The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Andy Humphrey
The Sprinkler Nerd Show

If you are a Landscape Entrepreneur this show is for you. Andy, a former contestant on the ABC hit television series Shark Tank, irrigation technology expert, and multimillion-dollar eCommerce entrepreneur brings his curiosity & creativity to tease out the secrets of successful landscape influencers and business owners. Discover how to get a leg up on the competition, be the smartest person at the design table, and advance your career in the irrigation and landscape industry at any level. All stones will be unturned as Andy digs into the nerdy details of business, technology, and personal growth here on the Sprinkler Nerd show. To join the community of Sprinkler Nerds transforming the Green Industry visit www.SprinklerNerd.com.

  1. 21 ИЮН.

    #173 - Field Capacity from Orlando Florida

    Andy Humphrey kicks off the episode with "Little Silver Ring" by The Samples and shares insights from his trip to Orlando for volleyball Nationals, highlighting its economic impact. He then revisits a past episode on field capacity, discussing soil moisture sensors, practical analogies, and their importance in irrigation systems.   (0:00) Andy Humphrey introduces the morning song of the day   (1:31) Andy Humphrey reveals the song: "little silver ring" by The Samples (1:44) Podcast introduction and target audience (2:20) Andy Humphrey talks about being in Orlando for volleyball Nationals   (3:47) Discussion on the economic impact of the volleyball tournament   (7:36) Transition back to the Sprinkler Nerd Show   (8:15) Replaying a past episode titled "field capacity, my ass"   (9:40) Experiment with multiple soil moisture sensors   (12:21) Shout out to Juanita and replay of the April 2023 episode   (12:58) Defining field capacity   (14:23) Using a sponge as an analogy for field capacity   (17:09) Comparing field capacity to a percolation test   (19:16) Field capacity as the baseline for soil moisture   (22:10) Explanation of how to measure and apply field capacity   (27:20) The art of setting soil moisture sensors (32:40) Analogies for understanding tank size and soil moisture   (33:14) Importance of field capacity in irrigation systems   (34:16) The future impact of soil sensors in the industry   (35:15) Closing remarks and wrap-up   And so I'm gonna play that for you today. Here because I don't have time to record a full episode with brand new content, but it did get me thinking about just soil moisture sensing and field capacity and understanding the numbers, and you're gonna hear all that on this episode, this replay episode. But I wanted to share a new concept that actually it's not completely new, but a concept that I have running, in ex in an experiment right now. And that is a concept of taking multiple soil moisture sensors, let's say, within one zone, and averaging them together to creating new soil moisture or that you might think of as a synthetic value. So there's always the angel question of, you know, how is this one spot where the soil moisture sensor is buried. How how is that relative to the rest of either the site or the zone I'm not gonna get into all of those details. We'll save this for another episode. And and the and that is that is a valid question. And the only real way around causing a mistake is to actually just locate the sensor in in a really good area. But then what would happen? What would it look like if instead of putting one soil moisture sensor in a zone? Or one soil moisture sensor in every zone, we put 3 soil moisture sensors in one zone and use that one zone as the baseline zone for the rest of the site. And it's not actually possible today to do this with any control system. Even a baseline control system. You cannot install you can install 3 soil moisture sensors in a zone, but they're all going to be independent, and only one of them can actually control the zone. But what if you could take those 3 soil moisture sensors buried in the one zone, average them together to create a new synthetic, you know, synthetic value and use that average value to control the zone. What would that look like? That can't be done today, but I'm doing it. I'm actually I'm actually running this experiment. We have a a project that has I should know this number off the top of my head, but I don't. Let's say if it has 8, it has 8 soil moisture sensors. And each soil moisture sensor is actually buried in in its own zone, 8 slow moisture sensors, 8 zones, but then I'm taking all of those 8 slow moisture sensors averaging them together and creating a new value that says here's the average soil moisture across the entire site. And what's interesting about that is, well, first, it it hasn't been done before. But second, it might make up for potential errors in location, f

    36 мин.
  2. #172 - Eyes Wide Open

    14 ИЮН.

