An automated underground sprinkler system’s efficiency has a direct impact on water usage, lawn health – and monthly water bills. Much like your car or truck, irrigation systems age, and their efficiency decreases from the wear and tear of years of usage. Meanwhile, irrigation system technology, like most all technology, is constantly advancing – with new innovations, along with more efficient components.
In most cases, an upgrade to a more efficient system doesn’t require a complete system replacement. With a little help from the irrigation pros at Heinen, a sprinkler system’s performance can not only be restored to former efficiencies, but also improved to new levels of efficiency – which can lead to better overall sprinkler system operation, and possibly save on household water bills.
1. Smart Controllers
One of the easiest and most effective ways to boost a watering system’s efficiency is by upgrading to a smart controller. Advanced models from Rachio offer an immense range of features that provide greater control over schedules, watering, and monitoring.
Smart controllers like the Rachio 3 allow adjustments and water usage monitoring right from your mobile phone!
Smart controllers automatically adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions. When the device detects rain, high wind, or freezing temperatures, it pauses or skips watering cycles, ensuring that water isn’t wasted during inclement weather. They also assess predicted weather. So, if heavy rain is expected in the next 48 hours, a watering session can be skipped, avoiding oversaturation of the lawn. Sprinklers that run during these weather conditions waste a considerable amount of water and can even put a lawn’s health at risk.
Beyond monitoring weather, smart controllers also track the sprinkler system’s health. They can alert homeowners to malfunctions through their connection to flow sensors, which detect line and valve breaks, as well as wiring issues that prevent valves from opening and closing properly.
Smart controllers offer better programming capabilities than basic or outdated controllers. Traditional controllers are limited to a single, fixed watering schedule per zone. However, advanced smart controllers provide greater flexibility and customization, allowing watering schedules to be calculated for each zone. This ensures that every square inch of a property receives the precise amount of water it needs every time.
Hunter Industries is one of Heinen’s trusted irrigation manufacturers, with dozens of sprinkler head options to fit any application need!
2. Rotor Sprinkler Heads
Upgrading to rotor sprinkler heads allows for better control over the distribution and delivery of water. Traditional sprinkler heads produce fine, mist-like droplets, which are easily carried off target by the breeze or evaporate before reaching grass roots. Traditional sprayer heads do have their unique benefits for certain application scenarios, such as small areas with precise boundaries.
On the other hand, rotor sprinkler heads use less water and produce larger water droplets, which fall faster and are better at staying within a set radius of the sprinkler head. The slow precipitation rate gives the soil more time to absorb water, reducing the overall amount needed to adequately hydrate the lawn. This slow precipitation rate also makes rotor heads the best choice for sloped areas, where absorption must be carefully monitored to avoid runoff and wasted water.
3. Check Valves
Check valves prevent water from draining out of the system once a watering cycle is completed. Water flows naturally to the lowest point and often drains out from the nearest sprinkler head to that point.
With check valves installed, water remains in the pipes between cycles. By preventing backflow and drainage, check valves reduce unnecessary water loss and help keep water bills lower. Since check valves keep water in the pipes, systems also start up faster.
The Heinen irrigation team has served the KC metro for over 35 years!
System need an upgrade? Call the Irrigation Pros at Heinen!
Ready to take your sprinkler system’s efficiency to the next level? With over 35 years of experience, the Heinen irrigation team can help determine which upgrades will have the biggest impact on your sprinkler system – and lead to better irrigation system efficiency and lower monthly water bills!
