Determine the efficiency of your sprinkler system by looking for:
Determine which components are most critical to an efficient irrigation system
Consider hiring a professional to inspect your irrigation system - make sure to have them explain and document any changes made to your controller.
- Runoff on sidewalks and streets
- Pooling or puddling of water
- Low head drainage – Does water continue to port/weep from sprinkler heads after the zone has stopped running?
- Check sprinklers for excessive misting
- Low pressure – water not distributed evenly throughout system
Determine which components are most critical to an efficient irrigation system
- Backflow Preventer – protects your potable water source from contamination. Make sure you have selected the correct backflow preventer for your property and the design of your system.
- Master Valve – can prevent significant water loss in the event of breakage to system piping (gatekeeper of the system).
- Zone Valves – not all are created equal. Upgrading to higher quality valves with flow control can improve system efficiency and distribution uniformity.
- Sprinkler Heads/Nozzles – pressure regulation to prevent misting, high quality seals to prevent low head drainage, correct nozzle selection to ensure even distribution.
- Controller – tells your system which sprinklers to run, and when. Learning how to adjust settings on your controller can save you money on irrigation service
Consider hiring a professional to inspect your irrigation system - make sure to have them explain and document any changes made to your controller.
High quality irrigation is an investment in the future of your landscape!
Credit: ALCC