Typically, night watering means your sprinkler will kick into gear sometime between 10 pm and 6 am. During this time, humidity levels will be at their highest, so your lawn will retain and utilize more of the water it receives.
Why do some people turn their sprinklers on at night? It's better to water at night when it's cooler to avoid the water evaporating before it can soak into the ground deep to the roots of the grass. Essentially it allows you to use less water.
There are two reasons why your sprinklers would continue running: It's possible your valves have been opened manually. You'll need to locate your valve box(es) and turn the solenoid(s) clockwise until snug. The solenoid is located on the top of the valve and looks like a cylinder with two wires protruding out of it.
But life happens and sooner or later the running sprinkler is forgotten – even overnight! Not only does this waste water, it's also tough on the water bill – and can cause irreparable lawn and plant damage. In fact, over-watering can cause just as many problems as under-watering.
To water well, timing is everything. Water in the early morning – between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Midday watering leads to wasteful evaporation, while nighttime watering causes droplets to cling to grass overnight, increasing the chance of lawn diseases.
A common rule that is followed for obstructions within 18 inches of the sprinkler deflector is the “three times rule”. This requires sprinklers to be positioned away from obstructions a minimum or three times the maximum dimension of the obstruction.
Irrigation Systems
If your system has eight stations, and you water twice per week, and each station runs for 15 minutes, then you are using 1,920 gallons each day you water, or 15,360 gallons per month.
Generally speaking, residential lawn sprinklers can last anywhere between 20 to 25 years depending on how well your system was installed and maintained. Your sprinklers' longevity also depends on where you live.
Rainy weather is upon us, which makes it a great time to turn off your irrigation system. Watering your plants is not necessary when nature is doing it for you. It's also not necessary for at least two days after it rains, and often for much longer.
A watering session should be long enough to soak the area sufficiently so all the roots receive a beneficial drink. Sprinklers should be set to run for about 30 to 35 minutes at a time twice a week.
Clogged heads can keep water from spraying. If you notice that your sprinkler heads are particularly dirty, take the time to clean the head and the plastic screen basket. Check your water pressure. — Low water pressure will cause sprinkler heads to barely spray water; or worse, they might not pop up out of the ground.
Even when the controller turns off, it still runs indefinitely. The problem is most likely located in one of the solenoid valves. These valves are usually located in an underground access box outside in the yard. Before you call your irrigation service provider, you might want to take a look inside the access box.
Water trickling steadily out of an irrigation head long after the irrigation system has turned off could indicate a leaking- or weeping- valve below ground. The diaphragm seal may have worn out and water is seeping freely through 24/7. It could also mean the valve is clogged, preventing it from fully closing.
People water too much, too often, at the wrong times, and the wrong way. Not only does this waste a valuable and increasingly scarce resource, it also makes your lawn look worse by increasing disease, insect, and thatch problems.
The answer is “before temperatures generally dip below freezing at night.” The biggest problem that can strike an irrigation system in the winter is water leftover in the pipes and valves from the summer freezing.
Hose-end sprinklers use more water than necessary and don't evenly distribute the water. Water often sprays where it isn't needed, shooting over onto pavement, driveways and sidewalks. It's easy to forget to turn the sprinkler off, so you're often using more water than your landscape needs.
Typically, most lawn irrigation periods during the summer should last between 25–30 minutes each. This amount of time depends on a lot of different factors though. As previously stated, each irrigation system or sprinkler can deliver different amounts of water and it's important to hit that 1 inch per week requirement.
Watering every day is not advised. It should be done 2 to 3 times per week only to prevent a shallow root system. If possible, water during the early morning hours to ensure that the lawn dries entirely before nightfall. However, watering at any time of the day is better than not watering at all.
The average system uses approximately 15-16 gallons per minute, per station. Here is an easy formula to help you calculate the approximate amount of water you are using each month.
Annual inspections help ensure the system is working correctly, and no rust or water back-up has occurred. Even with regular maintenance, sprinkler heads do not last forever. Fire safety protocol recommends you get sprinkler heads replaced once every five years to prevent fire sprinkler leaks.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that fire sprinklers fail approximately 7% of the time—and often, those failures are a result of human error. Properly installed sprinklers are 92% effective in the face of a real fire incident, according to the NFPA.
Sprinklers generally cover up wider ground and spread out water at a slow yet steady pace, which makes all the soil moisturized evenly and soaked underground. A watering hose takes time to cover space and can clutter the soil if there's too much water.
Although it is impossible for your lawn to look perfect after an installation, a properly installed system will not damage your lawn.
Fixed spray heads apply 1.5 to 2 inches of water per hour in a fan-shaped spray. Rotors apply about 0.5 inches of water per hour in a single, rotating stream of water. Rotary nozzles apply approximately 0.4-0.6 inches per hour in multiple, rotating streams of water.