Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Yep, got a leak somewhere. Did the timing thing with the water meter
and found the three largest zones use most of the water.

My Problem: water bill came to $400.00 one month and $500.00 the next
month. Stopped using the sprinklers and dropped to $50 - $60/Mo.
My Guess: underground sprinkler leak
My Question: What is the easiest way to check the lines for a leak?
My Answer (up for review): Take out the sprinkler heads in each zone
and cap off the line, run the sprinkler water and see if meter turns.

Need help to see if this is the best way to check the lines, or will a
divining rod be better?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Dave FL

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Dave FL wrote:
Yep, got a leak somewhere. Did the timing thing with the water meter
and found the three largest zones use most of the water.

My Problem: water bill came to $400.00 one month and $500.00 the next
month. Stopped using the sprinklers and dropped to $50 - $60/Mo.
My Guess: underground sprinkler leak
My Question: What is the easiest way to check the lines for a leak?
My Answer (up for review): Take out the sprinkler heads in each zone
and cap off the line, run the sprinkler water and see if meter turns.

Need help to see if this is the best way to check the lines, or will a
divining rod be better?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Dave FL


Find the swamp in the yard caused by the thousands of gallons of water
your system seems to be wasting.

Beyond that, capping all the heads and running the whole system to
locate wet spots in the yard is about the only thing you can do.

But eesh, with that much water you'd think the problem area would be
soaked enough to sink into when walked on.

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Scott Hildenbrand wrote:

Find the swamp in the yard caused by the thousands of gallons of water
your system seems to be wasting.

Haven't noticed any swamps or really wet areas around the sprinkler
heads

Beyond that, capping all the heads and running the whole system to
locate wet spots in the yard is about the only thing you can do.
That was my thought too.
But eesh, with that much water you'd think the problem area would be
soaked enough to sink into when walked on.

I agree, I also plan on getting rid of this St. Augustine grass &
replace with Bahia.
Dave FL

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Dave FL wrote:
Scott Hildenbrand wrote:

Find the swamp in the yard caused by the thousands of gallons of water
your system seems to be wasting.

Haven't noticed any swamps or really wet areas around the sprinkler
heads

Beyond that, capping all the heads and running the whole system to
locate wet spots in the yard is about the only thing you can do.
That was my thought too.
But eesh, with that much water you'd think the problem area would be
soaked enough to sink into when walked on.

I agree, I also plan on getting rid of this St. Augustine grass &
replace with Bahia.
Dave FL





What's the soil like in your area?


Swampy area don't need to be near any heads. They could be anywhere the
line could break. But if your soil drains well then it's all together
possible that it's draining off.

But at that much usage, wow.

ID where your lines run from start to end so that you can check the
whole route as it's not just about the heads. When you cap everything
and run it for a while, walk the line and see if you can pinpoint any
problems.. A moisture meter may help, check every foot or so for a
reading after it's run for a while. If you're lucky you'll be able to
narrow it down to digging up a few feet at best to fix.

Either way, good luck on finding the problem...

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Scott Hildenbrand wrote:

What's the soil like in your area?

Top 1 - 2 feet is fill (construction fill/topsoil) Below that is sandy
(In Fla)

Swampy area don't need to be near any heads. They could be anywhere the
line could break. But if your soil drains well then it's all together
possible that it's draining off.

Good Point, especially in the sandy soil below.

If you're lucky you'll be able to narrow it down to digging up a few feet at best to fix.

Especially with almost a 1/2 an acre

Either way, good luck on finding the problem...-
Thanks, Dave FL

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

On Nov 5, 11:23?am, Dave FL wrote:
Yep, got a leak somewhere. Did the timing thing with the water meter
and found the three largest zones use most of the water.

My Problem: water bill came to $400.00 one month and $500.00 the next
month. Stopped using the sprinklers and dropped to $50 - $60/Mo.
My Guess: underground sprinkler leak
My Question: What is the easiest way to check the lines for a leak?
My Answer (up for review): Take out the sprinkler heads in each zone
and cap off the line, run the sprinkler water and see if meter turns.

Need help to see if this is the best way to check the lines, or will a
divining rod be better?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Dave FL

With a leak of that magnitude there would be a very noticable loss of
volume at one of more sprinkler heads, have you ever taken the time to
observe each head through the entire cycle? Of course your leak could
easily be somewhere underground other than the sprinkling system.... I
had a house with a cubside water meter and the leak was after the
meter but before the pipe entered the house... no surface wet spot but
by standing outdoors near the curb I could hear it as plainly as when
a toilet is running.

Sprinkler system underground leak help
 

Sheldon wrote:

I
had a house with a cubside water meter and the leak was after the
meter but before the pipe entered the house... no surface wet spot but
by standing outdoors near the curb I could hear it as plainly as when

Very interesting, although we have two backflow preventers, directly
after the meter. I have left both of them on (1-interior & 1-exterior)
and turned off the rain bird system and it used no water. I can go to
the PDV valve to bypass the control so I know there is constant water
to this point. So my leakage must be after the diaphram/solenoids.

Dave FL