Why Your Sprinkler System Might Be Wasting Water
You might not be a professional landscaper, but you’ve transformed the lawn of your Placentia home, and you’re pretty proud of the results. Your front yard is full of native plants, while your backyard is full of grass for the kids to play on and a thriving veggie garden.
You’ve got the sprinkler system set up so you don’t have to stand outside with the hose every day, but if you’re honest, your water bill went up more than you expected. Is this just your new normal, or could your sprinklers be wasting water?
Smart Sprinkler Set-Up
During a dry SoCal summer, your sprinklers are your lawn’s lifeline. However, they can also be responsible for thousands of gallons of wasted water.
A successful sprinkler setup starts with the placement. If your sprinkler heads are too close together, you’ll overwater your lawn and waste water. If they are too far apart, you’ll be left with dead spots.
When you buy your sprinkler heads, check their radius. If the radius is 15 feet, then you’ll want to space out each sprinkler head 15 feet away from the previous one. That way, you’ll have enough overlap to hydrate your lawn, without drowning it.
It’s also important to double-check the direction of your sprinkler head. Make sure they are facing your lawn and not the street. No matter how hard your sprinkler tries, it won’t make tomatoes grow on the street!
Have you heard of sprinkler zoning? It can save you even more water (and money!), and make your plants happier too! Create zones in your yard to account for sun exposure, plants, and soil. For example, your garden probably has different watering needs than your grass. Setting up two separate watering schedules means they each get what they need!
How to Keep Your Sprinklers Efficient
Once your sprinkler system is set up, it’s not time to kick back just yet. Since your sprinklers are working hard all season long, small issues, like a misaligned head or hidden leak, can quietly waste hundreds (or thousands) of gallons before you know it.
Unlike your other plumbing, sprinkler valves are under pressure even when they’re off. Over time, that pressure can wear them down, especially without a regulator. If you hear loud banging noises and it’s not your kids with the pots and pans, it might be from your sprinklers. And banging pipes is a warning sign for a burst pipe…ask me how I know.
Leaks don’t always announce themselves with a geyser. Sometimes it’s just a soggy patch or puddle hanging around after watering time. And other times, you don’t see a thing until your water bill does the screaming.
Even if you don’t hear loud banging noises or see large puddles, regular inspections can keep you from having to deal with a surprise pool in your yard. Think of it like a wellness visit for your yard. And a mother knows those are never worth skipping.
Barker and Sons Keeps Your Lawn (and Wallet) Happy
Your lawn might be the talk of your neighborhood, but it’s your water bill that’s keeping you up at night. Don’t let sneaky sprinkler issues rain on having the lawn of your dreams.
A mother knows that what you don’t see, like a slow leak or misfiring valve, can do the most damage. If you’re worried your sprinkler valve is under too much pressure or you’re hearing banging, call us today. We’ll keep your system running, your lawn green, and your summer worry-free.
