When is the last time you checked the irrigation system for your home, business, or school’s sports field? Next to a leaky toilet, an irrigation system is often the #1 culprit in high water bills.
With summer’s heat in full swing, you can dramatically reduce your water bills by taking the time to tune up your irrigation system:
Spray-Type Sprinklers
- Remove the nozzle from each head and clean the screen with an old toothbrush.
- Turn on the sprinklers and look for partially blocked nozzles. If the fan-shaped spray of water is not even and uniform, a grain of sand is likely stuck in the nozzle. Use a plastic or wood tool (like a toothpick) rather than a metal knife blade, because nozzles are easy to scratch, and scratches can ruin the spray pattern. Even better, replace the nozzle.
- Using the adjustment screw on top of each nozzle, adjust the water direction. If the heads are creating a lot of mist, turn the screw clockwise. After adjusting, make sure the spray still goes all the way to the next sprinkler.
Rotor / Rotator-Type Sprinklers
- Turn on each valve, one at a time, and carefully inspect your irrigation system. Look for wet spots that could indicate a leaking irrigation pipe. Repair any leaks.
- Replace the controller battery.
- Straighten any sprinkler heads that are leaning to the side (leaning heads create dry spots and waste water).
- Replace any broken or malfunctioning sprinklers with the same brand and model as the other sprinklers on the same valve circuit; note: most manufacturers use different flow rates in their sprinkler heads so it’s important to get the same brand and model.
For a helpful, in-depth explanation of all irrigation systems and detailed steps for proper tune-up, visit this website >