How To Protect Your Property Against Irrigation System Leaks
Discover how using a smart water meter can prevent damage from irrigation system leaks.
If one thing is for sure, your home’s irrigation system can use a lot of water. You always want to ensure you use every last drop efficiently.
But here’s the thing.
Preventing irrigation water waste is challenging, especially considering how up to 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems.
Irrigation system leaks occur when water escapes from pipes, fittings, valves, or other system components. A leaking irrigation system can cause significant water waste, increase water bills, and damage plants and crops by either overwatering or underwatering.
Examples of some of the most common irrigation system leaks can include:
Pipe leaks
This can occur when water escapes through a crack or hole in the pipe. Roots, animals, or equipment damage can cause these leaks.
Valve leaks
This can occur when a valve fails to close completely, allowing water to continue to flow through the system even when it’s not supposed to.
Sprinkler head leaks
This can occur when water leaks out of a sprinkler head even after the system has shut off. Sprinkler head leaks can be caused by a clogged or broken sprinkler head.
Drip system leaks
This can occur when water leaks from drip emitters or fittings, often caused by damage or improper installation.
Underground leaks
An underground leak can be caused by wear and tear over time and temperature changes. When pipes freeze, this can cause them to expand and contract, leading to cracks and other types of damage.
Potential consequences of undetected leaks
To prevent irrigation or sprinkler system leaks from destroying your property and draining your wallet, it’s crucial to detect and fix these incidents quickly. Without preventative measures, you can easily run the risk of having the following happen to your home and properties:
Water waste
This can lead to a massive water bill and environmental consequences. Running irrigation systems with a leak can waste nearly 6,300 gallons of water each month!
Plant damage
Leaks that lead to over or underwatering of plants can create root and fungal diseases for your plants. This can decrease the aesthetic appeal and, thus, the value of your property.
Increased operation costs
Leaks in an irrigation system can cause pumps to run longer and more frequently than necessary, raising electricity costs and putting additional wear and tear on equipment.
According to the EPA, it is essential to know how replacing a clock-based controller with a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller can reduce an average home’s irrigation water use by up to 30 percent. This can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually.
Causes of irrigation system leaks
Several factors can cause irrigation system leaks, including wear and tear of components, damage caused by animals or weather, and incorrect installation or maintenance.
Wear and tear
Wear and tear is a common cause of irrigation system leaks, as components such as pipes, valves, and fittings can deteriorate over time due to water, heat, and pressure exposure. Some parts that may wear out over time include O-rings, gaskets, and rubber seals. Factors that can cause this wear of irrigation system components include:
- High water pressure.
- Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- Exposure to harsh chemicals or fertilizers.
Animals and weather
Damage caused by animals or weather can also lead to irrigation system leaks. Animals like rodents and gophers can chew through irrigation system components, causing holes and leaks. Additionally, weather-related damage, such as freezing temperatures, high winds, or heavy rain, can damage irrigation system components and lead to leaks.
Incorrect installation
Incorrect installation or maintenance is another cause of irrigation system leaks. Examples of faulty installation or maintenance leading to irrigation system leaks include:
- Using the wrong size or type of components.
- Failing to tighten fittings properly.
- Not repairing damaged parts promptly.
Proper installation and maintenance are essential to prevent leaks, as regular inspection and maintenance can identify and repair potential leaks before they cause significant damage.
How to detect irrigation system leaks manually (and why it’s not the most efficient way)
One way to detect irrigation system leaks is by manually inspecting the system and surrounding areas. This involves visually checking the irrigation system and looking for signs of standing water or excess moisture.
Checking the water meter for a sudden increase in water usage can also indicate an irrigation leak. Additionally, performing a bucket test by placing a bucket under a sprinkler head and timing how long it takes to fill up with water can help determine if there is a leak.
Manual irrigation system leak detection methods are not the most efficient for detecting and stopping irrigation system leaks. Firstly, manual inspections can be time-consuming and require a lot of effort. It can be challenging to pinpoint the exact location of a leak by manually inspecting the system and surrounding areas.
Secondly, manual leak detection methods have limited accuracy. You may miss small leaks that may not be visible to the naked eye. This can result in underestimating the amount of wasted water and leaks that worsen over time.
Finally, manual detection methods are reactive instead of proactive. By the time you notice a leak, water damage may have already occurred. By the time the leak is fixed, water may have been wasted, and the area may have already been damaged.
Benefits of using a smart home water monitor
The rise of smart home technology has revolutionized the way we live. From intelligent thermostats to voice-activated assistants, smart home devices are making our lives more comfortable and convenient. One such device is our smart home water monitor, bluebot, which offers numerous benefits to homeowners and property owners when it comes to tracking their water usage and managing their plumbing systems.
One of the significant benefits of using a smart home water monitor like bluebot is the ability to detect leaks in real-time.
bluebot uses advanced, patented technology to monitor the flow of water in your home’s plumbing system with only a one-second delay time and can help you to detect anomalies in the system.
This means that if there is a large leak, bluebot can catch it instantly and send an alert to your smartphone or email, notifying you of the issue. This enables you to take action immediately to prevent any damage or waste of water.
Smart home water monitors like bluebot can also help you conserve water, leading to cost savings.
bluebot helps you track your water usage daily, weekly, and monthly, giving you insight into your consumption habits. You can then use this information to identify areas where you can reduce water usage and conserve water.
The bluebot app, available on all IOS devices, can manage hundreds of devices on the same interface, allowing your water management to be extremely granular if desired.
With bluebot, you can have peace of mind knowing that our clamp-on system is durable against nature’s elements that could damage its interface. This is because bluebot is made up of an IP67 standard that protects its interface against water, splash, and dust.
Unlike other products on the market, bluebot is warrantied for outdoor installation and use.
Don’t be fooled by bluebot’s small size, as this device offers a powerful punch. It runs off of 110VAC, a 10’ USB-C power cable (included), and an input Power of 5V, 1A. No batteries to change gives bluebot added agility to keep up with all the appliances that run your home and properties.
Finally, bluebot is easy to install and set up.
bluebot offers a clamp-on installation that can easily clamp on and be moved to water lines of various sizes if needed.
You don’t need to be a plumbing expert to install bluebot. Nor do you need extensive hardware or batteries to run the clamp as it functions off its own dedicated power.
The device is simple to install, and the accompanying app is user-friendly, allowing you to set up and manage the device easily.
Below are some other key features that bluebot offers:
- Bluebot delivers nearly 43,200 data points daily.
- Dollarize™ feature that interprets the data in dollars spent rather than gallons.
- Universal Installation. Compatible with pipes that include: ¾” – 2″ PEX, PE, Copper L & M, PVC SCH 40 & 80, Galvanized. Special calibrations for 2.5”, 3” and 4” applications also available.
- Manage multiple devices with ease.
Conclusion
Using a smart home water monitor like bluebot can offer many benefits for homeowners looking to detect and prevent irrigation system leaks.
bluebot’s ability to detect leaks in real-time, send alerts, and help conserve water can save homeowners time and money in the long run.
In comparison to manual meter tracking, bluebot is a better solution, as it is more efficient, accurate, and proactive.
For those who want to protect their homes and contribute to water conservation efforts, we highly recommend considering a bluebot smart water monitor. With its easy installation and user-friendly app, bluebot can give homeowners peace of mind, knowing that they are proactively managing their plumbing systems.
Don’t wait for a leak to cause costly damage to your home. Invest in the bluebot smart water monitor today!
