Driven by a spike in energy costs, prices that impact all of us every day are starting to rise. Annual inflation here in the United States is now at a three-year high of 4.2% -- the highest increase since April 2023. As inflation continues to outpace wages, we need to be more mindful of what we spend and why.
A perfect example is what we pay monthly for utilities. With high heat so far this summer, and periods of drought, our electric and water bills may be higher than previous years. For more information on drought conditions in our service area and current watering restrictions read The Need To Conserve Water Today Is At Its Most Serious Level In 20 Years.
For daily comfort in the Carolinas, air conditioning is a must, but be sure to use it wisely. Duke Energy, Energy Star and The Department of Energy recommend a baseline temperature of 78º when awake and at home.
When it comes to use of one of our most precious natural resources – water – we must be mindful to not waste it. The water conservation specialists at Conserva Irrigation are leading the charge to educate consumers to be water-wise. As you can see, the essence of that wisdom is in our name itself – Conserva.
The mission of Conserva Irrigation is to promote, install and service irrigation and sprinkler systems that deliver better lawns and landscapes without water waste.
Here in the Lake Norman area, we practice that mission every day to ensure that as little water as possible is unnecessarily wasted. This is critically important in North Carolina areas where irrigation systems are the most prevalent: Concord, Huntersville and Mooresville. The same is true for Kannapolis, Cornelius, Denver, Davidson and adjacent areas.
Speaking of becoming more water-wise, here is advice from the most trusted irrigation company throughout the Carolinas
The most important thing to remember with water usage for your home exterior is to make sure you are using only the gallons of water recommended for your property.
If you’re wondering why your water bill is so high, outdoor usage is the first place to look. Most families use a predictably consistent amount of water for drinking, bathing and cleaning inside the home. Outside is a different story.
If cars are your passion, think about washing it at home in your driveway less often – or visit a commercial car wash. To wash it at home and conserve water, use a waterless car wash spray. Never dry wipe your auto without a liquid based substance. Doing so can irreparably grind road dirt and grime into the finish.
Unfortunately, when it comes to using water outside your home, water is a critical necessity. During the intense heat of summer, you may discover that your water bill is much higher than it usually is. Some may double. Some may even triple.
As such, irrigation is most often the cause of water bills that are high. As systems run automatically according to set programming sequences, when away from home for extended periods of time – like vacations – that’s when problems may occur.
When no one is at home, wasted amounts of water can add up quickly, with as much as 100 gallons per month.
Here at Conserva Irrigation, we recommend about one to one-and-a-half inches of water per week. Our experts will give you a more precise recommendation during your free irrigation system consultation for new clients.
Factors like the type of grass turf you have, your soil condition, and sun exposure, will impact those recommendations.
Here throughout the Lake Norman and Mooresville area, irrigation for home lawns and gardens accounts for the majority of water use. Typically, it is between 30% to 60% of a home’s total water utilization.
Simply put, when it comes to water conservation for irrigation, lawns don’t need larger amounts of water. They need the correct amount applied correctly and efficiently to avoid waste.
How to tell if there is problem causing your water bills to be so high
In the event that your water bill spikes all of a sudden, rest assured there may be a practical cause. A fast inspection around your home is your best bet before connecting with your water utility company.
Be sure to turn off every faucet and water-using appliance inside your home.
Ensure your irrigation system is not scheduled to run while running this test.
Locate your water meter to see what it reads.
Take a look at the low-flow indicator – typically a small dial or triangle.
In the event the water meter indicator moves while no water is being used, therein lies the potential problem. There may very well be a leak in your irrigation system or plumbing infrastructure.
To ensure that the problem lies with your irrigation system, run each zone manually one zone at a time and look for problems:
• Puddling or leaks appearing on your lawn
• Broken irrigation sprinkler heads
• Irregular spray patterns
• Excessive runoff onto adjacent hardscapes
• Areas that seem unusually wet
Our five-step irrigation system diagnosis will ensure that no details will be overlooked or missed.
If that’s the case, call us at 704-960-1565, or click here to connect to us.
