[Villageswimmer]

My rain sensor seems to have failed. Can anyone recommend someone who installs them? Thanks.

[Chatbrat]

Don't sweat the sensor--we have ours on bypass--especially if you're a snow bird & if it fails--you're lawn gets really damaged

[capecodder1]

Mine was just replaced by Earthscapes. If you have Smart irrigation, and most of us do, the rain sensor is part of the atmospheric sensor module,
so the sensor on your roof/gutter is actually a dual unit. And it is expensive so you may want to inquire before you place a service call.
Earthscapes 352-748-0351

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

Don't sweat the sensor--we have ours on bypass--especially if you're a snow bird & if it fails--you're lawn gets really damaged

Right. I hear you. I just feel like we wasted water in June and July when we were gone. I run it manually when we’re here.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by capecodder1

Mine was just replaced by Earthscapes. If you have Smart irrigation, and most of us do, the rain sensor is part of the atmospheric sensor module,
so the sensor on your roof/gutter is actually a dual unit. And it is expensive so you may want to inquire before you place a service call.
Earthscapes 352-748-0351

Thanks. I’ve never heard of smart irrigation before. I think ours may be a dumbed down version.

[Tom C]

The rain sensor allows the irrigation system know if there has been adequate rain to temporarily forgo watering your lawn.

These sensors are available at Lowes for about $18

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Orbit-White...Sensor/1043275

The two wires to your existing are cut and this new one spliced in. This is an easy DYI. The biggest risk is being up on the ladder to do the work, as the sensor is usually attached to the gutter at the roof line right outside the irrigation system location.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Thanks. I’ve never heard of smart irrigation before. I think ours may be a dumbed down version.

It is not a smart controller, it is a unit that has some logic and a calendar built into a dumb controller. A smart controller checks the weather service forecast, adjusts the irrigation for slope and evaporation. Rachio is one such unit, there are some cheaper units. Rachio is 169.00 Amazon. Also remote (wifi) control of the schedule, seasonal adjustments as well.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Tom C

The rain sensor allows the irrigation system know if there has been adequate rain to temporarily forgo watering your lawn.

These sensors are available at Lowes for about $18

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Orbit-White...Sensor/1043275

The two wires to your existing are cut and this new one spliced in. This is an easy DYI. The biggest risk is being up on the ladder to do the work, as the sensor is usually attached to the gutter at the roof line right outside the irrigation system location.

Thanks. We have a sensor. The ladder part is the issue.

[Mikeod]

A lot depends on the age of your home. Ours was built in early 2006 and we don’t have the system that alters watering depending on forecasts. It just shuts the system down when enough precipitation has fallen. I don’t know when they switched to the smarter controllers.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Thanks. We have a sensor. The ladder part is the issue.

You can get a wireless rain sensor that just clamps on to the gutter (no wires). Extremely easy to install to the gutter. Maybe a neighbor could do it, but you need to then install an electronic receiver in the irrigation controller box. Another option is to call Massey, who will provide and install the wireless rain sensor for about $120.

[rjm1cc]

My sensor did not seem to be accurate enough so I watch the weather reports and turn my system on and off manually.
During the rainy season I leave it off and turn on when the grass needs water. The rest of the year I leave it on and turn off after a good rain for a few days.
I did get a replacement sensor from Lowes but no improvement so I would not do it again.

[Tom C]

I find the rain is so hit-and-miss, that unless it is a WIDESPREAD downpour, the predictions of rain are not helpful. I respect the technology, but I am staying with the actual rainfall that falls on my yard / sensor.

[RobertWR]

We bought our house the past July. Our irrigation charge was $104 for August and $111 for September.
I reviewed the schedule and adjusted it to run 3 days a week for 20 minutes each zone. The system has 6 zones.

Our charges seem high? Comments....

[PrudentLifer]

Originally Posted by RobertWR

We bought our house the past July. Our irrigation charge was $104 for August and $111 for September.

I reviewed the schedule and adjusted it to run 3 days a week for 20 minutes each zone. The system has 6 zones.



Our charges seem high? Comments....

Nope


"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears..."
George Orwell

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by RobertWR

We bought our house the past July. Our irrigation charge was $104 for August and $111 for September.
I reviewed the schedule and adjusted it to run 3 days a week for 20 minutes each zone. The system has 6 zones.

Our charges seem high? Comments....

My comment is we, collectively, know Zero about your lawn. Is is 3,300 sq ft lot? 5,200, 8,700, 12,000 or something else? Do you even have a lawn or is it stone?

So I think it is low for a 12,000 lot but outrageous for a patio villa 3,200 foot lot with stone 'lawn'.

Irrigation systems are very different in terms of gallons per minute (GPM) used depending upon types of head, mister, drippers or the number of any of these. Let's use my lawn as an example, depending upon zone I use: 10.46, 12.46, 6.8, or 10.4 GPM.

So to get any sort of accurate feedback you need to provide SQ. footage of lot and number of gallons used in a month.