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Sprinkler Water Calculator: How Much Water Does My Sprinkler System Use?
Leaving the sprinklers running is bad for your wallet and your lawn
Photo: Artur Nichiporenko / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Photo: Artur Nichiporenko / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Highlights
Sprinkler heads use between 2 and 5 gallons of water per minute.
Water your lawn between 15 and 25 minutes three times per week.
Calculating the amount of water you use keeps your yard lush.
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Sprinkler systems deliver reliable water to your lawn and plants throughout the growing season, but it’s important to know how much water your sprinkler system uses so you can make sure you’re using enough—but not too much—and plan for your summer water bills. Using this sprinkler water usage calculator, you’ll be able to estimate the amount of water your sprinkler system puts out based on how many sprinkler heads you have.
How Much Water Does My Sprinkler System Use?
A sprinkler head uses between two and five gallons of water per minute. You can use the table below to estimate how much water your sprinkler system uses per minute based on how many sprinkler heads you have. How long to run sprinklers depends on the type of sprinkler, soil, and vegetation you have, but it averages out to about 20 minutes three times per week during the peak growing season.
| Number of Sprinkler Heads | Water Use Per Minute | Water Use Per 20 Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2–5 gallons | 40–100 gallons |
| 2 | 4–10 gallons | 80–200 gallons |
| 3 | 6–15 gallons | 120–300 gallons |
| 4 | 8–20 gallons | 160–400 gallons |
| 5 | 10–25 gallons | 200–500 gallons |
Calculating How Much Water My Sprinkler System Uses
To determine how much water your sprinklers are putting out each time you turn them on, you can check the manufacturer’s information. This should tell you the flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM). The sprinkler water usage calculator takes the flow rate multiplied by the number of minutes the sprinkler runs to find out how much water the sprinkler system uses.
Amount of Water Used = Flow Rate x Minutes x Number of Sprinkler Heads
Using this calculation, you’ll be able to estimate how much water your sprinkler system uses, which can help prepare you for increased water bills throughout the summer.
Who to Hire for Your Sprinkler System
Using a sprinkler system to keep your yard lush requires regular maintenance to keep the sprinkler heads running. If you notice that your sprinkler heads aren’t functioning as they should, you need to know who to call to turn on your sprinklers and for sprinkler system repairs.
A lawn care service company or irrigation pro will be familiar with sprinkler system installation and repairs and know how to maintain them for proper functioning. They can also turn the system on at the beginning of the season and off at the end. You may be able to learn how to install a sprinkler system, but if you’re unsure you’ll be able to do the job correctly, you’ll need to hire someone.
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