Knowing how long your sprinklers should run can be challenging. If your sprinklers run for too long or too short a duration, your plants will suffer. Fortunately, there is an easy way to eliminate this headache: WaterSense-labeled weather-based sprinkler timers.
Instead of running on a preset schedule, weather-based sprinkler timers act like a thermostat for your sprinklers, using local weather conditions to adjust how long your sprinklers run. The controller automatically reduces sprinkler runtimes when the weather is cooler and increases them when the temperatures rise. Some even have a “smart” app you can run from your phone.
Replacing a standard timer with a weather-based one can save the average Sacramento-area home about 13,500 gallons of water a year.
Many local water providers offer rebates.
Check out our video and the resources below to learn more:
Smartphone-friendly Irrigation Controllers from the Irrigation Association compares smartphone-friendly sprinkler timers and includes detailed information about each controller’s capabilities and specifications.
