Sensors & smart water management
Rain sensors, soil moisture, flow monitors, and cycle-and-soak scheduling.
Do I need a rain sensor on my irrigation system?
A rain sensor (or weather-based Hydrawise adjustments) prevents watering during or after rainfall, cutting waste and reducing disease pressure on turf. Many municipalities expect rain shutoff devices. Wire-compatible sensors interrupt the common or sensor terminals per the controller manual.
What is cycle and soak irrigation?
Cycle and soak splits a long runtime into shorter cycles with soak time between them so clay or slopes can absorb water without runoff. Smart controllers and many dial timers support it. It is one of the highest-impact water-saving schedule changes on heavy soils.
What does a flow sensor do for irrigation?
A flow sensor reports GPM to a compatible controller so it can detect leaks, broken pipes, or stuck valves and shut down. It is especially valuable on commercial sites and large residences with mainline risk.
Where should I mount a rain sensor?
Mount where it receives open rainfall—eaves edges or exposed fascia—away from irrigation spray and HVAC drip. Follow the sensor’s wireless range limits if not hard-wired.
What is a soil moisture sensor for irrigation?
Soil sensors measure moisture in the root zone and can bypass watering when soil is already wet. Place probes in representative soil, not in mulch-only pockets or against rocks.
Can Hydrawise replace a rain sensor?
Hydrawise uses weather data to adjust watering and can skip days after rain, which overlaps rain-sensor goals. Some properties still add a physical sensor for local microclimates or code compliance—check local rules.
What is seasonal adjust vs weather-based watering?
Seasonal adjust is a manual percentage. Weather-based systems change runtimes from ET or forecast data automatically. Weather-based usually saves more water with less babysitting.
Why does my rain sensor keep the system off too long?
Some sensors use hygroscopic disks that stay wet in humid shade. Move the sensor to a sunnier spot, adjust sensitivity, or replace aged disks.
Do freeze sensors make sense for irrigation?
In frost-prone regions, temperature sensors can lock out irrigation when freezing could create ice hazards on hardscape. They are less about plant health and more about safety and liability.
How do I wire a Hunter rain sensor?
Most sensors use normally closed contacts across the sensor terminals or interrupt the common—follow the exact diagram for your controller. Do not put 24 VAC across a wireless receiver incorrectly.
What is ET-based irrigation scheduling?
Evapotranspiration (ET) estimates how much water plants lost to weather. Controllers using ET raise or lower runtimes so you replace what the landscape used rather than watering the same minutes year-round.
When should I winterize an irrigation system?
Winterize before hard freezes in cold climates—typically autumn when nights approach freezing. Blow out or drain lines, shut off and drain backflow assemblies per local practice, and protect above-ground components. Mild coastal climates may only need backflow insulation—follow local norms.
When should I start irrigation in spring?
Activate after the last hard freeze risk when turf and plants begin active growth. Inspect heads, test each zone, check for winter damage, replace cracked parts, and reset seasonal adjust or Hydrawise programs for spring weather.
How do drought restrictions affect irrigation controllers?
Follow local watering day/time rules—set programs to allowed days, reduce seasonal adjust, and rely on rain/weather skip. Fines apply in many cities. Smart controllers help compliance but do not override posted ordinances.