Blossom

Your smart garden options are growing, and Blossom, a new irrigation controller designed to compete with the Rachio Iro, hopes to stand out from the crowd. Like the Iro, you install Blossom using your existing wires, then control your sprinkler system remotely via an app. But Blossom is promising increased range and durability.

Blossom, the product of a new California-based startup of the same name, further differentiates itself from the Wi-Fi-only Iro by adding weather resistance, in case your controller is outside, and by broadcasting its signal via Power-line in addition to Wi-Fi. Power-line networking transmits signal through the wiring in your home, passing information between the controller and a bridge that plugs into your network. The bridge translates for the router, so the system can talk to the cloud. In theory, the signal strength isn't reduced as much by distance or location as it is when a controller relies solely on Wi-Fi.

Blossom

Adding cloud connectivity to your sprinkler system allows Blossom to help you take weather into account when planning your watering schedule. You can set things up manually if you'd like, or simply indicate the type of plant in each zone and let Blossom go to work. By watering based on this plant and weather data, Blossom claims it can get your plants the moisture they need while saving you an average of 30 percent on your water bill.

You can pre-order Blossom now via the Kickstarter campaign that launched today. It'll retail for $179 and can cover up to 12 zones. That's a good price compared to the 8-zone controller from Rachio that costs $250. Rachio also sells a $300 16-zone model. Early birds will get an even better deal, with a limited number of Blossoms available for as little as $89.

Blossom plans to ship in January of 2015, whether or not they receive funding. At first, the product will be offered only in the US, but the company plans to expand internationally late in 2015.

The system will track when sunset happens for you. Blossom

You can interact with Blossom via the iOS or Android app; the app will work with both phones and tablets, or you can use the browser interface from your computer. Get things rolling and you can name each zone and give it a picture. Turn each sprinkler set on and off with the push of a button, then schedule them individually yourself if you'd like. Blossom even has a time option simply labeled "sunset" which I'm hoping means it'll give your yard an automatic sprinkle at the golden hour, changing the time accordingly as the seasons progress.

As mentioned above, Blossom can automate these schedules based on plant type, which is an especially nice feature. App screenshots show five levels of moisture to pick from, starting with "Ultra Eco" and working up to "Very Wet," and you'll be able to tinker with the specific settings of each one.

Original post:
Blossom lets your sprinklers know when rain's coming

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo -

The cold weather that we've seen hasn't just been bad for people and pets, it's been bad for pipes too.

And it's not just plumbing - sprinkler systems can be affected by the Arctic chill as well.

Many large buildings such as Eastside Church of Christ in Colorado Springs have sprinkler systems.

The church shares a building with Pike's Peak Christian School and has a system that serves both.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) says that maintaining the sprinkler system is the way to avoid damage that could cost you thousands of dollars in case of a break and that there are things that you should look for.

"Exposed sprinkler pipe. Also, look for any indications of cracks within the pipe or any moisture that has built up. And check the temperature. If the temperature is under 40 degrees in the attic, there's a good chance that you're exposing those pipes," said Kris Cooper, the Deputy Fire Marshal for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

CSFD said that they received around a dozen reports of frozen sprinkler systems during the last cold snap.

Read more:
Don't forget sprinklers when it's cold

How to Establish Grade Before Sodding - Green Valley Turf Co
Lawn Freaks! How To Series. Establishing grade for your lawn is important before soil prepping, installing a sprinkler system or sodding. Tina will show you how to make sure water will drain...

By: GreenValleyTurf

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How to Establish Grade Before Sodding - Green Valley Turf Co - Video

Some city officials are questioning the decision a former city building official made to waive a sprinkler system at a new local business.

Andre Messner, the citys new chief building official, said when he first noticed that The Big Biscuit, located at 139 N. Belt Highway, did not have a sprinkler system, he thought it was an oversight by the city and that an architect did not include them in the plans.

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Officials question decision to waive sprinklers

Story Created: Nov 15, 2014 at 5:43 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 15, 2014 at 10:44 PM CST

The demonstration featured two simulated burning buildings, one with a sprinkler system and the other without.

The sprinkler system is designed to start spraying water when the ceiling temperature reaches 160 degrees. When that happens, water begins to spray out at 13 gallons a minute.

"Having this will save your life. You will not die if you have one of these in your home when a fire breaks out," said Chief Melvin Martin.

The fire in the sprinkler home was completely put out in a matter of seconds, as for the home without, the fire destroyed everything.

Chief Martin says having one of these systems can cost you up to $1.50 per square foot in a newly built home.

Original post:
Hardin County firefighters show importance of home sprinklers

Yoon C. Lee, a Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) executive, is giving a tour of his U.S. home in Oakland. He shows off his living room and foyer, then takes a look outside to check the garden. He considers turning on the sprinkler system before deciding the plants have enough water.

