Control Your Irrigation System At Your Fingertips With A Wi-Fi Enabled Find From Lowe's

If you want your plants to stay healthy, you must make sure that you water them properly. However, that can become difficult if you often stay away from your home. One way to tackle this is to automate your plant watering by installing an irrigation system with a timer. The problem, however, is that such systems often work at fixed intervals automatically, and there might be no easy way to control it to account for weather and other variables. Fortunately, though, there is a way around this problem: a Wi-Fi-enabled irrigation system like the Orbit 6-station Wi-Fi Smart Irrigation Timer.

This product is currently selling at Lowe's for about $120, and it connects to your home's Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control your irrigation system from your phone using the B-hyve smartphone app. You can use the app to turn watering on or off, set detailed schedules or smart weather sensing, and adjust how long different areas will receive water. Depending on the number of sprinkler zones on your property, you can purchase the Orbit timer in different configurations ranging from four to 16 stations. Another useful feature is its weather-resistant housing, which allows you to install the Orbit irrigation timer either indoors or outdoors. It also has a lockable control panel to prevent unauthorized access.

First, make sure the timer will work with your existing irrigation system. It is designed for 24-volt AC irrigation valves, so check your current controller's wiring and valve compatibility before purchasing it. Another important consideration is Wi-Fi compatibility. The timer only connects to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. So you might want to look into some other high-tech smart gardening products that can help water your plants if you have a 5 GHz Wi-Fi router.

Once installed, take advantage of the timer's smart features and do not just limit it to watering your plants at a set schedule. For instance, your lawn might need a different watering schedule than your flower beds or vegetable garden, and if these areas are connected to separate irrigation zones, you can adjust their watering times and frequency independently. You can also use the B-hyve app to enter details such as soil type, plant type, sprinkler numbers, and sunlight exposure for each zone. This information helps it determine when and how long to water your grass lawn and other plants. If you prefer a more hands-off watering plan, the Orbit timer has another useful feature: WeatherSense. This helps it automatically delay watering when local weather conditions suggest it is not necessary.

As for buyer feedback, many reviewers on Lowe's have noted that the system is easily programmable and simple to use. Buyers also praised it for its smart features. That said, not all reviews are positive. A couple buyers, for instance, noted that it stopped working after a while, whereas a few others complained about the usability of its phone app.

Lastly, do not assume that losing Wi-Fi means you will not be able to use your irrigation system. The Orbit B-hyve timer also has built-in physical controls. These allow you to operate it directly, even without an internet connection. Also, if you have previously programmed any watering schedules, they will also continue running when Wi-Fi goes down. Although it makes scheduling much easier, you will not be able to control the timer completely remotely. You'll have to connect through your home Wi-Fi, so remember to check the schedule before your next vacation!