    #172 - Eyes Wide Open

    TL;DR::::::: Embrace an Open Mindset: Keeping an open mind is crucial for discovering new opportunities and innovations. Importance of New Conversations: Engaging with new people and ideas can lead to significant breakthroughs. Technology and Innovation: Encountering groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize the irrigation industry. Overcoming Initial Bias: It's essential to look beyond initial skepticism or bias towards new ideas and products. Creating Luck: Luck is often the result of continuous effort and openness to opportunities rather than mere chance. Episode Summary: In this episode of the Sprinkler Nerd Show, host Andy Humphrey discusses the concept of keeping one’s “eyes wide open” as a way to stay receptive to new ideas, opportunities, and innovations, particularly within the irrigation and landscape industry. He emphasizes the importance of an open mindset in both personal and professional contexts. Andy begins by explaining that expressing thoughts out loud helps him remember them better. This episode serves as a reminder to himself and his listeners to stay open-minded. He introduces the concept of "eyes wide open," which he describes as the practice of seeing beyond what we want to see and remaining aware of what actually exists and what possibilities might be available. He recounts an experience from earlier in the day, where he had an unexpectedly profound conversation with an entrepreneur developing innovative technology outside the United States. Initially hesitant to engage, Andy decided to attend the meeting with an open mind and was amazed by the groundbreaking software technology relevant to his industry. This encounter reinforced his belief in the value of being open to new ideas and perspectives. Andy highlights how easy it is to dismiss new products or ideas, especially when one is loyal to a particular brand or has had negative experiences with other brands. He notes that often, people approach new conversations with a closed mindset, either out of habit or preconceived notions. This can lead to missed opportunities and hinder progress. By contrast, approaching interactions with an open mind allows for potential discoveries and innovations. He uses the example of his industry, where brands like Rain Bird or Hunter are predominant, and how professionals might resist considering products from other brands due to brand loyalty or preconceived biases. He stresses that it’s crucial to entertain new ideas and test new products to stay ahead in the industry. This open-minded approach can lead to significant advancements and better solutions. Andy also addresses the concept of luck, challenging the common perception that successful people are merely lucky. He argues that what appears to be luck is often the result of numerous efforts and opportunities seized over time. By keeping their eyes wide open, individuals can create their own luck through continuous learning and openness to new possibilities. This podcast episode is a motivational reminder for professionals to maintain an open mind and actively seek new knowledge and experiences. Andy encourages his listeners to engage with new people, explore new technologies, and be willing to entertain meetings and conversations that might initially seem unimportant. He believes that this mindset will lead to personal and professional growth and ultimately contribute to shaping a successful future. In conclusion, Andy Humphrey’s message in this episode is clear: staying open-minded and receptive to new ideas and opportunities is essential for innovation and success. By embracing an "eyes wide open" approach, individuals can overcome biases, discover groundbreaking technologies, and create their own luck through continuous effort and engagement with the world around them.

    11 мин.
  3. #171 - Rethinking The Warranty Period

    7 ИЮН.

