Water conservation

[jrref]

There has been a lot of discussion concerning water conservation recently because we had so little rain this season.

One of the things you can do for very little cost is to check your rain sensor on your irregation system. They typically last about 5 years and then the little sponges in the sensor dry up and the sensor stops working. You can get a replacement sensor at Lowes or Home Depot or on-line and it's very easy to change.

If you live north of 466 you will save on domestic water and if you live south of 466 you will save on irregation water and the associated cost.

To check the sensor you can hit it with water from the hose and see if it triggers on the irregation timer you have.

I know there are many rain sensors that are not working and the homeowners don't know it because after a significant rain like we had the other day you can see many homes watered their lawns.

[rjm1cc]

I gave up on my rain sensor and do it manually. Use much less water than before and lawn is ok.

[EdFNJ]

Good suggestion, but problem is, those rain sensors won't know that will always rain an hour **AFTER** you water. :D You need a "smart sprinkler system" for that. They actually work pretty well not watering both before predicted and after it actually rains.

[retiredguy123]

There has been a lot of discussion concerning water conservation recently because we had so little rain this season.

One of the things you can do for very little cost is to check your rain sensor on your irregation system. They typically last about 5 years and then the little sponges in the sensor dry up and the sensor stops working. You can get a replacement sensor at Lowes or Home Depot or on-line and it's very easy to change.

If you live north of 466 you will save on domestic water and if you live south of 466 you will save on irregation water and the associated cost.

To check the sensor you can hit it with water from the hose and see if it triggers on the irregation timer you have.

I know there are many rain sensors that are not working and the homeowners don't know it because after a significant rain like we had the other day you can see many homes watered their lawns.
You are correct if you just have a rain sensor. But, a lot of houses have a wired Hunter system where the sensor is both a rain sensor and a solar sync sensor. It is connected by 2 small wires on the roof gutter that must be cut and spliced to replace the sensor. Also, I tried to buy a new sensor a few years ago and could not find the Hunter replacement at any local store or online. I also tried to buy the cork sponges, but the only supplier I found was on Ebay, which I will not use. I gave up, but fortunately, my rain sensor still works after 6 years.

[Altavia]

The rain sensor is totally ineffective, drys out quickly in the Florida sun.

A wifi irrigation controller is easy to put in a rain delay manually or based automatically based on a local weather station.

[jrref]

Good suggestion, but problem is, those rain sensors won't know that will always rain an hour **AFTER** you water. :D You need a "smart sprinkler system" for that. They actually work pretty well not watering both before predicted and after it actually rains.

Correct, that's why it's always best to install a smart sprinkler timer like the Rachio which is connected to the weather via the internet.

But a lot of people don't want to do this upgrade so for them they are wasting even more water because their rain sensor has dried out and is not working. What most don't realize is you can get a 6 zone Rachio on e-bay for about $125 and you should be able to recoup to cost in a couple of months by not watering when it's not needed.

[jrref]

You are correct if you just have a rain sensor. But, a lot of houses have a wired Hunter system where the sensor is both a rain sensor and a solar sync sensor. It is connected by 2 small wires on the roof gutter that must be cut and spliced to replace the sensor. Also, I tried to buy a new sensor a few years ago and could not find the Hunter replacement at any local store or online. I also tried to buy the cork sponges, but the only supplier I found was on Ebay, which I will not use. I gave up, but fortunately, my rain sensor still works after 6 years.

Right, I don't know where to get that replacement but you can get the $20 rain sensor from Lowes without the solar sync sensor and just make any time adjustments manually during the year. Also to replace the sensor you can cut the wire outside on the existing sensor, tape the new wire to the old and pull the new wire from your data cabinet and connect to your sprinkler timer.

[ScottGo]

Never mind the outside. It is crazy that you have to go thru 3 to 6 gallons of water before it starts to get hot inside. We turn on both sinks and shower about 3 minutes every time either of us shower. Waste of water if there ever was. How many houses have whatever type water heater we have and no wonder there is a shortage.

[tuccillo]

It is not the type of water heater, it is the distance between your bathroom and the water heater. Houses with both tankless and tank water heaters can have a long run to the bathroom, or a short run, depending on the layout. It takes 30 seconds for us to get hot water.

