How Smart Sprinklers Work to Make Your Yard Stand Out
Smart sprinklers keep your yard happy using real-time weather data—here’s how
Smart sprinklers use real-time data to adjust watering patterns.
They might use online information or weather data from on-site sensors.
Sometimes, smart sprinkler controllers can replace sprinkler timers on existing setups.
Smart sprinklers can save tens of thousands of gallons of water per year.
From thermostats to refrigerators to speakers and beyond, plenty of “smart” home appliances are available these days—including sprinkler systems. Using the magic of the internet, smart sprinklers can help you reduce water waste, lower your water bill, and keep your lawn looking as healthy as possible—all with less effort from you.
But how do smart sprinklers work, and what does it cost to install them? We’ve got all the answers you (and your lawn) need below.
What Is Smart Irrigation?
Smart irrigation, or smart sprinkler systems, are sprinklers that use smart technology to customize your watering schedule. For example, by connecting to Wi-Fi and gaining access to weather forecasts, a smart irrigation system can cut off a programmed watering schedule ahead of time to compensate for the incoming rain.
Smart sprinkler systems can also learn about your programmed watering schedules and weather patterns over time to automatically estimate how much water your landscaping might need at a given moment. Along with online data, the system may use a series of special sensors to help obtain this information and may be controllable from your computer or smartphone.
How Do Smart Sprinklers Work?
There are a variety of different models of smart sprinkler systems available on the market, and they use an array of different technologies to do their smart watering work. At the highest level, smart sprinklers can be separated into two major categories: weather-based and soil-based.
| Weather-Based | Soil-Based |
|---|---|
| Adjusts watering based on weather data | Adjusts watering based on soil moisture |
| May use sensors buried on property | Uses sensors buried on property |
| Can water on demand or suspend upcoming water | Can water on demand or suspend upcoming water |
| Less expensive | More expensive because it requires sensors |
Weather-Based Smart Sprinkler Controllers
Weather-based smart sprinkler controllers use data about the weather to adjust watering patterns. They’re also known as evapotranspiration (ET) sprinkler controllers, referring to evaporation and transpiration (the process of water being used and eventually released into the atmosphere by plants).
Weather-based irrigation controllers rely on the following data points to adjust your irrigation schedule:
Temperature
Wind
Humidity
Sunlight
These irrigation controllers may get their data from publicly available weather sources online, weather information gleaned from sensors installed at your property, or a combination of both. They can also use historical data about water use and weather patterns to predict a sustainable and accurate watering schedule for your locale.
Soil-Based Smart Sprinkler Controllers
Soil-based irrigation controllers rely on—you guessed it—information about the soil's moisture level, as read by sensors buried into the ground on your property. These sensors are buried at the root zone, and can help sprinkler controllers in one of two ways:
Suspending upcoming cycles when the soil is moist enough and a scheduled watering isn’t needed
Watering on demand based on soil conditions, using thresholds set by the user (that’s you), to make sure you’re always watering at the best time
Both types of smart sprinkler controllers can reduce the overall amount of water used to irrigate your landscaping, saving water and money—all while keeping your yard healthy.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Smart Irrigation System
Given how many different types of smart irrigation systems are available, and their various price points, it can be difficult to know what to look for when shopping around to find the right one for you. Fortunately, a few rules of thumb can help ensure you find the best product for your hard-earned money.
Look for a smart sprinkler with a WaterSense certification. Created by the EPA, WaterSense labeling helps customers know which irrigation systems truly offer the best water efficiency on the market, much like the Energy Star label does for appliances.
Keep in mind how many zones you have—or want. Many smart sprinkler controllers can be set up for as many as eight zones, but if you have a particularly large yard with specific watering needs, it’s important to be aware of the number of zones the sprinkler system you’re looking at can handle.
Take control in the way you want. While many smart sprinklers are compatible with multiple different devices and operating systems, some integrate more smoothly with, say, Apple products or your Amazon Alexa than others. In any case, if you have other smart devices installed around your home or a preference for one operating system over another, keep that in mind while shopping.
It might not be waterproof. Like other “smart,” high-tech devices—like your laptop—some smart controllers do not mix well with water. That means they’ll need to be installed inside your home or garage or otherwise be protected from rain, which is something you’ll want to know ahead of time while shopping.
Can I Install My Own Smart Sprinkler?
If you’re a confident enough DIYer, you can install your own smart sprinkler controller—though doing so will require some basic electrical and wiring skills. (The process is fairly similar if you’ve ever installed your own thermostat or a traditional sprinkler controller.)
However, if you’re nervous or unsure, your local sprinkler installer will gladly help you set up your smart irrigation system. Then, all you have to do is program it—and then rest easy, knowing that the controller itself will make smart, conditions-based decisions for you and your lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smart sprinkler controllers cost $150 to $350 or more, depending on the brand, style, and technology. You can swap your traditional timer for a smart controller as long as it's compatible with your system.
The cost to install a new smart sprinkler system from scratch ranges from $1,800 to $7,000, depending on the size of your lawn and the number of zones you need. It’s best to hire a pro to install a sprinkler system because it’s labor-intensive and requires technical skills and specialized equipment.
According to the EPA, a WaterSense-labeled smart irrigation system could save you up to 15,000 gallons of water per year compared to a traditional sprinkler timer. This is to say: Yes, smart watering can work in your favor, saving you money and conserving water simultaneously.
Although they come at some expense to purchase and set up, given the water savings a smart sprinkler can offer, many homeowners think they’re well worth the cost. If you already have a sprinkler system installed, some smart sprinkler controllers can simply replace your existing sprinkler timer—a process you can do if you’re comfortable with basic wiring.
Smart irrigation systems are more expensive than traditional sprinkler timers, and their setup can be effort-intensive for some homeowners. For instance, depending on the type of controller you choose, you may need to bury soil moisture sensors or install other equipment on-site that helps your smart sprinkler controller work. However, given their water and cost savings over time, many homeowners still consider a smart controller a worthy investment.
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