    #171 - Rethinking The Warranty Period

    Hey, my friends. Welcome back to another episode of the Sprinkler Nerd Show. I'm your host, Andy Humphrey. This is episode X Y Z, because I honestly can't remember. Coming to you from my truck. We could call this an episode of truck talk, which I did, more towards the beginning of this show, not as of recent. And I am actually on my way to Chicago today. For a bunch of different events and business opportunities. And I had a couple things that were on my mind this week that I wanted share with you guys as it relates to service calls and warranty Andy just a few sort of future casting ideas about warranty that particularly came to my mind this morning. And I thought let's see. I thought I would start with I thought I would start with how you communicate with your clients. And this probably relates more to service clients, service calls, but could could relate to construction, but let let's look at it through a service call lens. And I had firsthand experience with this with a company in my hometown because my water tank failed. Still not exactly sure. The service guy actually came just yet this morning. I'm still not exactly sure what is wrong with it. I built my house in 2018. It is not a, you know, fine custom craft home. But it's also not a builder's choice, model home or or something on the low end. It's probably mid range. And What's interesting, I'll I'll get to this a bit later is this is not the first appliance that has failed in a six year old home. Let's just let's just put that out there. Not the first appliance that's failed. I'll give you the rest of the story here in a moment. And yesterday, actually, it was last night. My daughter came home, from her volleyball practice. It was late, let's say, 9, 9:30. And, she showers after practice, of course, and then she doesn't shower in the morning, and she goes, take a shower. And she comes down after she takes a shower, and she's like, hey. I I couldn't get the hot water on. The hot water's not working. Scratch my head. Andy I'm just thinking, okay. That's weird. Maybe there's something up with your, you know, your your shower. And then my wife said, you know what? I just washed my face before bed. And, yeah, I noticed that the water wasn't hot. So I, of course, would rather just jump into bed. It's 9:30 a night. I went down into the basement, looked at the hot water heater, and the water was definitely not hot. I looked at where the cord was plugged in to the outlet, Andy I then went to the breaker box. All the breakers were fine, but there was no power to the heater. So I, looked at where it was plugged in. It actually plugs into an electrical outlet right above it in the ceiling Andy thought, okay. Well, there's no power to this outlet. Why would there be no power to the outlet? Well, there must be something on this circuit that has a GFI that's tripped. It's my first thought. GFI must be something on this circuit that has a GFI and looking around the room. This is in our storage, storage room in the basement. It's not finished. But it's not, you know, a dungeon either. It's just a typical probably nine foot ceiling, storage room in their basement. Andy we have an air filtration system that is, attached to our forced air. Andy I'm looking up and I see its plug Andy its plug goes into the receptacle and the receptacle, sure enough, has a GFI on it. I unplug it. I hit the reset button. The little green light comes back on, and I'm thinking, yes. I am back in business. Andy just on the the problem. Cool. Plugged everything back in. Turned off the water heater, plugged it in, turned the pass back on. It starts automatically. I hear it fire up. I hear the exhaust fan kick in. And then 45 seconds later, pop. There goes the GFI again. Like, shit. What in the world is going on here? So then, of course, I did the whole the whole shebang over again, reset the GFI was hoping was hoping it would work, turned the hot water heater back on, and then sure enough, 40

    28 мин.
  4. #170 - Turn Water into Money (replay)

    24 МАЯ

    #170 - Turn Water into Money (replay)

    Andy Humphrey Microphone, checka, a 12 checka. Do I gotta check? I gotta check. Check. Looking good out here, guys. Another's day, Andy on the water. I was just gonna record a little intro today. Andy so let me let me back up. I am taking my sailboat, which is a 1961 Alberg 35 happens to be hull number 2. So 63 three years old and I keep her in Northport, and then I bring her down to the Grand Travers Yacht Club at the bottom of West Grand Travers Bay in Traverse City. So that's what I'm doing today. I'm under power, but also have the genoa up because I'm kinda have the wind on my quarter and maintaining about 6 knots with the iron jib, AKA, the engine. This engine is an atomic 4 original gasoline engine, which you don't see very often on sailboats, have converted to diesel. So that might be TMI, but, that's where I am at the moment. And what I wanted to do today was just probably well, I am going to replay an episode, which I don't do very often. But I had a moment to kinda go through the archives and, stumbled across or the one that caught my attention was a conversation I had with Paul Bassett about thinking of water in terms of dollars. And sometimes gallons don't mean that much to end users or sometimes that it doesn't mean that much to most of us, but when you turn it into dollars, I think it can be more substantial. And Andy now that I've said that out loud, I think it can go both ways. If somebody's water bill is just kinda throwing this out there as an idea, it's less than a $100 a month, that might not be enough to cause change in behavior. But perhaps if they knew that they used, just again, picking a number, a 100,000 gallons, that might seem like a lot of water. So I think it might be I think the way we look at water is trying to find the greater, the greatest, impact or the greatest number that stand out. So it's either going to be gallons, like a 100,000 gallons, or maybe it's going to be dollars, like somebody spending $3000 month. And it just doesn't it's it's not really out there today. You can run your own math, but name me a controller that reports gallons in terms of dollars. You know, that that really should be sent to clients as a a report either daily, weekly, monthly, but at least it should be displaying inside the control platform Andy even perhaps at the controller, what is your consumption in dollars and cents. So that's, I'm gonna play an episode from last year, replanned episode from last year with a conversation with my good friend, Paul Bassett, about thinking of water in terms of dollars. Hope you guys enjoy. Have an awesome weekend, and we'll see you next week on another episode. Paul Bassett Hey, Drew. Andy Humphrey Paul, good morning. Paul Bassett Good morning to you, buddy. Andy Humphrey How's your day going? Paul Bassett It's going great today. Thanks. Andy Humphrey Okay. Paul Bassett Friday. Andy Humphrey Heck yeah. I was thinking about you this morning because of the concept of turning water into dollars that I was thinking about Andy thought we could just brain share about that concept. Paul Bassett I like that. Andy Humphrey So yesterday, I moderated a webinar with Ben Coffee at WeatherTrack in Max Moreno, who's the VP of Sales for harvest landscape Andy Max uses water budgets as a part of his daily business practice. And the more I started thinking about water budgets, It's really a concept of a budget Andy a budget entails finances and money. And what I think is so fascinating is that we all, you know, in this industry, when I say we, I I'm generalizing here. Most people talk about run time, number 1, you know, how long should I run my sprinklers in the form of time? And then kind of at the next level, people talk about how much water am I gonna use? What's the gallons? What's the volume? Either gallons per minute, gallons per day, per cycle per year, per month, But then what we really don't talk much about is what does the dollars mean? How how can we c

