What is a smart water hose timer?

A smart water hose timer is a technologically advanced device designed to automate watering for gardens, lawns, or any outdoor area requiring regular irrigation. Unlike traditional hose timers, which operate on a set schedule determined manually by the user, smart water hose timers offer enhanced features through connectivity, typically via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. These features allow users to control and customize their watering schedules remotely using a smartphone app, web interface, or even voice commands through integration with smart home systems.

Key features and benefits of smart water hose timers include:

• Remote Control: Adjust watering schedules, start or stop watering, and monitor water usage from anywhere using a smartphone app.
• Customizable Schedules: Create precise watering schedules that meet the specific needs of different plants or garden zones, helping to conserve water and promote plant health.
• Weather Adaptation: Some smart water hose timers can adjust schedules based on local weather conditions, such as pausing watering during rain or increasing water frequency during dry spells, further optimizing water use.
• Voice Command Compatibility: Integration with smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant allows for voice-activated control.
• Multiple Zones Control: Advanced models can manage multiple watering zones independently, providing specific watering needs to different areas without requiring multiple devices.
• Leak Detection and Notifications: Receive alerts for leaks or blockages, helping to prevent water waste and potential damage to the garden.
• Ease of Installation and Use: It is designed for easy setup and operation, making smart gardening accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise.

By incorporating smart technology into garden maintenance, smart water hose timers offer a convenient and efficient way to manage watering tasks. They ensure that plants receive the right amount of water at the right time while conserving water and saving time for the user.

Which Smart Water Hoses are the best?

Here are the best smart water hose timers for today's home, smart home, apartment, or any dwelling with a garden, lawn, or area that needs watering regularly:

Rachio Smart Hose Timer

The first smart sprinkler controller we tested was Rachio's first-generation device. (Read our review.). This smart water device was a game changer for homes that were becoming smart and needed a device to help them water their lawns and gardens and conserve water. It's only fitting that the same company also has one of the best smart water hose timers, the Rachio Smart Hose Timer.

The Rachio Smart Hose Timer is a smart device that can turn your hose into a smart watering system. Users can easily manage their yard's irrigation from their smartphones with this simple setup, which includes a valve for outdoor faucets and a Wi-Fi hub for programming via the Rachio app. Compatible with up to 8 valves, users can schedule multiple routines that run flawlessly, even without a connection. It integrates with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home voice systems, automatically adjusts to weather changes, and features a flow meter for precise water use, contributing to Rachio's significant water savings.

Rachio's smart hose timer is available for $99.99 at Rachio.com, Amazon.com, Walmart, and The Home Depot.

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Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub

The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer by Orbit allows users to manage their lawn and garden watering smartly and efficiently. It connects to an outdoor faucet and pairs with a home Wi-Fi network through a Wi-Fi hub, enabling faucet control via the Orbit smartphone app. This integration offers features like remote control, smart watering adjustments based on local weather and landscape specifics, water flow monitoring to prevent overwatering and cost savings on water bills. The device is easy to set up, supports up to 64 units within a 200-foot range, and provides specific adjustments for soil type, plant type, exposure, and slope. Additionally, it is WaterSense certified for water conservation. It integrates with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, making it a versatile and environmentally friendly solution for garden maintenance.

The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet has an MRSP of $79.99 and is available on the company site and Amazon.

Read our full review.

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Husky Smart Watering Timer

The Husky Smart Watering Timer, designed for irrigation and sprinklers, is enhanced with two independently controlled spigots for setting distinct watering schedules via Bluetooth. It simplifies lawn care with timer settings from 1 minute to 6 hours and a weekly schedule programming feature. A Defiant smart plug is included as a Wi-Fi gateway for easy smartphone control. Its Rain Delay feature promotes sustainability by conserving water, and its integration into the Hubspace ecosystem marks an expansion into new smart home automation areas, offering seamless connectivity and environmental benefits.

The Husky Smart Watering Timer costs $69.98 and is available at The Home Depot.

Buy on The Home Depot

Rainbird 1ZEHTMR - Electronic Garden Hose Watering Timer

A few smart water timers on our list do not have an app. One is the Rainbird 1ZEHTMR, an electronic garden hose watering timer that offers easy-to-use, advanced 7-day scheduling for hose-end sprinklers, drip irrigation, and soaker hoses. It's perfect for watering gardens, landscaping beds, and lawns, operating within a water pressure range of 15 to 90 psi and temperatures up to 110°F. Features include instant Rain Delay and Water Now buttons for manual control, making it compatible with Rain Bird's sprinklers and drip kits. The display shows program status, including the following and remaining cycle times. Designed for outdoor use with cold water, it allows up to two watering times per day on any weekday and is powered by two AA batteries (not included).

The Rainbird 1ZEHTMR timer costs $88.22 but is on sale for less than $50 on the company site, Amazon, and Home Depot.

See pricing on The Home Depot

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RainPoint Smart+ Garden Watering System

RainPoint's Smart+ Garden Watering System offers a technologically advanced solution for your gardening needs. It is available in three tailored packages to fit every gardener's requirements. The basic system comes in one or two-zone configurations, catering to those who desire simplicity or need to manage separate areas within their garden. For a comprehensive experience, the super experience package elevates garden management to new heights.

At the heart of each package is the RainPoint Smart+ Irrigation Display Hub, a central command unit that brings the power of smart gardening to your fingertips. Equipped with a weather forecast feature and a rain delay function, the system intelligently adjusts watering schedules based on current and anticipated weather conditions, ensuring efficient water usage. The system also monitors temperature and humidity, integrating this data to optimize watering for your garden's specific needs.

