Getting The Most From Your Lawn Sprinklers This Summer

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As the weather heats up and lawns shrivel across the nation, many homeowners struggle to find the right balance between water conservation and maintaining an attractive and recreational yard. Whether you are facing drought restrictions or simply care about preserving the environment and its water supply, there are four easy steps you can take to ensure that your lawn irrigation runs as efficiently as possible this summer.  

Choosing an Efficient Sprinkler Head

You may have never put much thought into the design of lawn sprinklers, but even slight differences in flow rate, coverage and droplet size can dramatically impact their efficiency. Buy sprinklers that can cover a wide radius under low pressure, which allows the ground to absorb all of the water before it is showered with more. Sprinkler heads that create fatter water droplets are also useful to minimize the next topic of concern, evaporation. 

Combating Evaporation

Some sprinklers create a satisfying spray of water that nevertheless fails to even reach the ground, thanks to evaporation. On hot, dry days, water quickly turns to vapor and floats away on the air, leaving your lawn dry and parched. This is especially common with sprinklers and nozzles that spray a fine mist instead of a steady stream, which is why larger droplets are preferable. If possible, water your lawn in the morning or evening, when temperatures are cool and less conducive to evaporation. 

Reducing Water Loss From Leaks

Another major source of water loss in lawn irrigation is leaky sprinklers and hoses. When you turn a sprinkler on, check it and walk the length of the hose to ensure that no water is escaping. Even a slight leak can add up to an estimated 6,300 wasted gallons every month. Purchasing quality lawn sprinklers made with durable materials and designed for longevity will also reduce this problem.

Saving Water for Later Use

To take some strain off of your well or local reservoir, you may want to consider collecting rain water to hydrate your lawn during dry stretches. Rain barrels and other water-saving systems have benefited from many technological advances over the past few years, including a lower profile and the ability to connect to a standard sprinkler system. Check your local regulations regarding water use and collection in your city, county and state to make sure that you are allowed to use rain barrels on your property before making any significant investments. This gathered water may make all the difference for your lawn if drought restrictions are put into place. 

To learn more, contact a sprinkler company like Krupske Sprinkler Systems


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