    17 мин.
  5. #169 - Understanding Google's Algorithm and SEO Optimization with Spencer Haws

    15 МАЯ

    #169 - Understanding Google's Algorithm and SEO Optimization with Spencer Haws

    In this episode, Andy Humphrey plays a recorded live event with Spencer Haws from the Seller's Summit conference, the importance of website ranking, and managing multiple businesses. Spencer delves into Google's algorithm changes, AI's role in search, and diversifying platform presence. He discusses the significance of internal link structure, creating a fast-loading website, and standardizing publishing processes. He also explores content strategies, optimizing content, and tactics to boost revenue.  CHAPTERS: (0:00) Introduction and discussion about Seller's Summit conference (5:06) Importance of having a website and ranking on Google (10:18) Discussion on managing multiple businesses and focusing on nichepursuits.com (17:42) Understanding Google's algorithm changes and the role of AI in search (19:31) Diversifying platform presence and cleaning up old content for better SEO (23:16) Restructuring your site and the importance of internal link structure (25:17) Creating a professional and fast-loading website and standardizing publishing processes (30:31) Content strategy: what to publish, using Google search console for keyword insights (35:00) Updating content regularly for SEO and process of optimizing content (37:18) Optimizing your site to boost revenue and tactics for increasing revenue KEY POINTS: Spencer Haas shared his experience of scaling website traffic by publishing a significant amount of content, revealing that he increased his output to over 1000 articles in a year which led to a traffic boost from 100-200k views a month to 700-800k. He emphasized the importance of updating old content and optimizing new content with a focus on internal linking and keyword targeting to improve SEO and Google rankings. Spencer's approach to content resulted in substantial revenue growth, where display ad revenue alone began to cover the entire content budget, turning other income streams like product sales and affiliate marketing into pure profit. TRANSCRIPT Andy Humphrey: Hey, my friends. Welcome back to the Sprink Leonard Show. I'm your host, Andy Humphrey. This is episode 169 coming to you from the 10th floor of the Westin Hotel in Fort Lauderdale FL FLL. I'm not really sure what the second l stands for, with the airport code, FL4 Lawter Layle, Anyway, it makes me every time I I see the airport code code FL, it makes me wonder what it is or why. Andy Humphrey: I should just Google it. What's the second l? Okay. I am recording this episode here at the hotel because I'm at a conference called Seller's Summit think I've actually recorded 1 or 2 other episodes here at the conference because I come every year. It's super fun. Andy Humphrey: And if you are looking to, start your own, let's say, blog or physical product, or other kind of digital commerce style business, then, you might wanna check it out. Come down next year. Seller's summit. Dotcom Andy, learn. It's a fantastic conference for learning, meeting other new and successful digital marketers, which are often hard hard to, hard to come by. Andy Humphrey: And it's pretty fun to get a room full of other other nerds, not just sprinkler nerds, but but nerds in other, categories, other product categories, other content categories, and it's fun to get together and see what happens when all of the brains start firing at once. So I'm here this week. I I had the opportunity earlier in the week. I flew to Atlanta, Georgia on Monday to visit with the site 1 ecommerce team a super great team. And, if any of you guys that I met this week are listening to this, I really think, you know, that, you will be successful delivering the future to the market. Andy Humphrey: And I really do think that is the role of the site 1 e commerce team on the street level, the CX specialists is to deliver the future, to customers as it relates to commerce, how to order efficiently, etcetera. So congrats, say, one for building a fantastic team, and thank you for having me com

