Why Is My Water Bill So High? It Might Be Your Sprinkler System
If your water bill has been creeping up and you can't figure out why, your sprinkler system is the first place to look. In Jacksonville FL, irrigation systems are one of the most common — and most overlooked — causes of high water bills in residential homes.
Your Sprinkler System Runs Whether You're Watching or Not
That's the whole point of an automated system. But it also means a broken head, a cracked line, or a faulty valve can run for weeks without you ever noticing. By the time the bill arrives, the damage is done.
Common Sprinkler Problems That Waste Water in Jacksonville
Broken or tilted sprinkler heads. A head that's been clipped by a lawn mower or shifted by foot traffic can spray water directly into the street, onto your driveway, or into a puddle in your yard instead of onto your grass. Some broken heads will gush water for the entire run cycle.
Stuck or leaking zone valves. Each zone in your system is controlled by a valve. When a valve sticks open — even slightly — water runs constantly, whether your timer is on or off. This one can get expensive fast.
Cracked or separated supply lines. Underground PVC lines can crack from ground shifting, root intrusion, or age. A slow underground leak won't show up above ground for a while, but it absolutely shows up on your water bill.
Controller set to the wrong schedule. Jacksonville's St. Johns River Water Management District has mandatory watering restrictions based on your address and the time of year. If your controller is running more days than it should, you're wasting water and potentially paying a fine.
How Much Water Can a Broken Sprinkler Waste?
A single broken sprinkler head can waste 10–20 gallons per minute while it runs. If your system runs 4 zones, 3 days a week, for 20 minutes each — one broken head could be dumping 4,800 gallons of water per month that never reaches your lawn.
Multiply that across a zone valve that's stuck open and you're looking at a serious problem.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Sprinkler System Is the Cause
The fastest way to check is to turn your system off completely at the controller for a full billing cycle and compare your next water bill. If the number drops significantly, your sprinkler system was the culprit.
From there, call a licensed sprinkler repair company to do a full system inspection. At Entech Irrigation, we check every head, every valve, and every zone to find exactly where the waste is coming from — and we fix it the same day in most cases.
We've been repairing sprinkler systems in Jacksonville FL for over 14 years. If your water bill doesn't make sense, we can help you figure out why.
Call or text us at 904-503-9600 or visit jacksonvillesprinkler.com to schedule service.