Caring for Your Vacation Home's Irrigation System

Why an Empty Home Is Different

At home, you would notice a head spraying the driveway. At a place you visit a few times a year, a problem can run for weeks. The EPA warns that a valve that cannot close completely can slowly seep water even when the system is off.

A clock timer adds to the problem, because it runs in a storm the same as in a dry spell.

Before You Leave

• Run every zone and watch it. Look for heads that do not pop up fully or are tilted, and water landing on the drive or walkway.
• Set the schedule for the season ahead. The schedule that suits a July visit is too much for October.
• Add a way to skip the rain. Alabama Extension recommends a rain shutoff device or soil moisture sensor.
• Think about a smarter controller. Weather-based controllers use local weather to tailor the schedule, which helps when nobody is there to adjust it. The EPA says a WaterSense labeled model can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons a year.
• Leave clear instructions. If you rent the home out, ask guests and cleaners to leave the controller alone.
• Know your shutoff. Make sure you, and whoever looks after the home, can find the water supply to the system.

Water for Sand, Not for Habit

Most Coastal Plain soils have sandy topsoil over a clayey subsoil, and sand lets water move down quickly. One inch may reach 10 inches deep in sandy soil. That does not mean you should water daily. Alabama Extension says to water only when the lawn starts to show drought stress, and to avoid daily watering except on new grass.

Our guide on how long to run your sprinklers shows you how to measure what each zone puts out.

Plan for Winter, Even at the Coast

Winter is the easiest time to cut back. Alabama Extension says little or no supplemental water is needed from November to March.

Freezes are rare here, but they do happen. WSFA reports that most of Baldwin and Mobile counties do not see their average first frost until the end of November. Even so, the National Weather Service recorded a low of 26° in Mobile on November 13, 2019, which was weeks early for a first freeze.

The exposed backflow device is the part to worry about. UGA Extension says backflow prevention valves sit at ground level and can be in danger, and it suggests wrapping exposed valves and pipes. If you will be gone through the coldest months, get your system ready for a cold snap before you leave. See our winterization service.

When You Come Back

• Compare your water bill with the same period last year. A jump you cannot explain is worth a look.
• Walk the yard between cycles. The EPA says water pooling on the surface could be a sign of an underground leak.
• Turn on each zone and look for sunken, broken, tilted or clogged heads.
• Reset the schedule for the season you are in.

If something looks off, or you would rather not check it yourself, we can help with repairs, and Christmas lights too, whether or not you are in town.