Why Upgrade to a Smart Sprinkler System: Save Money & Simplify Lawn Care
Water conservation is growing in importance for every community. As cities expand beyond local reservoir capacities to provide plentiful fresh water, every homeowner can help by reducing unnecessary water use in the home. The good news is that water conservation is easier than ever with the latest smart irrigation technology. When it comes to your lawn and garden, the key to efficient water use is in a smart sprinkler system.
What is a Smart Sprinkler System?
A smart sprinkler system takes control of when your sprinkler runs. Sprinklers have been able to run on a timer for many years, but a smart irrigation controller brings sprinkler control to a whole new level. Built with today's advanced smart home technology, smart sprinklers can be controlled with a mobile app, programmed with far more sophisticated routines, provide insights regarding your water usage, and even adapt to the local weather to optimize the water savings of your home's irrigation system.
Smart sprinkler systems are actually quite simple. Behind all the fancy programming, they are a simple valve that responds to wi-fi or Bluetooth control signals. When the valve opens, your sprinklers run. When it closes, they don't.
5 Reasons to Upgrade to a Smart Sprinkler System
Smart sprinkler systems may be simple at their core, but they are also incredibly beneficial when it comes to lawn care, convenience, and conservation. Smart watering systems save money, make it easy to change your sprinkler settings, and optimize the efficiency of your entire system.
Each advantage offers benefits to every homeowner, whether you are watering your precious flower beds or keeping your lawn lush and green.
1. Water Conservation
The top benefit of a smart sprinkler system is the potential for water conservation. This is achieved by helping you build a responsive schedule that can adapt to the weather data. If it's raining, if the soil is still damp, or in high humidity, your sprinkler will skip a day or water less. You can also program it to respond to the position of the sun, watering only when evaporation is at the lowest risk so that water gets to your plants and grass.
2. Cost Savings
By using less water, you can also save money every season on your water bill. Landscape watering often represents the bulk of your home's water use. Reducing that amount with practical and conservative smart sprinkler automation can significantly reduce your water bills during every season in which you water your lawn or garden.
A smart sprinkler system can make an even bigger impact on homeowners’ energy and water bills in states that are very hot, dry, and drought-prone such as Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. It also helps reduce water usage in wetter and more humid areas like Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina.
3. Convenience and Automation
For most homeowners, the convenience of smart sprinkler automation is the greatest benefit. No more trudging out to check the sprinkler, no more changing the watering schedule every season with an old manual system. You can program your sprinkler from the comfort of your living room (or anywhere else) with an app on your phone, update that program, create watering schedules, and set up weather response conservation with ease.
Smart sprinkler apps also typically offer useful water usage graphs and insights to fully understand your water use and watering patterns and receive notifications when conditions change.
4. Environmentally Friendly
Smart sprinklers are eco-friendly because they help you nourish your little ecosystem without wasting water. You can grow local plants, create a home for small local wildlife, and provide just the right amount of water without pulling more from the local reservoir than necessary. Smart sprinklers reduce water waste with high-tech resource management routines.
5. Customization and Efficiency
Last but never least is the efficiency of customizing your own unique watering plan. These systems can be customized to fit different lawn types, including size, shape, weather conditions, and watering needs to provide the most efficient watering. You can make sure that your sprinklers always activate exactly the right way to hit your lawn and flower beds without soaking the fence, flooding the sidewalk, or drowning your perennials.
Smart Sprinkler System Perks & Features
What should you look for when choosing a smart sprinkler system for your yard? The best systems have the perfect balance of features, capacity, and price range.
Weather-Based Adjustments: Look into how each smart sprinkler system adjusts based on the weather, such as rain or heat. The best smart sprinklers ensure that your plants have exactly the right amount of water.
Zoning Capabilities: Advanced smart sprinklers allow you to customize irrigation settings for different areas of your yard based on the space and what you are growing. You can avoid hitting obstacles and perfectly nurture each planted area.
App Integration: Most smart sprinklers come with a mobile app for easy control and many connect with smart home skills for even easier voice controls.
Water Usage Tracking and Reports: Look for smart sprinklers that track your water usage and provide useful reports to show you the quantity of gallons of water used, where it goes, and how your system adapts to changing conditions.
