Smart Irrigation Controllers: Are Hunter Hydrawise Systems Worth It?

Smart irrigation controllers have transformed how homeowners manage their sprinkler systems. Instead of a basic timer running the same schedule regardless of weather, smart controllers automatically adjust watering based on real-time conditions. But are they worth the investment?

What Is a Smart Irrigation Controller?

A smart controller replaces your existing sprinkler timer and connects to your home WiFi. It uses local weather data, soil moisture levels, and evapotranspiration rates to determine exactly how much water your lawn needs each day.

We install and recommend the Hunter Hydrawise — one of the most reliable and feature-rich smart controllers on the market.

What Hunter Hydrawise Does

• Weather-based adjustments: Automatically reduces watering before rain and increases during heat waves
• Phone control: Manage your entire system from the Hydrawise app — start zones, change schedules, check status from anywhere
• Water usage tracking: See exactly how much water each zone uses and track savings over time
• Predictive watering: Uses weather forecasts to skip unnecessary cycles before rain arrives
• Flow monitoring: Optional flow sensor detects leaks and broken pipes automatically, sending you an alert

The Real Savings

Most homeowners see a 20-30% reduction in water usage after switching to a Hydrawise controller. On a typical North Shore property in Highland Park, Winnetka, or Glencoe, that translates to $200-400+ per season in water savings.

The controller pays for itself within 1-2 seasons through water savings alone — and that’s before factoring in the convenience and leak detection benefits.

Installation

Upgrading to a Hunter Hydrawise is straightforward. We remove your old controller, mount the Hydrawise, connect the existing zone wires, set up WiFi, and program your initial schedule. The whole process takes about an hour.

Cost: $300-500 installed, depending on the model and number of zones.

Who Should Upgrade?

A smart controller makes sense if:

• Your current controller is more than 8-10 years old
• You travel frequently during summer
• You want to reduce your water bill
• You have a large property with many zones
• You want leak detection and alerts

Get a Smart Controller Installed

📞 Call (847) 566-0099 or Schedule Installation

Part of our Complete Guide to Sprinkler Systems in Chicago.