Programmed for savings

Does your water bill seem too high? Or does your lawn "squish" when you step on it?

It hasn't rained, so you check your timer but, from what you can see, your sprinklers aren't programmed to run today.

You may have a leak or broken valve but, more likely, your timer is improperly programmed, watering double or triple what you'd like.

Even the savviest programmers fall into this money drain. We can't count the number of timers we've reset that were disastrously programmed by "the landscaper."

Most all timers have multiple programming options labeled A,B,C and, maybe, D. The programs tell your sprinklers when to come on on what days and allows you to water your grass, trees and potted porch plants on separate days for different lengths of time. They are also a common source of confusion. To clarify, all programs function all the time, not just the one your knob is set to.

Each station on your timer (numbered anywhere from two through 12) represents a valve that, when turned on by the timer, waters a specific area; front yard sprinklers, backyard sprinklers, desert plants, trees, annuals, etc.

Another point of confusion: when setting a program, be sure to set stations you don't want to water, off. Say you want to water your grass, (stations one and two) Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 15 minutes, your plant drippers, (station three) every fourth day for one-and-a-half hours and your trees, (station four) every sixth day for two hours; set as follows:

Program A: Select Sunday and set to "off" or zero. Select Monday, set to "on." Repeat for each day. Enter the time you would like the water to come on using "start time" options. Then, select station one and set for 15 minutes. Repeat for station two. Be sure to set all other stations to zero.

Program B: Select "skip days" or "interval days" and enter "four days," set station run time for one-and-a-half hours, the exact method will vary depending on your timer. Make sure all other stations are off.

Repeat for Program C, setting station four to run for two hours with an interval of six days.

Visit www.snwa.com/html/land_irrig_clockmanuals.html to find your timer manual. Cut back on water waste now and watch it pay off all year.

Allen and Brittney Walker are residents of Chandler. Allen owns Green Dreamin' LLC landscape repair, servicing Ahwatukee Foothills and the East Valley, and Brittney is a local writer. Reach them at (480) 862-4647 or awalker@greendreamin.com.