[rubicon]

OP do you have a Program C? If you have no leaks, then your system is running more than what you originally programmed it to do 2 days a week

[Walter123]

Originally Posted by rubicon

OP do you have a Program C? If you have no leaks, then your system is running more than what you originally programmed it to do 2 days a week

No, the OP already stated that he didn't have a program C, that's what I thought too.

I just purchased a Rachio wi-fi sprinkler controller. It's doesn't have any controls and you program it with your phone. You can control it from anywhere as long as you have internet. It also monitors the actual weather forecast and adjusts accordingly. I'm installing it tomorrow. Looks like a piece of cake.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

OK, Hoping one of you can help me figure this out or where to go for help.
I got my Utilities bill and it jumped to over $400 this month. $200 is for the Irrigation base which is usually only about $20. I called the utilities customer service and they told me it is a true reading. I had Massey come out and inspect my system and there are no leaks and all my sprinklers are working fine. The system is set on 2 days a week, 25 minutes each zone (4 zones) and only set on Program A, Program B is off. Massey could not figure out what the problem is. Any suggestions? I called Jim Baumgartner who is coming out on Wednesday, but if Massey couldn't find anything and they checked really carefully, I doubt Jim will have any better luck.

Please do respond back with what you find out as I may want to give Jim a call myself, and maybe others will as well. Thanks for raising this issue. So many great responses to your post too. Lots of "on the ball" people in TV and such a great forum to share these ideas and thoughts!

[mixsonci]

So far I have no news to report. Jim comes on Wednesday, I'll let you know what happens after that. I found out I do have a Program C, but I checked and it is OFF also. Only A is On. My system has been working fine for 3 years now, this is the first month I have had this problem and as I said, Massey couldn't find anything wrong. Hopefully, Jim can figure it out. My bill says "14,001 Gals & Up @ $5.03/Thousand" and the charge was $180.32. All the other bills have nothing over 7,000 Gals

[TV MAN]

Originally Posted by Walter123

No, the OP already stated that he didn't have a program C, that's what I thought too.

I just purchased a Rachio wi-fi sprinkler controller. It's doesn't have any controls and you program it with your phone. You can control it from anywhere as long as you have internet. It also monitors the actual weather forecast and adjusts accordingly. I'm installing it tomorrow. Looks like a piece of cake.

Yes I did the same thing about a year ago. Since I thought my water billing for irrigation system was higher than norm.
Installed the unit myself and noticed immediate savings. I'm guessing 10yr old hunter was starting to fail.
Nice now to be able to look at usage in real time and have a log to.

[Walter123]

Originally Posted by TV MAN

Yes I did the same thing about a year ago. Since I thought my water billing for irrigation system was higher than norm.
Installed the unit myself and noticed immediate savings. I'm guessing 10yr old hunter was starting to fail.
Nice now to be able to look at usage in real time and have a log to.

I installed my Rachio wi-fi controller yesterday. Got it from Amazon for $129. Very easy to install and it performed well last night. It can handle 8 zones and none of that program A, B and C nonsense. The controller even sent me an email to inform me that it watered last night. pretty cool!

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by Walter123

I installed my Rachio wi-fi controller yesterday. Got it from Amazon for $129. Very easy to install and it performed well last night. It can handle 8 zones and none of that program A, B and C nonsense. The controller even sent me an email to inform me that it watered last night. pretty cool!

The cheapest I saw was $175.

[Walter123]

Originally Posted by outlaw

The cheapest I saw was $175.

It was offered for $129 as a "Deal Of The Day" item a couple of days ago. Knowing what I know now about the unit, I would pay the $175.

[Walter123]

I just connected my Rachio controller to my Amazon Echo (Alexa), now I can control my sprinklers with voice commands. For instance I can say "Alexa tell Rachio to start zone 1 for XX minutes". To stop it I say "Alexa, tell Rachio to stop watering".

Next is a wi-fi thermostat. I already have most lights and fans connected.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Walter123

I just connected my Rachio controller to my Amazon Echo (Alexa), now I can control my sprinklers with voice commands. For instance I can say "Alexa tell Rachio to start zone 1 for XX minutes". To stop it I say "Alexa, tell Rachio to stop watering".

Next is a wi-fi thermostat. I already have most lights and fans connected.

Pretty soon folks won't need a wife.

[Phanatic Luvr]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Your irrigation meter is in a purple box on the opposite side of your lot from the domestic water meter. There should be 2 meters in the box. 1 for your system, and 1 for your next door neighbor.

Mulligan - I beg to differ with you. Your irrigation controls are in the purple box, on the side of your home, each home has their own individual ones. Depending on how many zones you have, there could be two purple boxes. The meter however, is in a black box with two small purple round disc on top in the front lawn area. That is on the opposite side than your potable water meter and is shared with your neighbor.

[rjm1cc]

Check the start times of your zones. If you have the cycle set to start at 1:00am and then have the same cycle set to start at 1:30am some controllers will run through the first cycle, lets say it ends at 3:00am and then run the second cycle for another 2 hours. Thus you might be watering twice when you think it is only once.

[Jima64]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Pretty soon folks won't need a wife.

Sorry but I like my hello and goodbye smoothches.

[dirtbanker]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Pretty soon folks won't need a wife.

There is always the emotional needs...and for us youngins there is the physical needs...But, the word "Wife" might become a thing of the past as the 1% prefer "partner".

Thank you to the other posters for the sharing the info about the wifi sprinkler controller - I guess not everything new or different is bad!

To the OP - I had a couple months of high water bill, turned out my Hunter controller had somehow been programed to water twice a day twice a week (nobody touched it!). Look for dollar weed in your lawn as that is often a result of over watering.

[TV MAN]

Originally Posted by Walter123

I just connected my Rachio controller to my Amazon Echo (Alexa), now I can control my sprinklers with voice commands. For instance I can say "Alexa tell Rachio to start zone 1 for XX minutes". To stop it I say "Alexa, tell Rachio to stop watering".

Next is a wi-fi thermostat. I already have most lights and fans connected.

Hi Walter , I will need to try that with my echo as well. But I do have a suggestion on thermostat. I had just installed an ecobee and it works great and that I do have integrated with my echo. You should check it out. It gives a lot of flexibility and has nice logging features.

TV Man