While some smart-home systems fall purely into the category of convenience—such as automated lighting systems or voice-activated digital assistants—other smart devices can actually help your household operate more efficiently and effectively. Smart sprinkler systems are a clear example of the latter, offering the impressive list of benefits below.
Smart sprinklers let you control your home irrigation efforts from your smartphone
Smart sprinklers bring incredible convenience to watering your lawn, allowing you control all aspects of your sprinkler’s operation from anywhere in the world, thanks to easy-to-use smartphone apps. Within the app, you’ll be able to schedule watering, turn your sprinkler on and off, monitor your water usage and much more. Simply connect your smart sprinkler controller to your Wi-Fi and download the app and you’ll be able to set up a watering schedule without ever needing to set foot outside.
Smart sprinklers establish customized schedules based on your needs
Smart sprinklers walk you through the process of setting up a watering schedule for your lawn, allowing you to provide as much or as little input as you would like. With many smart systems, including the popular Rachio and Orbit brands, you can simply answer a series of questions about your yard and the sprinkler will determine when and how much your lawn should be watered.
You can also tweak these settings based on your personal preferences—such as ensuring the sprinklers don’t come on when you plan to mow the lawn or host a cookout—as well as other factors like local watering restrictions.
Smart sprinklers develop an optimal watering approach for lawn and plant health
Even if you consider yourself an expert on residential irrigation, your smart sprinkler contains a wealth of information to help you optimize your watering schedule for the lushest, healthiest lawn possible. These systems combine atmospheric, geological and climate data with finely-tuned algorithms to develop very specific watering plans.
Your sprinkler may break watering sessions into shorter segments to maximize absorption and prevent runoff or calculate individualized watering plans for as many as a dozen separate “zones,” depending on the size of your yard. If you don’t want to pay to consult a certified horticulturist on how to best care for your lawn and garden, buying a smart sprinkler is the next best thing.
Smart sprinklers respond to current weather conditions
We’ve all seen the automatic sprinklers that continue to run even in the midst of a torrential rainstorm. Smart sprinklers solve this wasteful problem by adjusting your watering schedule according to current weather conditions and up-to-the-minute forecasts delivered to the system through its Wi-Fi connection. That way, if rain is in the forecast or a hard freeze is coming, your sprinkler will adjust accordingly to provide the ideal watering approach for the health of your yard.
Smart sprinklers identify opportunities to conserve water and save you money
By using real-time weather and atmospheric data and tailoring your schedule to the specific needs of your yard’s layout and turf type, your smart sprinkler can save you money on your monthly utility bill. In fact, many smart sprinklers pay for themselves within just a few months of use thanks to the ultra-efficient watering schedules they develop for each user’s property.
Many smart sprinklers are also certified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which may qualify you for additional utility bill rebates due to their effectiveness in reducing water waste.
The Bottom Line on the benefits of smart sprinklers
With most quality models falling in the $100 to $200 range, smart sprinklers are a relatively small investment that can save you significant money and effort in the long run. If you’re serious about lowering your water bill and maintaining a healthy lawn, this purchase is a no-brainer.
If you’re looking to determine the best smart sprinklers to meet your needs, we highly recommend taking a look at our buyer’s guide and product recommendations found in our comprehensive guide Getting the Best Smart Sprinkler Controller.