Are smart sprinkler controllers worth it?
Usually yes, for an in-ground system on a basic clock timer. The EPA says a WaterSense labeled controller can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons a year. They are not worth it if heads are broken or valves leak, so fix those first. Ask your water utility about rebates, and get three written bids if you hire.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Read your water bills
Compare your summer and winter water use for the past year to see how much of it goes outdoors.
Step 2: Check what runs your system
Look at your current controller. A basic clock timer that runs the same schedule every week is the kind a smart controller replaces.
Step 3: Fix leaks and broken heads first
Walk each zone and flag broken, tilted or leaking heads, because a smarter timer does not fix them.[2]
Step 4: Ask your water utility about rebates
Check whether your local water provider offers a rebate before you buy.[1]
Step 5: Pick a type
Decide between a weather-based controller and a soil moisture-based one, and look for the WaterSense label.[1]
Step 6: Decide who installs it
Install it yourself only if it is a plug-in controller and a simple swap, otherwise get written bids from licensed pros.[4]
Step 7: Ask the pro the right questions
If you hire, ask the contractor whether a smart controller suits your landscape and ask for a written schedule with seasonal changes.[3]
Usually yes, if you have an in-ground system on a clock timer
A smart controller is worth it for most homes with an in-ground sprinkler system that runs on a basic clock timer, because it stops watering when the weather or soil says the plants do not need it. It is not worth it if the system underneath is leaking or badly designed, or if you rarely irrigate at all.
The case for it is the amount of water wasted outdoors. Experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of this water is wasted due to overwatering caused by inefficiencies in irrigation methods and systems.[1] The EPA also says that homes with clock timer controlled irrigation systems use about 50 percent more water outdoors than homes without irrigation systems.[2]
What it saves
The EPA puts a number on the upside for a WaterSense labeled model. Replacing a standard clock-based controller with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually.[1] That is an average, so a small yard with a short season saves less and a large, heavily watered lawn saves more.
Your own saving depends on how you water now. If you already skip cycles by hand after every storm and adjust the schedule each season, a smart controller mostly saves you the effort. If your timer has run the same schedule since it was installed, the saving is likely larger.
Which type
The EPA labels two kinds: weather-based irrigation controllers use local weather and landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules, and soil moisture-based irrigation controllers (also known as soil moisture sensors, or SMSs) monitor moisture levels in the soil to prevent irrigation when water is not needed.[1] A weather-based unit suits most lawns and mixed beds. A soil moisture sensor can suit a landscape where soil varies a lot from zone to zone.
Whichever you choose, look for the WaterSense label on the box, and ask your water utility about money back: some utilities offer rebates to help you water smarter outdoors.[1]
When it is not worth it yet
Fix the system first when you see broken heads, geysers or soggy patches. Running an irrigation system with broken and damaged sprinkler heads can cause overflowing and flooding of water on the landscape.[2] A smart controller will keep running them on a clever schedule. A bed watered by drip, or a few pots, is usually better served by a simple battery hose-end timer than by a full controller.
Install it yourself or hire it out
Swapping a plug-in controller for another is a job many owners do themselves, and setting up a smart sprinkler controller walks through it. Hire it out when the controller is hardwired, the wiring is unclear, or you also want zones, heads or a rain sensor changed.
When you hire, ask the EPA's question: "Is a "smart" irrigation controller, such as a WaterSense labeled model, right for my landscape? How will it help me save water and money over the long term?"[3] Then ask: "Can you provide a written irrigation schedule that also accounts for seasonal changes?"[3]
Compare quotes on the same specification: controller model, zones covered, rain or soil sensor, setup and a walk-through of the app. The Virginia Board for Contractors' advice is: Get at least three written bids.[4] It adds that Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.[4] On deposits, the Board says: Limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.[4]
Stop and call a pro if
- The controller is wired to household power. That is electrical work for a licensed electrician.
- Zones will not shut off, or valves leak. The fault is in the valves or lines, not the timer.
- You have a pump, a well or a booster. Pump start relays and pressure need a pro.
- Pressure is too high or heads mist in many zones. A pro should look at the whole system.
- You cannot tell which wire runs to which zone. Have it traced before it is connected.
Getting help in Virginia
Before you spend money, read how to set up a smart sprinkler controller and whether to repair or replace a sprinkler system, then browse more irrigation answers or the irrigation directory. To check a business, use the DPOR licence lookup.
When you are ready, describe the job once and local pros quote it.
Common questions
- How much water does a smart sprinkler controller save?
- The EPA says that replacing a standard clock-based controller with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually. Your result depends on your yard size, how much you water now and your local weather.
- Can I get a rebate for a smart sprinkler controller in Virginia?
- Possibly. The EPA says some utilities offer rebates to help you water smarter outdoors, but programs differ by water provider and change over time. Ask your own water utility before you buy, and keep the receipt.
- What is the difference between weather-based and soil moisture controllers?
- A weather-based controller uses local weather and landscape conditions to tailor the schedule. A soil moisture-based controller monitors moisture in the soil to prevent irrigation when water is not needed. The EPA labels both types, and some controllers use both.
- Is a smart controller worth it for a small yard?
- Often less so. A small yard or a few drip beds uses little water, so the saving is smaller. If you have a full in-ground system with several zones on a basic timer, the case is stronger.
- Will a smart controller fix a leaking sprinkler system?
- No. It changes when and how long zones run, not what is broken. Fix leaking joints, broken heads and valves that do not close first, then add the controller.
Sources
- [1] WaterSense Labeled Controllers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Sprinkler Spruce-Up, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Irrigation with a Pro, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
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