The best thing about retail warehouse stores is obviously the selection. After all, where else can you buy a new T-shirt, birthday cake, and a set of tires on the same day? But the ability to fill up with gas before leaving the parking lot is a plus as well. That’s why stores like Costco, where you can use these tips to save time at the pump, are so convenient. But now the company is moving forward with standalone gas stations, and the company’s first in California is members-only.

Members will need to insert or scan their membership card to refuel, just as they would at Costco’s attached gas stations. However, non-members may be able to access the pumps using a Costco Shop card, as they currently can at on-site locations. Costco’s new gas station is located in Mission Viejo, California, and it’s a 17,000 square foot facility operated by company employees. It has 40 pumps covered by a large canopy, and it will run from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Sunday through Saturday.

The station is expected to open by the end of June 2026. But if you don’t live in California, you may not have to wait long. Costco is planning to build more standalone gas stations, beginning in Honolulu, Hawaii. As of this writing, the company hasn’t publicly addressed this new program. But the belief is that stand alone stations can help reduce the heavy traffic flow that currently plagues many on-site locations.

Costco’s first standalone gas station (which will also strategically stay cheaper than most) was initially announced in the summer of 2025. The facility is located off Interstate 5 in Mission Viejo, California, at the site where a Bed Bath & Beyond once stood. At the time of the announcement, the company’s gas stations were experiencing a boom in business, thanks mostly to extended operating hours. The decision to move forward with a new test store may have been influenced by this positive reaction.

Costco members get access to gas prices that can often beat other competitors by anywhere from 10 to 25 cents per gallon. This is possible because of the company’s warehouse approach, which includes buying fuel in large quantities. Costco also works directly with suppliers to get the best cost and then passes that savings on to its members. 

Costco’s first gas station opened in 1995 and since then, their fuel business has grown. The company currently has over 700 stations around the world, serving millions of paid members every day. Those members can use the Costco app to check fuel prices in real time, as well as store hours, and locations near them.

Getting a lush, green lawn sometimes requires a bit of help. This is where a lawn sprinkler system, be it an energy-saving smart sprinkler system or a more traditional setup, comes into the picture by providing a yard with sufficient moisture for sustained growth. Installing such a system is just the start, though, and it’s also crucial to know how to use it to the fullest. That means knowing the right time of year to power it up, which isn’t necessarily a specific day or month. Instead, it’s a decision that’s largely predicated on environmental factors that make it clear winter has come and gone, and that spring is finally in bloom.

First and foremost is the temperature. It’s recommended that a sprinkler system only be activated in spring once daily temperatures are higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 days or longer. This way, you know for certain spring is here and you’re not experiencing a random warmer day within an overall cold period. In a similar vein, the ground itself should be completely thawed and free of frost, further indicating that sprinkler season has arrived. No matter where you live, you should also refer to previous years’ weather patterns to get a rough idea of when the final snowfalls and freezes usually happen. Some news outlets may also offer estimated dates for these, so be sure to check around.

If all else fails and you’re unsure whether it’s a good time to turn on your sprinklers, there’s no shame in playing it safe and waiting until temperatures are consistently warm and the last vestiges of winter are long gone. After all, erring on the side of caution is preferred to activating your system too early and suffering the consequences.

Turning on your lawn sprinkler system is anything but an arbitrary decision. It needs to happen when the environment is just right, or else there could be serious consequences. For one, it’s no secret that running and leaving water through unprepared pipes in freezing conditions can lead to damage. This water freezes, expands, and cracks pipes and fittings. If you manage to avoid pipe or sprinkler damage, you’re still at risk of shortening the lifespan of the system by running it when it’s not necessary. The longer you run your system, the more wear and tear it endures, potentially leading to it failing sooner than it should.

The consequences of activating a sprinkler system early go beyond the health of the system itself. Ice and snow melt takes time to soak into the ground, so any excess water from a sprinkler system may lead to sogginess and puddles at best, or leave your grass susceptible to disease at worst. Not to mention, running your sprinklers more than necessary will, of course, lead to a higher water bill. Thus, don’t be afraid to show some restraint, even if it looks like your lawn is in need of watering right out of winter.

Lawn care can very easily go wrong. There are many mistakes everyone makes with lawn mowers, for instance, and homeowners can also turn on their lawn sprinklers at the wrong time of year. That’s why it’s key to keep an eye on the weather and sustained temperatures before officially beginning your spring watering.