    41 мин.
  6. #168 - Houston We Have A Pressure Problem

    10 МАЯ

    #168 - Houston We Have A Pressure Problem

    Andy Humphrey: Hey, what's up, my friends? Welcome back to another episode of the Sprinkler Nerd Show. I'm your host, Andy Humphrey. Today, I'm going to share with you—how do I describe this? Andy Humphrey: A question that came into Sprinkler Supply Store for me that turns out to be, I think, some really relevant content to discuss with you guys. And I think probably most of you could relate to this question that the homeowner has. And, I wanted to tie this together in a couple of ways. Number 1, we're having a lot of success, and we have had a lot of success with software on our e-commerce site called LeadFerno. L-E-A-D F-E-R-N-O, LeadFerno, and LeadFerno is a texting tool that acts like web chat. Andy Humphrey: And so what happens is there's a little pop-up, which obviously can be annoying at times, that, on the website, to reach us, to reach customer service, but instead of chatting there, it redirects through the phone so you can use your phone and the text message feature or messenger to communicate with us. And personally, I wish more sites used this because I would say half the time when I'm on some other website using the chat feature, you know, I'm waiting for someone, let's say, for the chat to get back to me. So I have another tab open, and I don't have my volume up. And then I get distracted, and then 30 minutes go by. Andy Humphrey: And I think, oh, shoot. I had a live chat going. I forgot about it. I go back to the tab. And then the chat has ended because I didn't respond, and it just seems like web chat is good if the other person is right there and they're chatting with you quickly. But that's not always the case. Andy Humphrey: Sometimes the chat agents have to go and look something up or tell you to hold, and sometimes you have to leave your desk. You just can't sit there on chat. And so what we have found is that by using the phone as the texting tool, which it's very good at, then people can text wherever they are. You know what? If you gotta get up and get in your car and drive somewhere else, we can still text with you because you have your text device in your pocket instead of having to sit at your computer. Andy Humphrey: It's been a great way for people to send us pictures. "Hey, I need a replacement diaphragm for this valve. I don't know what valve this is. Okay, great. Send us a picture." And so LeadFerno has been an amazing tool for communicating with our customers because it doesn't require them to be locked to their computer screen. They can text through their phone. They can also save the number and text us any time. Andy Humphrey: And if you'd like to try this, go to sprinklersupplystore.com. It'll pop right up, send us a message, and that will come into our text service, which you can either manage through a web browser, or you can put the app right on your phone. Then you can text back and forth with your customer. And I think that there are probably some parallels that if you have, you could be a solo entrepreneur in the irrigation industry, and maybe that would work. But there might be some parallels for capturing leads through the website and getting back to people quickly, via LeadFerno. So check it out and, you know, give it a try. Andy Humphrey: This is not sponsored by LeadFerno. I just thought I would share because the topic for today, which is the question that this homeowner from Houston had—the inquiry came in through LeadFerno. So that's how we actually captured this. And I just thought that it would be a pretty fun way for me, specifically not to have to dream up new content to share with you. So this is a real customer inquiry that I'm going to read to you right now. Andy Humphrey: Actually, what I'm going to do is have an AI voice read this out loud so that it doesn't sound like me, and then we can talk about the response. So I'm going to roll the intro here, and then we'll get right into this question coming in from Roger in Houston. If you're old or new, who des

    17 мин.
  7. #166 - The Championship Turf

    26 АПР.

