Irrigation systems make watering your entire lawn or garden easier, but they can waste water if they aren’t calibrated or used properly. By understanding the common problems, you can ensure an efficient lawn irrigation setup that minimizes water usage. Avoid these issues to make the most of the system and keep utility bills to a minimum.

How Irrigation Systems Waste Water

1. Evaporation

Most lawn sprinklers send water up in a spray to cover a large area of the yard. If you water the lawn when the sun is out and the day is hot, up to 50% of the water can be lost to evaporation before it reaches your greenery’s roots.

This issue is easily avoided by scheduling the system to run during the early hours of the morning, just as the sun is beginning to rise. The water will have time to soak into the grass and hydrate your property.

2. Running in the Rain

Running your sprinklers while it’s raining is a waste of water. The lawn’s roots will only soak up as much moisture as they need; any extra water will eventually pool on the surface. This wastes resources and may even risk drowning the lawn.

Have a lawn irrigation team install rain sensors to address this issue. These devices measure how much water has fallen from the sky and adjust the watering schedule accordingly. This ensures you don’t have to cancel sessions manually, and you can leave town without worrying about an oversaturated yard.

3. Mixed Precipitation Rates

Each sprinkler head has a precipitation rate that indicates how much water pressure it uses to cover its designated area. Every zone should have heads with the same rate.

Mixing different rates in the same section will result in overwatering since you’ll need to run some heads for longer than others. Make sure each zone uses the same rate throughout. It’s fine to use a different rate for your vegetable garden versus the front lawn, but keep them separate for maximum efficiency.

The professionals at The Sprinkler Connection will maximize the efficiency of your sprinkler system and ensure a beautiful property. Serving Monroe County, NY, and the surrounding areas, these experts will customize a lawn irrigation system based on your unique watering needs. They also install backflow testers to keep families safe from contamination. Learn more about their services online, or call (585) 398-3960 to schedule a consultation.