The thing is, hes not actually in California. Hes 8,000 miles away with a reporter in a Seoul conference room. Lee, a tall, 49-year-old, is at a huge table fiddling with a Galaxy S5 phone thats streaming live video from the U.S.

This is Samsungs next big bet as it works to build a future beyond mobile phones, where earnings are tumbling. Lee and his colleagues are trying to create another hit from whats known as the Internet of things, technology that stitches together phones, cameras, sprinklers and roads. If they succeed, the effort could propel sales of the companys electronics, appliances and chips for a generation; if they fail, the troubles will likely deepen.

Imagine if all the dumb things around you can be connected, said Lee. For Samsung, this is a big new opportunity, a huge paradigm shift. It will benefit us across all businesses.

Samsungs Internet push comes just as Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc. and dozens of others are sizing up the same opportunity. Techs giants are all vying for leadership and collaborating where necessary. The market for the Internet of things is projected to hit $7.1 trillion by 2020, according to the research firm IDC.

An employee demonstrates using the air conditioner control function of the Samsung Smart Home system with a smartphone at the Samsung Innovation Museum, operated by Samsung Electronics Co., in Suwon, South Korea, on Nov. 5, 2014. Close

An employee demonstrates using the air conditioner control function of the Samsung... Read More

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An employee demonstrates using the air conditioner control function of the Samsung Smart Home system with a smartphone at the Samsung Innovation Museum, operated by Samsung Electronics Co., in Suwon, South Korea, on Nov. 5, 2014.

In a sign of how seriously Samsung is taking the effort, the company is transferring about 500 engineers from its mobile-phone division and allocating them largely to the Internet initiative, according to people familiar with the matter. The shift also reflects recognition that the Suwon, South Korea-based company needs another hit after smartphones, they said, asking not to be identified discussing internal matters.

Continued here:
Samsung Hunts Next Hit With Internet Push as Phones Fade

111314 DREAM CENTER FIRE
The East Texas Dream Center. located at 301 South First received an occupancy certificate in March 2013 and moved in shortly after. The building they now occupy is the old Conroe Hospital....

By: SCOTT ENGLE

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111314 DREAM CENTER FIRE - Video

A local man looking to do a simple bank transaction unexpectedly received a free car wash on Tuesday afternoon.

The man was pulling into the Wells Fargo Bank drive-thru ATM when his high-profile truck struck the overhead sprinkler spigot which released a deluge of water, saturating the vehicle and presumably the driver.

On Wednesday, Tony Timmons, Wells Fargo Bank assistant vice president of corporate communications, said hes grateful the damage to the sprinkler system was moderate and no one was hurt as a result of the incident.

It was only the sprinkler head in the drive-thru that was damaged and it has been repaired, Timmons said. The drive-thru is back up and serving customers again today.

Additionally, Timmons noted that because the incident occurred on a national holiday, there was little inconvenience to the customers.

We were closed on Veterans Day and hopefully there was little to no impact from it, he said. I cant recall any similar incidents like that. It was a minor incident from our perspective and our teams worked quickly to restore the sprinkler system and our customers werent impacted.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said though the damage was minor, the system will require a complete inspection before its operable.

When you tear the head off, you have to have a certified sprinkler company to come out and make the repairs and they have to test the system, Lewis said. Its more of a process. The structure itself wasnt damaged, it was just the head that was torn off.

Additionally, the fire chief said a pretty good amount of water flowed through the broken sprinkler before the valve was manually shut off.

It was about a one-inch line, so it could generate about 60-to-80 gallons of water per minute, he said. Its actually not the first time. Thats at least twice that Im aware of at that location.

Read this article:
Customer gets all wet attempting bank transaction

Video Evidence of Sprinkler System Working
19227 Quarry Lakes Ln - Video Evidence of Sprinkler System Working.

By: Joe Madigan

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Video Evidence of Sprinkler System Working - Video

Better prevention could have lessened an estimated $500,000 in damage from Tuesdays Dollar General fire in Silvis.

It would have made a great difference up there, said Assistant Silvis Fire Chief Steve Bein.

A restoration crew was trying to pick up the pieces on Wednesday at the Crosstown Shopping Center. Workers were clearing debris and securing the building just hours after a devastating fire.

Its pretty charred, said Property Manager Laurie Peters. It looks like pretty much all of the building got caught by the fire.

Thick smoke even startled firefighters on Tuesday. They worked high above and close to the ground. The fires timing and circumstances didnt help them.

Nobody was hurt. Shoppers and staffers made it out safely.

The fire worsened with paper products and other merchandise in the store. Plus, harm from something thats not inside.

There is no sprinkler system installed in this portion of the building, Peters said.

While the store had working smoke detectors that alerted employees to the fire, it did not have a sprinkler system.

While firefighters especially study the center of the building, whats not there could reveal a big part of the case.

Read this article:
Lack of sprinkler system worsens Dollar General fire