

For results on all the smart sprinkler controllers we test, see Consumer Reports’ smart sprinkler controller ratings.We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice.

To gauge a system’s watering accuracy, we collect rainfall data from a rain gauge, then evaluate how much a controller overwaters or underwaters based on that data.Īll four models below, listed in alphabetical order, feature smartphone app controls and are certified under the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program.ĬR members can click on each model name for detailed ratings and reviews. In CR’s tests of smart sprinkler controllers, we evaluate, among other features, how easy it is to wire the controller to the sprinkler system’s water valves and whether the controls are simple to use. “You’re going to want a controller that uses a lot of forecast data to make its adjustments.” “The ability of these smart sprinkler controllers to make fine-tuned watering adjustments greatly depends on the robustness of their weather data,” says Larry Ciufo, CR’s test engineer for sprinkler controllers. One crucial factor sets these top-performers apart from the rest of the pack.

Smart controllers can save you money on your water bill, too.īelow you’ll find ratings and reviews of the best smart sprinkler controllers from our tests. And their app-based controls make it a breeze to create watering schedules that comply with your local watering restrictions, such as watering only on odd-numbered days or at unusual hours of the night.

Smart sprinkler controllers connect to the internet and use real-time weather data to adjust the frequency of watering so that you don’t overwater your grass, say, during an afternoon shower, or underwater on a dry, hot day. That’s why you should consider swapping out your sprinkler controller for a smart model. You might want to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood, but doing so is easier said than done, especially in parts of the country facing severe drought and the accompanying water use restrictions.