Never mind the outside. It is crazy that you have to go thru 3 to 6 gallons of water before it starts to get hot inside. We turn on both sinks and shower about 3 minutes every time either of us shower. Waste of water if there ever was. How many houses have whatever type water heater we have and no wonder there is a shortage.

[eeroger]

Never mind the outside. It is crazy that you have to go thru 3 to 6 gallons of water before it starts to get hot inside. We turn on both sinks and shower about 3 minutes every time either of us shower. Waste of water if there ever was. How many houses have whatever type water heater we have and no wonder there is a shortage.

Put in a recirculating pump on your hot water heater (not sure if this works on thankless heater). We have a 3k sq ft house and now get hot water in 4 sec at kitchen sink, 10 sec at master shower, and 30 sec at farthest guest bathroom. We used to tell guests to turn on the hot water & then come and get coffee before the water would get hot.

[DiandJay]

Thank you. I think this is a good idea too.

[jrref]

Put in a recirculating pump on your hot water heater (not sure if this works on thankless heater). We have a 3k sq ft house and now get hot water in 4 sec at kitchen sink, 10 sec at master shower, and 30 sec at farthest guest bathroom. We used to tell guests to turn on the hot water & then come and get coffee before the water would get hot.

You can put a recirculating pump on you tank and or tankless hot water system. These recirculating pumps come with a timer that you can adjust to anticipate when you use hot water. But the best way to implement this pump is to set it to On all the time and get a wifi power switch to turn the pump on or off using Google or Alexa. The pump simply plugs into the wifi power switch which turns the power On and Off as you need hot water. No schedules and no waste of electricity recirculating hot water when it's not being used. This way when you need water you say "Hey Google turn on the water heater pump for 5 minutes" and by the time you get into the shower the water will be hot in about a minuteor less.

[davefin]

Been in my home for almost nine years now. Replaced those little wafers in my sensor about 4 years ago. Still working fine. Purchased a bunch of those wafers from eBay. Real cheap. Replaced in a neighbors also. Real easy.

[JRcorvette]

I got rid of the Hunter unit and installed a WiFi unit that does not need a resin sensor. It can be controlled by your cell phone from anywhere. Best decision ever. The brand I bought is B-hive. You can buy online for $99 - $150 or at Lowes.

[Wondering]

There has been a lot of discussion concerning water conservation recently because we had so little rain this season.

One of the things you can do for very little cost is to check your rain sensor on your irregation system. They typically last about 5 years and then the little sponges in the sensor dry up and the sensor stops working. You can get a replacement sensor at Lowes or Home Depot or on-line and it's very easy to change.

If you live north of 466 you will save on domestic water and if you live south of 466 you will save on irregation water and the associated cost.

To check the sensor you can hit it with water from the hose and see if it triggers on the irregation timer you have.

I know there are many rain sensors that are not working and the homeowners don't know it because after a significant rain like we had the other day you can see many homes watered their lawns.
Turn the sprinkler system off when we have had rain and during the up coming raining season.

[Bwanajim]

No kidding! Takes forever

[birdawg]

Do it manually some months I don’t ever turn it on. The water company has been to my house numerous times to see if the meter is working. And my lawn looks great.

[jrref]

Do it manually some months I don’t ever turn it on. The water company has been to my house numerous times to see if the meter is working. And my lawn looks great.

Yea my neighbor disconnected his sprinkler system. Never waters and his grass is the greenist on the street, always nice an moist looking without water.:22yikes:

[Arctic Fox]

Yea my neighbor disconnected his sprinkler system. Never waters and his grass is the greenest on the street, always nice an moist looking without water.

If you water the grass too often it will not develop long roots so it will be unable to survive if there is a dry spell and you don't water.

[Whitley]

Good suggestion, but problem is, those rain sensors won't know that will always rain an hour **AFTER** you water. :D You need a "smart sprinkler system" for that. They actually work pretty well not watering both before predicted and after it actually rains.

Is the system tied into the internet, allowing it to use weather..., no that wouldn't work. How does the system know an hour before it rains that it is going to rain?

[jrref]

If you water the grass too often it will not develop long roots so it will be unable to survive if there is a dry spell and you don't water.

Right, I think his roots are getting water from my lawn or his lawns roots are so deep maybe they are getting water from the upper acquifer?