Which smart irrigation controller is the best?

We will discuss in this article which smart irrigation controller is the best (in our opinion) and the pros and cons of each.  The weather changes rapidly and frequently here in Macon / Warner Robins and your lawn’s irrigation needs change on a weekly to monthly basis.  Smart controllers make it easy to adjust your irrigation and some keep up with the weather and automatically make changes to ensure your lawn is green and healthy!

Which smart irrigation controller are the best?

For this article we are going to discuss the three most popular smart controllers for watering residential lawns in Macon / Warner Robins area.

Rachio Generation 3 smart irrigation controller

Rachio Generation 3 smart irrigation controller

Hunter XC smart irrigation controller

Hunter XC smart irrigation controller

Rain Bird Link Wifi smart irrigation controller

Rain Bird Link Wifi smart irrigation controller

Which smart irrigation controller is the easiest to use?

Our opinion is that the Rain Bird and Rachio are easier to set up and use than the Hunter wifi controllers.  Rain Bird has a very simple app and it is very intuitive.  Rachio has a simple app, but has more features than the Rain Bird.  Hunter seems to have a less intuitive app and is more prone to bugs.  It is a very capable app but we feel it still needs some work.  Rachio was one of the first companies to offer wifi controllers, and they seems to have a great handle the needs of a residential consumer.

Which smart irrigation controller is the smartest?

We prefer the Rachio and Hunter controller over the Rain Bird irrigation wifi controllers.  The Rachio and Hunter link to local weather stations so that they control watering based on weather forecast and real time weather.  The Rain Bird is still using older technology in the form of a rain sensor linked to the controller.  This sensor has a cork that swells with moisture and pushes a button to deactivate the controller.  This is a huge disadvantage because it does not use weather temperature data or forecasted rain or freezing weather to stop a future run of an irrigation cycle for your lawn.  The Rachio seems to have a better algorithm for calculating how much water your lawn requires and it can typically do a very good job of self managing your irrigation system throughout the year.  It even sends you an email on skipped cycles, freezes, and changes in water run times. The Hunter is more sporadic and it is harder to trust whether it will manage the irrigation system correctly.  The rachio is our favorite controller and we have used all of them personally and professionally.

Which smart irrigation controller is best when wifi connectivity is lost?

This is where the Rachio has a serious weakness.  In both the Hunter and Rain Bird controllers, they are able to run watering programs while not being connected to wifi.  The Rachio will not run a program when disconnected from wifi.  This is worrisome.  It will send you an email, but action must be taken to reconnect it to wifi in most cases.  We would expect it to run some sort of back-up program until it can be connected.  With high maintenance landscapes that have water dependent pots, annual flower beds, or low cut turf, this create an emergency if it is not re-connected within days.

Where can I find the best lawn care service in Macon / Warner Robins?

We try to keep our clients up to date on the latest technology and tools available to keep their lawn in great shape.  If you would like to find out more about how we partner with homeowners to ensure that they are informed and using the best practices available please click here.

 

To find out more information about lawn watering, check these links out:

https://liquidlawn.com/lawn-care/how-long-water-lawn/

https://liquidlawn.com/lawn-care/localized-dry-spot/

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