Water Use-It-Wisely is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living
Did you know that up to 70 percent of your total household water use goes to your landscape? That's why it's so important to check your yard's water use! This means checking for leaks and adjusting your watering schedule with the changing of the seasons.
If you're not changing your watering schedule with every season (and your plants are still alive) you are applying a summertime schedule, year-round! You could easily save water by cutting back your watering schedule during the cooler times of the year. View the Landscape Watering Guidelines to see if you are over-watering.
Since your plants need the most water during the summer, it's best to resolve any irrigation problems before the first heatwave hits. Here is a checklist for some routine maintenance:
· Inspect all components of your watering system, from the backflow preventer to the valves, for standing water, soggy ground, or eroded soil. If you have a controller, check that the programs are correct. If the controller has battery backup power, replace the battery at least yearly.
· Sprinklers should be checked frequently since they are above ground and can easily get damaged or misdirected. Check the irrigation line from the valve to the spray heads for leaks. Replace spray heads if necessary, and be sure to replace with the proper spray head. Check that sprinkler heads are flush with the soil surface and straight, not tilted. Clear grass, plants and other obstructions that block sprinkler spray. Finally, adjust sprinkler heads so they don't spray walls, driveways, or sidewalks.
· For drip irrigation, turn on the system 20 to 30 minutes before the inspection to allow enough time for emitter wetting patterns to show. Check from the valve to the end of the irrigation line for leaks or clogged emitters. Check for proper emitter placement on plants as they grow. You may need to move emitters out to the drip line of the plant each season. Do this by purchasing some extra micro-tubing and connectors.
Be sure to adjust your irrigation timer at least four times a year. Also, consider skipping an irrigation cycle if your yard receives one half inch of rain or more during one storm.
For even more help, use our Smart Home Water Guide for step-by-step instruction on checking your irrigation system for leaks. This handy guide also provides instructions on reading a water meter and using it as a tool to find leaks inside and outside your home.
Water Use-It-Wisely is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living
