Smart sprinklers are a popular investment for homeowners.
With the push of a button, you can turn your sprinkler system on or off from anywhere in the world.
Some people think smart sprinklers are too expensive or difficult to install; however, this is not always true!
Smart sprinklers are worth it if you want to integrate your sprinklers into your smart home or take advantage of smart automatic features. Smart sprinklers can also provide weather insights, save you money on water and electricity, and provide insights into how much water your lawn needs.
If you answered yes to any of these, you should consider a smart sprinkler system for your home.
But if you’re still not sure, this article will discuss why they’re such an essential investment for your home and provides five ways to decide whether or not smart sprinkles are worth it.
How To Decide if Smart Smart Sprinkler Controller Benefits You
Smart sprinkler controllers can control your sprinklers from anywhere in the world, and determine whether or not your lawn actually needs water at the scheduled times.
A smart sprinkler controller is a device that can be used to control your lawn’s irrigation system, whether you have an automated or manual setup.
They typically include wifi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities so you can control your sprinkler system remotely.
These controllers can also sense when it is either too hot or rainy to water and will prevent water use at those times.
Some models are also equipped with rain gauges, which measure the amount of rainfall in your area. This data can then be relayed to you to know when it’s best to water your lawn and how much water is needed.
A smart sprinkler controller will help save money on both electricity use and the cost of plumbing-related repairs.
Smart Home Integration
A smart sprinkler system will allow you to control which areas of your lawn are being watered through voice commands or even from inside the comfort of your own home.
This type of capability can range in price depending on the smart sprinkler controller you invest in.
I recommend the Orbit 57985 Smart 8-Zone Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller from Amazon.com. It is an excellent choice as it is integrated with Amazon Alexa, making it easier to control.
Automated Features
You don’t want to have to think about watering your lawn and planets as smart sprinklers give you options to set times when you want to water and not water your lawn.
Some will water at a set time, while others will water whenever it is dry.
You will also set up and control the sprinklers from your smartphone, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting.
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Weather Insights
Weather information can be a crucial factor in deciding when and how much water your lawn needs.
With a smart sprinkler controller system, it’s possible to monitor temperature changes and rainfall patterns throughout the day so that you know what time of day is best for watering your yard.
Some smart sprinkler controllers will also automatically turn the system on when it starts to rain or when night falls.
This ensures that your lawn is continually being watered, even at low levels of rainfall.
Saving Water and Electricity
A smart sprinkler controller can make it easier for homeowners to conserve their resources.
These systems will automatically turn off when there is a lack of rain or if temperatures are too hot, which reduces energy use.
I recommend buying the Orbit 75189 Smart Sprinkler Controller from Amazon.com.
It comes with Orbit’s “smart watering” capability. This enables the controller to adjust how much water is being used by your lawn, which can significantly reduce water and electricity consumption.
Lawn Insights
Some smart sprinklers are equipped with rain gauges.
These devices measure rainfall patterns in the area and convey that information back to you so that you know when it’s the best time for watering and how much water is needed at any given point.
You can also see the moisture level in your lawn and how much water you need to keep the lawn at the ideal moisture level.
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What To Look For in a Smart Sprinkler Controller
When shopping for smart sprinklers, you keep a few things in mind to buy the system that will work for you.
WaterSense Certification
An important feature that you should make sure your smart sprinkler has is a WaterSense certification. This is a certification created by the EPA to help determine which devices are water-efficient.
To receive a WaterSense certification for sprinkler controllers, it is necessary for the controller to be able to incorporate local weather data and landscape conditions when scheduling the watering times.
The EPA says a WaterSense sprinkler controller can save the average U.S. home over 7,600 gallons of water per year.
Waterproof Control Panel
While it may seem silly, not all controllers are waterproof.
The control panel should be waterproof so that it can handle being outdoors.
If you live in a humid climate, the smart controller may also work better if there is an option to install extra protection against humidity.
Price
It’s essential to consider your budget before purchasing any irrigation devices as they will vary in price depending on features and manufacturer.
Smart sprinkler controllers can range in price from $100 to over $300. The more the cost, the more features the device will have.
Ease of Installation
You can have an irrigation company install and set up your system, or you can do it yourself with help from a DIY kit, such as Orbit’s Outdoor Smart Sprinkler Controller Wireless Kit.
The DIY kits are great for those who have no issues with getting their hands dirty.
They include everything you need and all the instructions to get you started.
If installing the system yourself sounds like a nightmare, you can hire an installer to set up the system for you.
This is a good option for those who don’t have the time or just don’t want to do it themselves.
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Number of Sprinkler Zones Required
Smart sprinklers come as single-zone systems or three-zone systems. Single-zone systems will take care of one area at a time, while three-zone systems are for those who want to divide the lawn into three areas.
When purchasing a smart sprinkler, you’ll need to decide how many zones you want the system to cover. A zone is an area that can be designated for different types of watering schedules and water needs.
Another thing that you should think about when purchasing a smart sprinkler is how many zones your controller can support.
Some controllers have an option where they will automatically switch to a different zone if one area needs more water than others, which reduces unnecessary watering of just one zone.
The number of zones on a controller also impacts the price, so make sure you know your needs before deciding how many zones you want to have covered in your lawn.
Some smart sprinklers will automatically switch from one zone to another if it starts raining or there is too much moisture for just that area.
This allows you to save time and water by not manually changing the settings on your controller.
Lawn Size
The bigger your lawn, the more zones you will need. You may need more than one smart sprinkler controller if you have a vast lawn.
The controllers can work together to share the same watering schedule making your job easier.
Another idea is to look for an irrigation system with wireless zones, so they don’t need physical contact with each other and can communicate from afar.
Summary
Watering your lawn isn’t always an easy task, especially if you live in a dry climate.
The smart sprinkler controller makes it easier by automatically turning on and off when needed, saving water and money.
It can also be programmed with the weather forecast so that watering doesn’t happen during storms or other severe weather events.