The RainPoint app provides seamless control over your garden's watering, with features like real-time alerts, auto watering, and insights into water usage patterns. Its two-zone system offers the flexibility to manage different garden sections individually, ensuring a smart, efficient, and tailored watering experience that keeps any garden, simple or complex, flourishing.

The RainPoint Smart+ Garden Watering Systems start at $45.99 for just the smart garden home timer and can go as high as $219.99 for the RainPoint Smart+ Garden Watering System Super Experience Package. They are all available on the company site and on Amazon.

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Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller

Eve Aqua transforms garden care with its smart water controller, seamlessly integrating with Apple HomeKit and ready for Matter. This device eliminates the need for a bridge or hub, directly connecting via Bluetooth & Thread for the ultimate data privacy. It is designed for convenience and supports up to seven watering periods a day, allowing for autonomous schedules that keep your garden thriving. Compatible with all popular hose systems and multi-channel water distributors from brands like Gardena or Kärcher, Eve Aqua offers flexibility for any setup. Installation is a breeze, ensuring you're up and running quickly. Control and monitor your watering effortlessly through the Eve app, making garden maintenance smarter and more efficient than ever.

The Eve Aqua costs $149.95 and is available on the company site, B&H, The Home Depot, and Amazon.

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See Pricing on The Home Depot

LinkTap G2S Wireless Water Timer & Gateway & Flow Meter

Discover the ultimate in garden irrigation with LinkTap Wireless Water Timers, available in one-, two---, and four-zone configurations, each bundled with a gateway for unparalleled convenience and control. Established in 2015, LinkTap has dedicated itself to redefining garden care with its innovative wireless water timers, making it Amazon's highest-rated device in its category.

LinkTap offers an easy-to-use, feature-packed solution that combines advanced technology with a commitment to safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The LinkTap app allows you to control your watering schedule from anywhere using your phone, tablet, or computer. You can ensure your garden receives the right amount of water without waste thanks to automatic Rain Skip, temperature-controlled watering, and an ECO watering mode.

Renowned for reliability, LinkTap water timers are designed to alert you to any issues, such as valve failures, device falls, water cut-offs, or potential pipe clogs and leaks, with an automatic shut-off feature to prevent water wastage in the event of a leak. Customize your watering with six modes and up to 100 cycles per day, ranging from 3 seconds to 24 hours per cycle, to meet the precise needs of your garden.

Installation is a breeze with LinkTap's QR code scan setup via the app, ensuring your devices are connected within seconds. Utilizing Zigbee technology, LinkTap offers superior wireless coverage and efficiency, all while consuming minimal battery power, making it the smart choice for gardeners seeking the best in water management.

How much do the LinkTap water timers cost? The G1 One-Zone system costs $129.99, the D1 two-zone unit costs $199, and the Q1 four-zone costs $279. They are available on Amazon. We noticed that the GI and D1 smart water timers are on sale for much less than their list prices.

Buy LinkTap G25 on Amazon

Diivoo Smart Water Hose Timer Compatible With Alexa And Google

The Diivoo Smart Water Hose Timer elevates garden care with its advanced features and user-friendly app control. Designed for seamless integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices, this smart timer brings voice-activated convenience to your garden watering routine. With two outlets supporting 12 individual programs, it offers flexibility for both timed and misting irrigation, ensuring your garden receives precise watering tailored to its needs.

Beyond automated scheduling, the Diivoo timer includes thoughtful options like rain delay and manual watering, allowing you to adjust to changing weather conditions without compromising your plants' health. Its long battery life guarantees consistent performance throughout the season, while the superior leakproof and waterproof design, rated at IP54, ensures durability and reliability under any weather conditions.

Connection to your home network is seamless, thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity via the included Wi-Fi gateway, which utilizes RFID technology for a secure and efficient link. With the Diivoo Smart Water Hose Timer, managing your garden's hydration has never been smarter or more convenient. It blends technology with nature to keep your green spaces flourishing.

The Diivoo Smart Water Hose Timer has a list price of $89.99 for the two outlets but is on sale for $69.99 on the company site. Diivoo also sells one-zone smart water hose timers for $54.99, but it is on sale for $49.99. Both are also available on Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress.

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Insoma Smart Water Timer with Wi-Fi Hub

The Insoma Smart Water Timer introduces a revolutionary way to manage your garden's watering needs through the Smart Life APP, seamlessly integrating with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for effortless app control from anywhere. This innovative device allows for easy programming and access to watering history and supports voice commands through compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, offering a truly hands-free experience. Additionally, the timer's Bluetooth functionality ensures continued operation even during power outages by allowing app control within a 49.2 ft range, ensuring your garden remains nurtured under any circumstances.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the Insoma timer features two distinct watering schedule settings—timed and cyclical modes—to cater to diverse watering requirements, alongside two independent outlets for custom programming across 20 possible setups. It also includes convenient manual watering and rain delay options for adaptive garden care. Expanding your irrigation system is effortless, supporting up to 32 Wi-Fi timers with a single hub, and the device's durable, low-power design ensures reliable outdoor use with minimal maintenance. Share the responsibility of garden care by adding family members to the app, making the Insoma Smart Water Timer a comprehensive solution for modern garden management.

What are users saying about Insoma Smart Water Timer? Many users laud the Insoma Smart Water Timers for their ease of use, efficient scheduling, and smart home integration, notably with Alexa, appreciating the convenience of remote garden watering. Despite its praised functionality, some have encountered challenges with programming limitations, software glitches, and connectivity issues, leading to mixed experiences. Overall, while seen as beneficial for garden care, the device's software stability and user interface may benefit from enhancements.

The Insoma Smart Water Timer costs only $59.99 for two outlets and is available on Amazon.

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