Smart Sprinkler Systems: An Introduction

Regarding landscaping, it’s common knowledge that an efficient irrigation system is a must-have. But the maintenance your yard requires can be a lot–the best way to grow a flourishing yard without breaking your back is to install a smart sprinkler system. The more automated your lawn’s maintenance is, the easier it will be to take care of it. Here’s an introduction to how smart sprinkler systems work, their benefits, and popular brands. How Do Smart Sprinkler Systems Work & What Are Their Benefits? Smart sprinklers are called “smart sprinklers” because they use sensors and controllers to automatically adjust watering schedules and amounts based on local weather and other factors that deem a change in watering patterns. The sensors monitor things like soil moisture, temperature, evaporation, and plant water use to inform their decisions. The controllers use the sensors’ data to calculate how long to water and how much water to use and send wireless commands to open and close water valves. On top of basic automation, many smart sprinklers also come with apps homeowners can download on their phones. These apps may allow users to map out watering patterns or input their own data about their plants and soil to get targeted irrigation recommendations. There are lots of benefits to homeowners and their plants after installing smart sprinklers, such as water savings, improved plant health, remote control, targeted irrigation solutions, and environmental benefits. Smart Sprinklers & Water Conservation The biggest benefit of smart sprinkler technology is water conservation. Not only does saving water save you money on your water bill, but it’s also better for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, installing a smart sprinkler can save a home nearly 7,600 gallons of water annually. It’s easy to go overboard with your watering, especially if you have a large yard or have just planted some grass seed. Smart sprinklers use real-time data to determine how much water each area of your lawn needs. This means that areas with heavy shade won’t receive more water than they can handle, and your lawn won’t be watered at all on rainy days. Additionally, many smart sprinkler systems can now notify you of leaks or other reasons for less than 100% irrigation. Leak detections will appear in your mobile app, making inspections and, therefore, water conservation much easier. Whether the culprit is a missing valve or a broken pipe, you’ll be able to conquer the problem before resources are wasted. Popular Smart Sprinkler Features & Brands Now that you know what a smart sprinkler system can do for you, it’s time to get specific. Here are some features and brands to consider. Rain Bird Rain Bird smart sprinkler systems are highly recommended because they are efficient and focused on water conservation. They have all sorts of systems to choose from, and some of the features you might see are WiFi/mobile app, water budget, zone-based programming, rain delay, flow sensing, manual watering, seasonal adjustment, non-volatile memory, delay between stations, or cycle + soak. These words may sound confusing if you’ve never heard them before. Essentially, Rain Bird is building smart sprinkler technology that automates every aspect of your irrigation for you. It can adjust water use based on your budget. You can also program each zone of your yard differently depending on each zone’s water needs. Or delay watering for rain and divide watering time into shorter cycles. Hence, your yard has time to soak it in, you can monitor flow rates to detect leaks, and it will back up all of your data even if your WiFi or internet connection goes out. Hunter Hunter smart sprinkler systems go in a slightly different direction as they also feature solar energy. Their Solar Sync ET sensor is an advanced weather sensor that adjusts Hunter controllers based on evapotranspiration (ET) and local weather conditions, which just means it considers local evaporation levels and plant transpiration levels. The Hunter irrigation system measures solar radiation, temperature, and ET and adjusts watering patterns daily. It also considers the season–it will shut down your system during freezing temperatures or rainy conditions to save water. Conclusion Irrigation is crucial to a healthy yard, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Automating your sprinkler system saves time, money, and water and encourages plant health. You can learn more about your yard in real time right from your phone. Don’t let any confusion stand in the way of you and your healthiest garden.