[samhass]

Also..don't use those clorox tabs in your toilet tank. They really do destroy the rubbery parts of the flapper and the toilet will run.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by samhass

Also..don't use those clorox tabs in your toilet tank. They really do destroy the rubbery parts of the flapper and the toilet will run.

Good point. If the flapper valve leaks, the toilet will "refill" periodically and run for 15 seconds or so.

Skip

BTW, I think my aunt was a flapper back in the 20s.

[blueeagle65]

FYI - your sprinklers can easily use twice as much water as they were designed to distribute if the internal gaskets/seals are worn. The water can gush out from the bottom of the pop up sprinklers and it is readily visible when they are running. The repair kits are inexpensive ($ 2 or so) and are not difficult to install - or hire out for repair.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by rshoffer

Since this is all new to me, on average, what should be an average monthly water usage for drinking and irrigation? (South of 466, corner lot, designer)

Its all here:
http://www.thevillageswaterwisdom.com/HowMuch.pdf

[cabo35]

Thanks for all the information and suggestions. You have made this thread a seminar on Villages water usage and troubleshooting.

Sloan's came today tested entire irrigation system and replaced 5 faulty heads. They confirmed there were no underground leaks. Their bill was $140.... IMO a good investment. Still waiting for the water company to test potable water meter. Talk Host's point on program setting and the possible inadvertant dual start times seems to be best explanation for irrigation overuse. When I mentioned it to a representative from the water company, she said there have been some occurences of multiple programs and asked me about possible power surges or spikes that could be suspect. I don't know enough about this to confirm that possibility but it sounded like they have had the issue before.

I have done my own meter readings everyday and usage is consistently normal with no evidence of leaks. I will let you know if the problem resolves.

Thank you again. TOTV is the greatest.

[Sidney Lanier]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

Well, the irrigation water increase may be due to the additional cycles from the control unit, but how does one explain the huge jump in potable water usage from 4,000 to 30,000?

When we bought our house, the irrigation system was using in the neighborhood of 30,000 gallons a month. That's what caught my eye prompted me to go to the utility company, and it was there that the employee confirmed (1) that that 30,000 should have been between 4,000 and 5,000 for our size lot; and (2) that the 30,000 (give or take) was consistent from the time the house was built, caused, we later learned, by an irrigation line underground that not only had no sprinkler but didn't even have the elbow to which a sprinkler should have been attached.

If usage jumped suddenly from 4,000 to 30,000, I would suspect a broken-off sprinkler head somewhere, the consequence of which would be the water running below the surface and immediately sinking into our sandy soil, thus not making itself visible. If this is the case, one of the sprinkler zones should have diminished pressure, and this would be obvious. Try running one zone at a time to see; you can do this from the controller box in the garage. Good luck!

[Fredz411]

I have condo in a building where many owners do not use their units that much. I was working on the condo budget and was surprise at the water bill for the year. When I looked into the matter this is what I found. Many owners put some type of cleaner in the toilet tank. The lack of use allowed the cleaner to attack the flapper allowing water to leak and is never noticed.
To test your flapper. Remove any cleaner from the tank. Flush until the water is clear. Than put some food coloring in the tank. If the water in the toilet shows the color. Than it is time for a new flapper.

Fred