When you are spring cleaning this April, take a look outside and spruce up your sprinklers!
In the United States, nearly 8 billion gallons of water are used each day for residential outdoor water use. If sprinkler systems are programmed incorrectly, pointed in the wrong direction, or have a leak, it can lead to even more water used.
To get started with sprucing up your irrigation system, follow these four simple steps:
- Inspect: Check your system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads. WaterSense has a detailed checklist (PDF) to walk you through the inspection process, or better yet, go with a pro to inspect and replace any breaks or leaks.
- Connect: Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes/hoses. If water is pooling in your landscape or you have large soggy areas, you could have a leak in your system.
- Direct: Check the direction of your irrigation and be sure you are not watering your driveway, house, or sidewalk. Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape.
- Select: An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste a lot of water and money. Update your system's schedule with the seasons, or select a WaterSense labeled controller to help with scheduling your irrigation.
Learn more about maintaining your sprinkler system by visiting U.S. EPA's Sprinkler Spruce Up.
