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Some water utilities offer rebates if you install WaterSense irrigation controllers; rebates can cover a large portion of the cost of the device. Are you looking for a HomeKit sprinkler controller that works with your in-ground sprinkler system? These small units can cover most lawns nicely and incorporate local weather data to determine the best time for watering.
B-Hyve's Wi-Fi-capable Smart Sprinkler Controller is the best way to control your sprinkler system. You can even connect to your home's Wi-Fi network and control it from anywhere in the world. The best overall sprinkler is also our Editor’s Choice, the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller. This is just an all-around fantastic sprinkler controller that is compatible with the largest number of mobile and smart home hub devices.
How to pick the best sprinkler controller?
The Rachio 3 is often expensive, usually around $230 for the eight-zone version and $280 for the 16-zone model. The Rachio 3e, which is $80 less, works in exactly the same way except that it lacks the hyperlocal weather feature and HomeKit compatibility. If you live in an area that has fairly predictable weather patterns or you have a personal weather station, you can safely choose the Rachio 3e. The touchscreen provides complete control, so you don’t have to rely on the app, and the unit doesn’t require an internet connection. But its watering method and forecasting are less precise than those of the Rachio 3. Factoring in scheduling, smart features, and ease of installation, we researched permanent installations at various price points and options that connect to a hose spigot.
Both methods achieve the same end goal—reducing water usage while keeping your yard healthy—but that’s the only option you get with the RainMachine. With the Rachio 3, in contrast, you can use either option or choose, for example, to put your veggie-garden and flower-bed zones on a fixed schedule and your lawn on a flexible one. Ultimately, the Rachio 3 and the RainMachine Touch HD end up applying a similar amount of water—they just use different methods to get there.
Best Hose-Based
Once everything is up and running, the main screen gives you clear notice of what state your system is in, a trait we really liked. For example, one day it told us, “Your device is in auto rain delay for 24 hours” and “Your next watering will be in 12 days.” Now that’s useful. We really like the B-hyve indoor controller’s simple on-device control—it works similarly to the B-hyve XR’s one button, but its sparsity is more fitting on this smaller device.
The controller is usually connected to a water supply and has a timer function that allows it to turn on and off the water automatically at predetermined times. This smart 8-zone sprinkler controller from Yardian is compatible with all of the major virtual voice assistants and platforms, so you don't need to worry if you switch phones. With the Yardian Pro, you can set up schedules, monitor skip rules, check water usage, and more from the Yardian app. For those who might not be so tech-savvy or are new to the sprinkler controller game, they might feel a bit overwhelmed with some of the smart sprinkler controller options. With the Hunter Industries X-Core 8-Station Controller, they really don’t have to be intimidated by much as it’s what we’re calling the Best User-Friendly Controller. Orbit makes another appearance on our list of the best sprinkler controllers, but this time with their B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor 6-Station.
Rachio 3 16-Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller
By weighing the prices against the feature sets, he came up with choices that fit each category based on what the homeowner in that scenario would need the most. If you’re looking for the most functionality for the price, we think the sweet spot for hardwired smart sprinkler controllers is the Rachio 3 8-zone system. If you’re looking for something that can connect to a simple hose spigot without any wiring required, go for the Eve Aqua, which offers fast installation and Apple HomeKit compatibility. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity to control with a simple app locally, but to unlock the full scheduling and smart functionality, Apple’s Thread network usage is advised. Of course, a hose-based smart sprinkler controller comes with its own set of limitations—there’s no zone control, and there aren’t any fancy Eve-specific smart functions like weather integration.
A few people also noted that it could randomly reset your settings, which you’ll, unfortunately, lose. A very common complaint with this controller, unfortunately, is that the instructions are not clear enough. Still, after you learn the program, you will benefit from the variety of settings it provides. While many of the users are extremely happy with it, there is still a downside that you don’t get forecast updates or smart features that might look appealing for some. If you want an elite level of control, then this might not be the one for you, but if you need to protect your control from others, the keyed design is fantastic. Our journalists combine independent research with over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions.
In a few cases, the sprinklers didn’t turn on for an entire week due to rain. And we definitely felt a tinge of eco-smugness when we saw our neighbor’s sprinklers going off just before a rainstorm. To optimize watering, these devices rely on weather forecasts but also may use the types of plants, flowers, and veggies around your garden.
Rachio creates tailored Smart schedules based on the specific needs of your lawn, including plant type, soil type, sun exposure, and more. No problem with the OOB Sprinkler controller you can set up a schedule for sprinklers so the controller will automatically start sprinkler water and at a given specific time for a specific duration. Rachio's 16-zone unit has the same capabilities as its sibling, but it covers an additional eight zones. The 16-zone Rachio makes it perfect for more extensive lawns or business use, and it promises to save 30-50% on your bills with smart scheduling. The Rachio 3 prevents your system from running on rainy days, and it uses wind speeds and directions to figure out the perfect time for watering. The Eve Aqua is the only HomeKit irrigation solution that connects directly to a standard hose spigot.
But, you can also choose to control it manually using the signature NxEco Knob. With the scheduling, manual-watering, rain-delay, and override-smart-watering options, you have optimal control over your lawn. The Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor Irrigation Controller looks like a traditional irrigation clock—big, heavy, and bulky.
Whether it is installing smart light switches, testing the latest door locks, or automating his households daily routines, Christopher has done it all. Our Best Value, the Orbit B-hyve 8-Station Smart Wi-Fi Indoor Timer is another solid all-around pick that is most notable for its shockingly low price. It also supports Wi-Fi connection, and in the event that your Wi-Fi goes down, you can use Bluetooth as a backup measure to adjust the settings. While many users are generally happy with this product, there are some complaints that it’s too expensive for what you get, and it does not come with the Sprinkl sensors in the bundle. A common issue with this controller is that its Wi-Fi connectivity range is quite small.
This is a pretty handy feature, especially if you live in an area that gets heavy rains during the summer. The Orbit B-Hyve takes the number one spot on our best home sprinkler controller list for its wide array of features, affordable price point, and overall ease of use. This is a fantastic choice for those looking to maintain their yard from anywhere. Featuring Orbit’s signature B-Hyve smartphone app, which is pretty smooth and intuitive to use, and home-assistant compatibility, you have full control over your yard with the touch of a button or a few words spoken to Alexa.
It’s also EPA WaterSense certified, which helps save you water and money, and is also great for the environment. Reviewers love how intuitive and straightforward the setup is and rave about the number of features for the affordable price. Smart controllers also use their internet connection to automatically do things such as stopping watering if a freeze is coming or if strong winds would lead to wasted water. Soil-moisture sensors, flow meters, catch cups, and other add-ons commonly offered with a smart controller can all help fine-tune how the system reacts, but they are not essential to the core functionality of the controllers. The B-hyve smartphone app effectively walks you through setting up each zone and creating a smart schedule.
Once you've answered these questions, compare potential products and find one that offers what you need at an affordable price. There are two main types of wifi sprinkler controllers—those with their own app and those without. For those with their own app, you can set up your irrigation system from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. Another important feature of a sprinkler controller is watering scheduling. This allows you to set a specific schedule that is tailored to the needs of your garden.
"It is a great indoor controller for your irrigation system that allows you to control the water flow without even having it exposed outdoors." If you’re looking for a system that conserves water and is environmentally friendly, we recommend narrowing your search down. Almost all of the options on our list were picked with this feature in mind.
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