Automated sprinklers have come a long way. Today’s automated watering systems now provide homeowners with more control than ever, largely thanks to smart home systems that can be used to control irrigation.

Smart watering ensures that your lawn gets the irrigation it needs without waste, thanks to smart controllers managed with the same mobile device you use to check the weather, get the scores from the latest game, or order a pizza.

With the new advances in smart irrigation controllers, you might be surprised to learn that your current controller is no longer the latest and greatest. Here are a few reasons why now may be the perfect time to upgrade your controller.

1. Your old controller isn’t as dependable as it used to be

You leave your house every morning at 8:00, and as you back your car out of the driveway, you’re accustomed to seeing the sprinklers leap to life.

But the last few mornings, something’s different. Sometimes, the sprinklers aren’t going, and your lawn is starting to look a little thirsty. Maybe it’s time to upgrade your controller.

As the weather changes, so do the water requirements of your lawn and garden. Reducing the amount of time your system waters during the cool seasons and increasing it in the hotter months creates a healthier landscape and can help you save countless gallons of water. With Rain Bird controllers, you can quickly and easily make a change to increase or decrease the zone watering times by a certain percentage without having to reprogram each zone individually.

2. Share access to your irrigation system 

You want to set it and forget it, but sometimes you need to change up your watering plan. Maybe you’ve updated your landscaping and want to modify the amount of water in a certain area or reduce the water usage for a season.

However, when you’re faced with the controller in question, you find yourself wondering which button you need to push to get the results you want. Older irrigation controllers may not be all that intuitive when programming and can leave you frustrated.

Rain Bird’s ARC series irrigation controllers are intuitively designed with all scheduling done at your fingertips with the Rain Bird mobile app while at home or on the road. Just set the watering frequency on odd or even, or certain days of the month, or create a custom watering schedule to occur on specific days of the week. You can even set a cyclic irrigation schedule to occur at specific intervals. Next, simply add start times and watering durations for each zone. With the Rain Bird mobile app, setting up schedules and making changes on the go is a breeze. You can even control your sprinkler system with your voice if you connect it to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. 

3. Control your irrigation even when you’re not at home

It’s easy to keep tabs on your landscape irrigation events while away from home. With ARC series controllers and the Rain Bird mobile app, you can share access to your irrigation system for a specified time with family members or landscaping and maintenance professionals who may need to adjust programming or make system repairs.

4. Your old controller doesn’t have the flexibility you need

The last thing you want is for whole swaths of your yard to be neglected simply because your controller doesn’t have enough scheduling options or stations to cover all your landscaping. Modern controllers offer greater flexibility in your irrigation with more zones and watering schedules. If your current controller is a 4-station model, but you have areas of your landscaping that are untouched by your sprinkler system, it’s probably time for a 6- or 8-station model. Both the ARC and TRU series controllers have larger station models available.

Older controllers might not have the ability to schedule as many start times, requiring you to water manually at some point in the day. Newer controller models offer up to three individual programs with four start times per program, for a total of 12 start times, providing the ultimate watering flexibility. Imagine the ability to add a cycle and soak schedule based on your unique landscape terrain or soil type. And advanced features like notifications, custom program cycles, and watering delay allow users the ability to accommodate a wide variety of landscape applications while saving time and money.

5. Old controllers don’t have the water-saving features you want

When your sprinkler system fires up in the middle of a torrential downpour, that’s not just a waste of valuable water resources, it’s also a waste of money. Older controller models aren’t equipped to automatically self-adjust based on current weather conditions.

Rain Bird’s ARC series controllers can adjust or even skip daily watering based on your local weather forecast. Additionally, they can be programmed to meet your local watering restrictions, ensuring you’re not breaking the law to keep your lawn looking healthy. Best of all, they are EPA WaterSense certified, acting like a thermostat for your sprinkler system telling your sprinkler system when to turn on and off, using local weather and landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules to actual conditions on the site.

Ready to upgrade? Rain Bird can help!

If you are tired of battling your irrigation controller to get the results you want, maybe it’s time to consider upgrading to a newer model. The latest technology in automatic sprinkler system controllers allows you to test your sprinklers from the lawn, easily update your irrigation schedule, and automatically conserve water.

If you’re ready to update your irrigation controller, we have several options that can take your lawn to the next level. Visit Rain Bird’s online store to find a controller with the flexibility and ease of use you seek while efficiently keeping your yard green and healthy.