How Smart Sprinklers Can Help Homeowners Save Time and Effort
When it comes to daily lawn care, smart sprinklers can save homeowners a ton of time. Consider how much time you already spend tending your sprinkler system or hand-watering your plants. With automated scheduling, you can set up a schedule that adapts to your routine, the seasons, and the sunrise. It's easy to avoid over-watering with a smart sprinkler that reduces watering when it rains - and avoid under-watering with extra water on hot and dry days.
Some smart sprinklers even pair with soil moisture sensors to provide exactly the right amount of water each day, saving you all the time and effort of keeping your garden lush and your lawn green.
The Cost of Upgrading to a Smart Sprinkler System
How much does it cost to upgrade your sprinklers to a smart sprinkler system? If you already have a sprinkler system installed, upgrading the control unit to a smart sprinkler controller can cost less than $500, while installing an all-new smart irrigation system can cost closer to $3,000 or more depending on the size and complexity of your garden.
This, of course, depends on the size of your property, local costs, compatibility with your irrigation system, and the price of the smart system you choose.
When weighing the cost, don't forget to subtract your savings from the water bill over the lifetime of your smart sprinkler. You may also have access to potential rebates or incentives, especially when installing an eco-friendly system designed for water conservation.
How to Choose the Best Smart Sprinkler System for Your Lawn
There are many great smart sprinkler systems available on the market, but which one is right for your unique lawn and garden? A few careful considerations can help you choose the best device for your watering needs.
Yard Size and Layout
Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure
First, consider the size, shape, and arrangement of your yard. Explore smart sprinklers that can handle the right number and size of zones that you need. Consider the capacity for multiple sprinkler heads and individual controls.
Then, explore whether each smart sprinkler option is compatible with your existing system. The water lines and sprinkler heads often don't need to change and the right smart sprinkler option will be able to immediately take over.
It’s advisable to contact an irrigation service provider for a more accurate assessment of your current system and your desired smart setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does a smart sprinkler system help with water control?
A smart sprinkler system offers real-time water control by automatically adjusting watering schedules based on factors like local weather and soil moisture levels. With a rain sensor and advanced programming, it can prevent over-watering, saving both water and money.
Can I set up automatic watering schedules with a smart sprinkler system?
Yes! One of the key benefits of a smart sprinkler system is the ability to program automatic watering schedules. With mobile apps on iOS, Android, and other mobile devices, you can set precise watering schedules for different zones and conditions, ensuring your lawn and garden get the right amount of water at the right time. You can also sync your sprinkler timer with your home devices like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, making it easy to control with voice commands!
How does a smart hose timer work?
A smart hose timer is an essential tool for homeowners who want to optimize their watering efficiency. You can control it through an app, set up custom schedules, and adjust the watering duration and timing in real-time, ensuring that you never waste water again.
Will my smart sprinkler system work with drip irrigation?
Yes! Many modern smart sprinkler systems are compatible with drip irrigation, providing precision watering that targets the root zone of your plants, reducing water waste and ensuring efficient irrigation.
How can smart sprinklers save water?
Smart sprinklers save water by using real-time weather data and sensors to adjust watering schedules. If it's raining or the soil is wet, the system can skip watering or reduce the amount of water used, thus minimizing waste and promoting water conservation.
Does upgrading to a smart sprinkler system come with a warranty?
Most smart sprinkler systems come with a warranty, which varies by brand and model. It’s always important to check the warranty details before purchasing to ensure long-term coverage for your investment.
Can I monitor my water usage with a smart sprinkler system?
Yes! Many smart sprinkler systems offer water usage tracking and reporting features that provide insights into the amount of water used and how efficient your system is at watering. Some systems even offer compatibility with EPA WaterSense labels for certified water-saving performance.
Saving Water and Time with Smart Sprinklers
If you are looking for ways to achieve efficient lawn care and eco-friendly water conservation, smart sprinklers are the answer. Evaluate your current irrigation system and consider upgrading to a smart sprinkler system for better efficiency, yearly cost savings on your water bills, and a positive environmental impact. Heroes Lawn Care can help with expert consultation and irrigation installation services. Find a Heroes Lawn Care near you to get a free quote!