    #166 - The Championship Turf

    Quench Soil Moisture Sensor: https://quenchplant.com/   ==========   The Championship Turf: A Tale of Precision and Care   In the bustling town of Riverview, where sports were the heartbeat of the community, there lay a sprawling athletic sports complex known as Champions Field. This complex wasn't just any sports venue; it boasted some of the most meticulously maintained turfgrass that athletes had ever competed on. The secret to their pristine fields lay in the hands of two sophisticated tools: Wesley, the WeatherStation, and Sam, the Soil Moisture Sensor.   Wesley was perched atop a tall post, overlooking the fields with a vigilant eye. His primary task was to monitor the environmental conditions—specifically evapotranspiration rates that influence how much water the turf lost to the atmosphere. With a plethora of sensors and a sophisticated algorithm, Wesley could predict water needs for days ahead, ensuring that the groundskeepers were always one step ahead of the weather.   Nestled beneath the surface of the lush green turf was Sam, who kept a low profile but played an equally crucial role. Sam's world was the root zone of the turfgrass, where he continuously monitored the moisture levels. His precise readings were vital, especially right before big games, to ensure that the turf was neither too dry—risking injury to players and damage to the grass—nor too wet, which could lead to slips and poor playing conditions.   The harmony between Wesley and Sam was critical, especially during the sports season. Wesley's data helped plan the watering schedules, but it was Sam's real-time readings that often dictated immediate actions. For instance, on a day leading up to an important football match, Wesley might suggest a lighter irrigation based on a cool, cloudy forecast. However, if Sam detected that the soil moisture was lower than ideal, the irrigation system could be adjusted to deliver just the right amount of water, ensuring the turf was in optimal condition when game day arrived.   The groundskeepers at Champions Field relied heavily on the data from both tools. They had a central command center where Wesley’s forecasts and Sam’s readings were displayed on big screens, allowing for quick decisions. This setup not only conserved water but also ensured that the turfgrass was always game-ready, providing a safe and competitive environment for athletes.   Throughout the seasons, Champions Field hosted numerous events, from soccer tournaments to track meets. Athletes often remarked on the exceptional quality of the turf, noting how it enhanced their performance and reduced injury risks. This reputation made Riverview a preferred venue for major sporting events, drawing teams and fans from across the region.   One memorable event was the national college soccer championship, held on a particularly hot and dry weekend. Thanks to Wesley’s accurate weather predictions and Sam’s diligent moisture tracking, the groundskeepers were able to implement a tailored watering program that maintained the turf's resilience and vibrancy throughout the event. The championship went off without a hitch, with players and coaches praising the excellent condition of the field.   Through the story of Champions Field, we see how tools, when used in their ideal applications, can achieve results that not only meet but exceed expectations. Just as in any field, be it agriculture or athletics, the right technological tools—like Wesley and Sam—can make all the difference, turning a regular turf into a championship-grade playing field.   Chapter Two: The Power of 'And' at Champions Field As the seasons changed and Champions Field continued to flourish, the complex became a beacon of innovation and teamwork, not just in sports but also in the way it was maintained. The success of the field was often attributed to the harmonious use of both Wesley, the WeatherStation, and Sam, the Soil Moisture Sensor. Thi

    21 мин.
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If you are a Landscape Entrepreneur this show is for you. Andy, a former contestant on the ABC hit television series Shark Tank, irrigation technology expert, and multimillion-dollar eCommerce entrepreneur brings his curiosity & creativity to tease out the secrets of successful landscape influencers and business owners. Discover how to get a leg up on the competition, be the smartest person at the design table, and advance your career in the irrigation and landscape industry at any level. All stones will be unturned as Andy digs into the nerdy details of business, technology, and personal growth here on the Sprinkler Nerd show. To join the community of Sprinkler Nerds transforming the Green Industry visit www.SprinklerNerd.com.

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