I always dreamed of the self-sufficiency of a well, and when I bought my remote house in the Sierra Nevada the wish came true. That is, until I returned from a trip to find the well had inexplicably quit.
Before I could wash, flush, drink or do laundry, I had to call in the experts to diagnose the failure. Mine is a 400-foot-deep well, but repairs on even a shallower well can be very expensive and take time, possibly several days.
When you live on a well that barely delivers five gallons per minute, you learn how to conserve water. I developed a sixth sense, one acutely aware of the sound of water moving in the pipes when it shouldn't be.
I also discovered many ways that standard outdoor plumbing can be the source of very small leaks which, over days, weeks and even months, result in substantial water losses.
If nothing in the house was drawing this flow, then I went outside to find the source. Maybe there was a hose left running or PVC pipe cracked somewhere underground. On these forays I'd inevitably find small leaks, which can be easily repaired to stop the perpetual drips.
Summers are hard on plastics and rubber, which can degrade very quickly in brutal heat. It pays to go through your system checking for signs of leaks at the most common points: valves, faucets and couplers. Here's how:
• Check faucets for leaks. Inside an outdoor faucet is a rubber gasket that dries out and may even crack over the years. When this happens it leaks even when it's closed. Replace or repair any outdoor faucet where there's evidence of moisture.
• Irrigation valve seating. Whether manual or automatic, check your sprinkler valves for leaking. Sometimes you'll find a perpetually wet area around the lowest lying head on that line.
This indicates the valve isn't seating properly, so water is seeping into the lines to collect at the low point. Since it's hard to repair the internal parts of this valve, it's best to replace it with a new one.
• Hose couplers and washers. Every hose begins with a female coupler, which contains a soft rubber washer that prevents leaking at these connections.
Make a point of buying new washers to replace all the old ones this year. While you're at it, note any cracks or tears in your hoses. If they can't be repaired, replace them.
• Use a water wand. The benefit of a water wand is that it allows you to turn off the water without going back to the faucet. If the kids, the phone or a delivery demands immediate attention, simply switch off the wand so you won't lose a drop.
Before you make big changes to your landscaping for improved water conservation, make sure you attend to the little things first.
These improvements are inexpensive and possible for anyone to accomplish. Above all, remember that the smallest leaks, if undetected over time, add up to big water loss.
HomeStyle on 07/26/2014