The Verdict is in: Contractors, Designers Love Hunter's New Valves and Controllers

It all Started with the PGP®

Nearly two decades ago, Hunter Industries opened its doors and began turning out a single product. Everyone loved it so much, it became the industry's biggest seller in its class and it helped earn the company a reputation for quality and performance that is the envy of the competition.

But, alas, the PGP also helped Hunter attain a reputation as "the rotor company."

Not that that was bad, mind you. After all, no one wants to be a jack of all trades and master of none. And, in the irrigation business, Hunter has certainly mastered the art of the rotary sprinkler. It's just that the company also made products besides rotors and wanted to achieve some recognition for these other components it made for irrigation.

More Than Just Rotors

It has finally happened. The rotor company is earning itself a new-found reputation for something else. Valves and controllers. In the past few years, Hunter has developed a new wave of valve and controller products that have been a hit with customers. In the process, many contractors and designers who used to swear by Hunter rotors but would install someone else's valves and controllers, now found themselves making the choice to install a complete Hunter system.

It began, simply enough, with the 1996 introduction of the Simple and Reliable Series of products. The SRV valve and SRC controller scored with customers and revolutionized the market for economical irrigation components, proving that dependable performance and affordable pricing need not be mutually exclusive.

It continued with the 1998 addition of Hunter's institutional-grade valve and controller - the ICV and ICC. The former gave Hunter a top-of-the-line valve that customers could count on for its superior durability and ability to handle exceptionally high (up to 200 psi) pressures. The latter introduced the concept of personalized construction for controllers, allowing custom tailoring to more effectively handle the specific number of stations each system might require. Through the use of 4- and 8-station "modules," one could "build" a controller that can handle up to 48 stations and handle all of the different irrigation needs for turf, shrubs and flower beds, as well as any special watering restrictions.

In just two short years, the response to the ICV and ICC has been overwhelming, making the new products two of the most successful product introductions at Hunter since...well, the PGP.

PGV: High Marks for Our Mid-Level Valve

With the new PGV, Hunter quality is now available in a middle-of-the-road valve. A hard-working, heavy-duty performer, the PGV is designed for landscapes that don't require everything that our top-of-the-line valves include. However, this fact does not mean that the PGV in any way skimps on its offerings. There's more than enough valve here to handle the rigors of whatever a site dishes out.

For smaller landscape applications, the PGV is available in a pair of 1" models, in either a globe or angle design. In turn, each of those designs is available as either flow control or non-flow control versions. For larger landscapes, the PGV comes in both 1 1/2" and 2" globe/angle models, each with flow control standard.

All models of the PGV are constructed of high-grade materials to resist wear and feature a rugged diaphragm with a support to prevent stress failure. The valve is pressure rated to withstand up to 150 psi, with the absolute minimum of pressure loss. The PGV is also compatible with the Accu-Set™ pressure regulator.

Field tested and ready for its first full season on the market, the PGV has already received strong positive response from those who have tried it.

"There is nothing we could see that we would change about these valves," said Pete Walters of Nite Owl Irrigation in Clearwater, Florida. "We now use the ICV as our 2-inch valve of choice, and I can see that we'll be using the PGV as our primary 1 1/2-inch valve."

Bob Lingle of Custom Lawn Designs in Oviedo, Florida was similarly impressed. "I like the entire design and ease of manually turning the valves on and off," he said. "PGV surpasses the competition for overall performance and water hammer reduction." 

Pro-ASV: The Pros' Choice of Anti-Siphon

It's a regional thing. But in the regions where it is accepted, it is a big thing. It's an economical solution for atmospheric backflow prevention. And in markets like Southern California and Florida, it's just the kind of device that contractors want.

With the new Pro-ASV anti-siphon valve, Hunter now offers an electric valve that provides atmospheric backflow prevention for residential sites...for a minimal cost. The Pro-ASV is designed to give simple, trouble-free backflow prevention at every zone, eliminating the need to install a separate backflow preventer. 

"The new Hunter Pro-ASV is so easy to use and adjust," said Ron Albert of Natural Images in Geyserville, California. "It allows us to perform an entire system installation completely with Hunter products." 

This convenient, all-in-one unit offers an array of features that professionals have come to expect from a Hunter valve - a rugged diaphragm that provides a leak-proof seal, internal bleed for manual operation, stainless steel hardware and springs, stainless steel bonnet screws, and heavy-duty PVC construction that is both corrosion- and UV-resistant.

Larry Cates of Cates Irrigation in Austin, Texas has become a fan of the Pro-ASV for several reasons. "We like that the Pro-ASV comes with a choice of slip or thread configurations. We also like the standard flow control, allowing for accurate adjustment of the flow, as well as manual shutoff."

For years, Hunter has been making a case for itself as being more than just rotors. With the ICV and ICC, SRV and SRC, and now these latest product additions, the company can now say "case closed." Because the verdict is in...and there's no reason anymore to feel guilty about using other Hunter products besides rotors.