Irrigation Sprinklers
 

We noticed that our irrigation usage had gone up. We also know that we shut the irrigation timer off in mid October (rainy season). We contacted TVCDD, they came out and checked the meter, it was working fine. They could not answer any questions about the usage.

When the sprinkler is on, it runs at 4:30 AM - twice a week. There has not been any notice of the sprinkler usage (water) on the street, driveway or sidewalk in 2 1/2 months. Where is the water going? If there is a break in the line, why would it leak if the timer is turned off (original Hunter SRC plus electric controller installed 2005??).

I turned off the flow of water in the sprinkler module yesterday (12/13) until this is sorted out. It should also be noted that the 2 sprinkler guys I called 12/10 are too busy to stop by.

The first thing you need to do is to run each zone manually to see if there are any broken sprinkler heads. Move the dial to manual, use the right arrow to select the zone, and move the dial to run.

You should have had them cut it off in the meter box until you get it sorted out. You can do this yourself just make sure you are in the irrigation meter not your potable water meter box. I have a meter key but a pair of vice grips or channel lock pliers will work

sprinkler
 

check to make sure you don't habve a program a and program b set

Some of my neighbors had their programs messed up during a storm, they were watering two or three times in a day.

Very common culprit.
Sometimes, in error, timers are set using an a and b program to obtain twice per week VS setting days of the week (in a given program).

Each "program (a or b) is capable of multiple watering days settings.

Well, if got irrigation sprinkler valve cut off I would got to meter and see if it slowing running by observing the dial numbers. If the numbers don’t move? Then, I would turn irrigation valve back on and go to water meter and watch the dial see if numbers start moving. I also agree most Hunter has At least 3 modes A,B,C. You may be running in all three modes. Mind hard to see the little line under the modes.

I hate irrigation systems, just another service to spend our retirement money on.
Lived up north and didn't have one, and the world kept turning, why down here.

Sprinkler heads leak and break so how would know it if they go off @ 4:00 a.m.

Those dam things must drive snowbirds crazy when they find out their paying to water
the blacktop.

I learned to check my sprinkler system from YouTube. It will show you how to check each zone manually in day time. Also, I learned to change a broken head. Very easy fix.

The sprinkler guys charge about $35 to check but they will also find a few heads that they say need to be replaced to make it worth their time.Charge for each head change is about $40-50.

You really need to learn how to check you sprinklers yourself, it's very easy.

We had massey do this for the first year.

First guy was great knew his stuff. Second guy was ok guys 3-5 worse than useless. Each one wanted to set unit differently.

As a result we have a local guy doing it.

Massey is a revolving door now.

Thanks, I'll check it out.
Are there different brand of sprinkler heads that a how on YouTube?

Poor advice from kids and we pay.
Nice world out there

If the system is set to OFF as OP did, NO PROGRAM will run the sprinklers.
:ohdear::ohdear:

The OP didn't make it clear as to when the system was turned off and when the high usage was noticed. When you turn off the system, it could take a month or more to see the difference in usage in your water bill. The first thing to do is to run all of the sprinklers to see if there is a broken sprinkler head.

Also a snowbird. I have Massey and have the same guy who does my area. He knows the system. He checked my sprinkler system first and there were no leaks. Then I called the Villages water. They sent someone out within two days and dug up something around the meter. Very good service from both.

Just to answer a question that has been unanswered there are two or three different types of head systems. If you take a picture and bring it to any sprinkler supply or hardware store they can tell you which one it is and probably very easily explain how to replace broken ones cheap enough to fix yourself just a couple of bucks plus the glue

Get the Massey guy home phone number. If he leaves doubt you will have the same experience.

rise in water usage
 

We have also had a large rise in our gallons of water usage without any related actual usage. We are in the Village of Silver Lake. I have heard a number of others also claim this.
My suspicion is of the new water company measuring system. I will be looking into it further.

Sprinkler
 

First set your timer to run in evening when still daylight so you can see it, or at least start a manual run cycle and check all heads, then walk your entire yard and look for a soft or wet mushy area. Next get rid of the antique timer. My house is two years old and I already ditched the unreliable builders timer. Installed a b-hyve 4 zone unit from Lowes $69.95 downloaded the app and paired it to my phone. Easiest electronic device I have ever set up. Now I can control my irrigation system from anywhere in the country. Sets its own delays when rainy or you can delay it from app for however long you want. Has multiple seasonal program functions. Great device.

I just went through a similar issue with irrigation system. I ended up calling ACI. They found two heads leaking that I never would seen. Also had a broken line that I did know about. The tech was young but knew what he was doing. They are not cheap but they got my system running well.

