[Luggage]

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

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Dbraisted

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.

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

[mpefloral]

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.

Originally Posted by Shortie

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.

[Larchap49]

Originally Posted by Shortie

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.

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.

[daca55]

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.

[Jcicales]

Originally Posted by KAM+6

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.

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 😀

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Shortie

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.

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.

[Rzepecki]

Originally Posted by Shortie

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.

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.

[lmaribito]

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]

Originally Posted by Shortie

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.

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?

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

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.

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.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by DaleDivine

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

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.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by lmaribito

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.

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.

[NoMoSno]

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.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

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.