Focus : Irrigation Systems
Everyone wants a beautiful yard with lush, green grass, vibrant shrubs, and beautiful trees. This can be accomplished through the wise use of water. You can be sure you are using water wisely by becoming familiar with the components of your home irrigation system, ensuring they are working properly, and maintaining them.
The irrigation controller, or time clock, is the brain of your irrigation system. It controls when and how long your system operates, and understanding it is essential to proper care of your lawn. Improper operation of your time clock can waste water and harm your lawn – too much water can cause an increase in disease, weeds, and pests. Your time clock needs to be “told” three important things, when to water, what time to begin, and how long to run each zone. The FAWN Fact Sheet, “The Time Clock” (link), can provide more detailed information about your time clock.
Knowing how much water your irrigation system applies to your landscape is crucial, not only to its efficient operation, but to conserving water as well. Properly setting your time clock requires knowledge of your system’s application rate - the amount of water the system applies over a specified period of time (the “how long to run each zone” from above) - to ensure the proper amount of water is applied. Refer to the FAWN Fact Sheet “Calculating Application Rate” for details on how to determine your system’s application rate.
Florida law requires that “any person who purchases and installs an automatic sprinkler system after May 1, 1991, shall install, and must maintain and operate a rain sensor device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred” (F.S. 373.662). Some counties and local communities have laws requiring all systems have them. Rainfall shutoff devices do just what their name implies; they shut off the irrigation system when they detect rainfall, because there is no need for water. They accomplish several important objectives; they conserve water, save money, reduce system wear-and-tear, and help protect surface and ground water. Ensure you have one installed and that it is working properly. The FAWN Fact Sheet, Rainfall Shutoff Devices (link), provides more information on the rainfall shutoff device.
Proper understanding of your time clock, installation of a rain shutoff sensor, and knowing your system’s application rate are all important aspects of a well-functioning irrigation system. However, maintaining that system is also crucial. Clogged sprinkler heads and kinked hoses, for example, can waste water and decrease the efficiency of your system. Be sure to periodically test your system, adjust your sprinkler heads so they are watering the intended landscape, inspect and clean the filters, check and test your rainfall shutoff sensor, and make sure the time clock is operating properly. Check out the FAWN Fact Sheet, “Routine System Maintenance” (link), for more information.
You can have the yard you want, while conserving water and money, by getting to know your irrigation system and making sure it is operating properly.
Once you are sure your system is working as intended, use The FAWN Urban Irrigation Scheduler to schedule irrigation cycles. This tool can be found at http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/tools/urban_irrigation/.