[KsJayhawkers]

We just received our second (full month) utility bill. We have a Courtyard Villa, so a small front and rear lawn with only three zones. Our irrigation system is set to water two days a week on automatic depending what the rain sensor tells it to water. Our irrigation usage is 3,200 gallons this month and it seems a bit high. Just curious what other Courtyard Villa owners irrigation usage is for the month. If we are in the ball park of others, I won't worry but since we are new, I dont have any comparison data. If we are using too much, we may have a leak and I'll have to call the water department to check the meter.

[Stu from NYC]

We were getting rather high bills so had a professional look at our system and he found lots of problems.

Some head were not spraying outwards some were misdirected.

Since than our water bill is 25% of what it was.

[Topspinmo]

You didn’t mention what type of landscape? Grass or rock and bushes? Hopefully responders will comment on what they got so you can somewhat compare? You’re controller may have more than one cycle ? You also need to know how long each station is watering? If you have water running down the street for 20 or more minutes you’re watering the street drain more than you yard, it’s just running off.

I have rock yard on corner lot with lots of bushes, palms, and tropical plants . I have 6 stations, none of them run more that 6 mins each. I replaced most my pop up’s with individual plant sprayers which water the plant and not rock yard. I know exactly how many GPM I’m watering. I am not on separate irrigation water so I had to do test and math to know. I walk in early mornings and see majority houses watering and most of it runs down the street drain , some even water when raining.

[retiredguy123]

I have been using about 1500 to 2500 gallons per month, so you may be a little high, but I doubt that you have a leak. Try reducing the watering times and see if it affects your lawn by using less water. The solar sync system will automatically adjust your watering times, not the rain sensor. The rain sensor will turn off the system for awhile when you have a heavy rain.

[JP]

Check the number of days watering, time watering and volume coming out of heads. All will make quite a difference if adjusted correctly.

[John_W]

I have a CYV, my monthly bill with amenities, water, irrigation, sewage and garbage will run between $235 to $245. I only turn the irrigation on from about November to February. The month of May will start the rainy season and you can turn off the irrigation completely until Oct/Nov. I turned it off in February and I will water by hand my shrubs in the front and back a couple of times a week, and maybe turn the irrigation on manually in front only for 5 minutes once week.

I had all my grass removed years ago and when I had the landscaping done, we had individual sprayers put on each shrub instead the wide open sprayers. Here's a photo taken about a year ago when the home would of been 9 years old at the time.

[KsJayhawkers]

Originally Posted by John_W

I have a CYV, my monthly bill with amenities, water, irrigation, sewage and garbage will run between $235 to $245. I only turn the irrigation on from about November to February. The month of May will start the rainy season and you can turn off the irrigation completely until Oct/Nov. I turned it off in February and I will water by hand my shrubs in the front and back a couple of times a week, and maybe turn the irrigation on manually in front only for 5 minutes once week.

I had all my grass removed years ago and when I had the landscaping done, we had individual sprayers put on each shrub instead the wide open sprayers. Here's a photo taken about a year ago when the home would of been 9 years old at the time.

Thanks John. It seems like our bill is aligned with yours. I always appreciate your detailed feedback!!

[KsJayhawkers]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have been using about 1500 to 2500 gallons per month, so you may be a little high, but I doubt that you have a leak. Try reducing the watering times and see if it affects your lawn by using less water. The solar sync system will automatically adjust your watering times, not the rain sensor. The rain sensor will turn off the system for awhile when you have a heavy rain.

Thanks RetiredGuy. Based on your suggestion, I checked my watering times and apparently my system was set to run for 1:06 at 100% on two of the zones. I remember the tech telling me the SolarSync will dial the time down from the 100% to maybe 40% on normal days. I went ahead and reduced the watering times to 40 minutes. I appreciate your feedback!!

[John_W]

Originally Posted by KsJayhawkers

Thanks RetiredGuy. Based on your suggestion, I checked my watering times and apparently my system was set to run for 1:06 at 100% on two of the zones. I remember the tech telling me the SolarSync will dial the time down from the 100% to maybe 40% on normal days. I went ahead and reduced the watering times to 40 minutes. I appreciate your feedback!!

That's still a lot of time. When we moved in and had the walk-thru with the builder, she set the timers on 9 minutes and in the winter they went down to about 6 minutes, that's back when I had grass. I don't have any grass now, so that's different, but still that's a lot water and when May gets here, you're sensor should pick up when we have rain and cut them off, I just go ahead and manually turn it off that time of year.

[HJBeck]

We use about the same, 3700 gallons per month this time of year. We have 2 zones which run twice a week for 12 minutes each time. This usage goes way down during the rainy season because of our rain sensor shutting off the system. If yours doesn’t change during March thru Oct. check your rain sensor, it may not be be working. We live in a CV also.

[davephan]

You might also consider replacing your old sprinkler controller with an Orbit B-Hyve sprinkler controller. The Orbit B-Hyve sprinkler controller is a smart sprinkler controller and knows about the weather conditions. It automatically puts your system on rain delay when it’s very likely to rain. You can program, control, and monitor the Orbit B-Hyve controller with your smart cellphone or computer. It also records the water history. They sell them at Home Depot and Lowe’s, and they cost $100 or less. It’s easy to replace yourself by just watching a YouTube video.

I had two of the 12 zone Orbit B-Hyve sprinkler controllers on my 24 zone system back in Minnesota. One of the first things with the Florida house was to change out the old Rainbird “dumb” sprinkler controller with an Orbit B-Hyve 12 zone sprinkler controller. I only have 6 zones now, but I installed a 12 zone controller in case I want to add zones in the future. The 12 zone unit is only about $20 to $30 more than the 6 zone controller, which is “chump” change. The Orbit B-Hyve smart sprinkler controller will pay for itself, since it reduces your water bill whenever it automatically rain delays. It’s a “no brainer” to change out the sprinkler controller with an Orbit B-Hyve sprinkler controller.

[rlcooper70]

We have a full sized golf course view home and cut the time to seven minutes a zone and three times a week ..... big difference in the bill for water and no difference in the way the yard appears.

[KathiF]

I am in courtyard villa. I reduced my watering time to twenty minutes and everything is doing fine. I still have grass.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by John_W

I have a CYV, my monthly bill with amenities, water, irrigation, sewage and garbage will run between $235 to $245. I only turn the irrigation on from about November to February. The month of May will start the rainy season and you can turn off the irrigation completely until Oct/Nov. I turned it off in February and I will water by hand my shrubs in the front and back a couple of times a week, and maybe turn the irrigation on manually in front only for 5 minutes once week.

I had all my grass removed years ago and when I had the landscaping done, we had individual sprayers put on each shrub instead the wide open sprayers. Here's a photo taken about a year ago when the home would of been 9 years old at the time.

What a good looking yard! I like the no grass situation, certainly better for water bill.

[JerseyGurl]

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