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To determine how long to run your sprinklers, place several empty, straight-sided cans or cups at different distances within one zone. (Uniform coffee mugs work well.) Run the sprinklers for 15 minutes and measure the amount of water collected in each can. Calculate an average water depth and determine how long it will take to apply a Â½ to Â¾ inch of water. Example: Â· Â¼â average depth of water after 15 minutes â water 35-50 minutes in that zone. Â· Â½â average depth of water after 15 minutes â water 20-30 minutes in that zone.
STEP 1: Shut off the water to your sprinkler system. The shutoff valve is often located in the basement, a utility room or closet. Most shutoff valves are ball valves that have a handle. If the handle is running with the pipe, the water is turned on to the system.To shut the water off, turn the handle 90 degrees until it stops. Typically, the handle has a âstopperâ so that you cannot turn it too far. CAUTION! You do not want to shut off the water to your whole houseâ¦only your sprinkler system.TEP 4: Open your drain. If you have an outside drain near the backflow preventer on the outside of your house, open it to drain the water. If there are no drains on the outside of your house, there is probably a drain near your shutoff valve inside your home.