat failures.
Why it matters: pressure discipline can transform foggy overspray into usable water droplets that actually hit the soil. It also reduces stress on valves and spray bodies.
When you hire Green Guru, you aren’t paying for a generic parts swap. You’re paying for a repair approach built around serviceability and reliability. We want the system to behave predictably and be easier to maintain—so the next visit is faster and the failures repeat less often.
If you want to explore what a baseline upgrade path looks like for your property, start with a visit and we’ll confirm the cleanest fix path based on access, constraints, and what the system is doing today.
Related: Irrigation upgrades • Lighting upgrades • Better ROI (how to compare providers)
Start with a scoped visit. We confirm the root cause, identify access constraints, and recommend the smallest set of changes that prevents repeat failures.
Online Booking Request a Free InspectionStart here: Tune-Up & Repair Visit • Lighting repair • Service Plans