3 Reasons to Upgrade Your Irrigation System with a WiFi Smart Controller

Now that we are well into the Fall season many of us are either spending money on having our yards cleaned up, or doing it ourselves. Raking leaves, gathering pine needles, pine cones, and getting those gutters cleaned out are pertinent to preparing for the winter season. If you have an irrigation system, you also know that it should be winterized, especially if you live in an area like Central Oregon that experiences freezing temperatures. Although irrigation is not something we typically think about in the winter, it may be something to consider upgrading. Specifically, upgrading your irrigation controller to a more efficient, smart controller can save you time and money. This makes it one of the more practical purchases for your home. Read on for additional advantages of switching to a wifi-enabled, smart irrigation controller.

Irrigation systems are a mystery to most of us. Generally, irrigation lines are out of sight, making it difficult to diagnose a leak or break in the system without a professional. Installation of a smart controller can remedy this. Rain Bird’s ESP-TM2 Series Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Timers helps you to better understand your irrigation system.
The user-friendly interface will display any issues your system may be experiencing. When combined with the handy Rain Bird mobile app, you’ll always be in control; if there is danger of freezing temps or more seriously, a short in the system, you’ll be notified. Furthermore, if you do wind up needing a technician, Rain Bird displays useful information your technician will need to get your system up and running again.

While the cost of installing a new Rain Bird or other smart controller may seem daunting, the savings alone will more than pay for your new investment.

On average, homeowners save 30% more water that would otherwise be wasted due to overwatering.* Rain Bird uses “Automatic Seasonal Adjust” when determining your landscape’s watering needs. This setting takes three things into consideration: the average historical weather data for the current month, what the weather was yesterday, and what the weather is supposed to be tomorrow. No more wondering if your system is actually watering your lawn, or worse—watering your lawn while it’s raining. All that water savings can equate to big money saving for you!

Click here to see how Seasonal Adjustment works.

Your smart controller is made to work with other smart technology. If you have a smart speaker like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you can use these devices to control your sprinklers, this includes both zone-specific areas or the entire system. You can say things like “Alexa, water my backyard for 15 minutes, or “ Ok, Google, stop Rain Bird.”

Along with being able to control your smart irrigation system via smart technology in your home, Rain Bird has a new mobile app that makes dialing in your sprinkler system a snap. Not only can you toggle notifications on and off, the mobile app allows your phone or tablet to work as a remote control. You can operate your system from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. This allows you to increase and decrease run times based on weather, view your watering schedule, and water manually. You can also add or remove programs, stations or entire systems.

If you’d like more information about the installation of a smart controller, or simply have questions, we can help! We’re professionals that have more than 15 years of combined irrigation experience in Central Oregon. Call us at 541-362-1389 or visit us on the web at http://www.everistirrigation.com/.

For more information on Rain Bird’s smart controllers, accessories and technology, visit https://www.rainbird.com/.

Sources:
*http://wifi.rainbird.com/articles/how-does-automatic-seasonal-adjust-work/