A short 10 minute class is in order. Looks confusing but can’t be that difficult. If a class is set up- chg $10- I would gladly pay 😀

OP, in reading your post, it sounds like you have never actually observed the sprinklers when they are operating. You cannot diagnose a leak by looking at the street and driveway. Every homeowner needs to know how to run the system manually. Your problem could be one broken sprinkler head that is spewing a geyser of water when it is on, or bubbling up from the ground if the leak is underground. I would suggest that you go online and download the Hunter manual for your controller to learn how to operate it.

After you find your problem, set your system to run only once a week. This time of the year, grass is growing slowly and doesn’t need as much water. Also, too much water may create a fungus problem. After we have a frost, grass only needs to be watered once every 2 weeks. Start twice a week watering again in April.

Village Covenants - Watering Requirements
 

I believe when I read the Villages Covenants, it state as the home owner we are all required to water our lawns to ensure they look good. The way the Villages manages lawn watering is they monitor your water irrigation usage. If you fall below a required amount of gallon usage, the has the ability to digitally/electronically regulate (open/close) the your irrigation water valve as they deem necessary.

Your home water supply is controlled by two valves. One for home use, which you can open and close. The second valve is for your irrigation lawn watering which I could not find for my home. Probably buried in a vale box in your lawn somewhere.

Ohiobuckeye
 

I hear you! Irrigation water is garbage water, it’s not fit to drink or bathe in. I agree why do they even charge you for it at all. Even the drinking water has a bleach smell to it, to me it doesn’t taste good either. But what can you do about it?

Sounds like a great idea and you can walk around your yard, turn on each zone
to check for leaks from your phone.

Now if they only had a system that would detect heads and water leaks. :thumbup:

But, that won’t show leak. Has look at water meter see if water is moving through the counter turbine (by watching the digital screen on water meter. If showing flow, then have to isolate the irrigation system by turning the manual open close valve. If still flowing then have to isolate the house by turning off the house water shut off valve down steam from the meter. Now if there a leak would know where in system it at.

Do you have a source for that information? I don't think The Villages can open or close your irrigation water valves. You control them with an electronic controller in the garage. There is also a box in the yard to operate the valves manually, but I don't think the Villages ever controls those valves.

Sprinkler heads are designed to always "leak".
There is no "shut-off" for individual heads.
Each zone is controlled by a zone valve.
A zone valve can fail to close due to a faulty solenoid, dirt in the system, or torn rubber diaphragm.
If someone tells you they repaired a "leak" by only replacing a sprinkler head, they are ripping you off.

There may be some hidden programs running. On an older Hunter unit, go to program start times. There are 4 separate programs under programs A, B & C, noted in the left side of the screen…hard to see. If you only want to run one program, delete any that appear. It may be easiest to revert to factory settings and start over.

I had a somewhat higher water bill in my new constructed home. I found out that there were 2 areas in my pipes that had a leak. I noticed the ground was very, very soggy so called warranty multiple times and my lawn guys. Couldn't find it until the sprinkler company that originally installed stopped by and ran each line and dug about 10" down in the mud and noticed some leaks. Look for extra soggy areas.

Just checked it out in Google and it looks like something I'd really like to get. Which kind of tradesperson should I get to remove the old system box and replace it with this (electrician? sprinkler co?). I can't check my system because the present read out on the screen of my system shows all 8's. I changed the battery, so I don't know what's wrong. I fear many of my heads were damaged when large shrubs were removed many months ago. I have no idea if and when my yard last received water....

???
 

Water system also waters the garden, in most cases. What the lawn requires may not be the same as flower beds or fruiting plants.
Just something to think about.

We had the SAME situation. Water was turned off, sprinklers off, out of state. Got same shock as our bill is the same usage every month. Found out on facebook many MORE had same thing. We had house and lawn system checked for leaks, nothing, checked toilets, faucets, everything. Seems very strange now that we've found this is true all over (check out villages groups on FB, you will find the same thing). No one has had a very pleasant interchange when inquiring to the villages water dept. (sad to say).

Water Dept supplies water...what do you want them to do...you need to figure out why your water usage is high...they don't figure that out for you...your home...your land...your responsibility

Yes, but it is their meter that measures the amount of water used. Sometimes, the meter is defective.

I agree but before you call them it is the homeowners responsibility to do some checking and learn how the system works...I have spoken to some people in my neighborhood that have stated that they have high usage so they call the water dept to go out and check their meter before doing anything themselves...those techs that come out are contractors then the homeowners complain about the price of water...what do you think it cost US everytime someone goes out for nothing

Similar situation here. We headed north in April and turned water off (domestic). The next bills thru the summer were just as high as Jan thru departure. We had someone check for leaks inside and all was ok.
Called the WD and explained we are not there and the water is turned off. 1st person I spoke to had someone go out and check the meter, and it turned out to be working fine. A day later, someone called and explained the meter had been changed recently because the old one was running "backwards". The WD assumed we were still there and estimated our bill for the spring/summer months. We had to prove we were back up north and they ended up making an adjustment.