Fall Back and Stay Efficient: OUC’s Reminder for Standard Time 

As our clocks turned back an hour on Sunday, OUC-The Reliable One wants to remind Central Florida, residents, to not only adjust their timepieces but also consider important steps to optimize water usage and enhance home safety. 

Time to Adjust Lawn Watering 

With the return to Standard Time, it’s also the beginning of a once-a-week lawn watering schedule in Central Florida. This change is crucial for conserving water and ensuring your landscaping remains healthy. Here are some key reminders for homeowners: 

• Irrigation Timers: Adjust your irrigation timers to ensure your sprinklers are set to run on the correct day and time. 

• Watering Duration: Limit your watering to no more than one hour per zone on your designated irrigation day. 

• New Grass and Plants: If you’ve recently planted grass or new plants, you can water these areas daily for the first 30 days. After that, reduce watering to every other day as needed for the next 30 days. 

Regular Maintenance Matters 

Maintaining your irrigation system is vital for efficiency. OUC recommends the following: 

• Inspection Frequency: Examine your irrigation system at least once every two months for leaks and broken sprinkler heads. Promptly address any necessary repairs to avoid wasting water. 

• Testing: You can run a test of your irrigation system for 20 minutes per zone at any time to ensure everything is functioning correctly. 

Home Safety Checks 

With the change in daylight hours, it’s a good time to enhance your home safety measures: 

• Reset Timers: Make sure to reset your automatic timers so that indoor and outdoor lights come on at the appropriate time as it gets dark earlier. 

• Smoke and CO Detectors: Don’t forget to change the batteries in all smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors. Regular maintenance of these devices is essential for ensuring your home’s safety. 

Learn More and Save 

For additional tips on reducing water and energy consumption or to schedule an efficiency audit with OUC, visit OUCblog.com. Taking these steps not only helps conserve resources but also promotes a safer and more efficient home environment. 

As we embrace the new season and the shift to Standard Time, let’s take these important actions to ensure our homes and communities thrive.