What a smart controller does
A smart controller connects to Wi-Fi and uses weather data, and on some models a local sensor, to skip or shorten runs when it’s rainy, cool, or windy. You can see and change the schedule from an app, and many will alert you to problems on a zone.
When it’s worth it
- Watering days change during the year. Fresno and Clovis switch to one day a week on November 1 and back to three days on April 1. An app makes that switch easy.
- Rain rules. Clovis prohibits irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall, and weather-based skips help you follow it.
- Hour limits. Fresno doesn’t allow watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Madera from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A controller you can check from your phone makes it easy to confirm every cycle finishes in time.
- Your old timer is failing or is hard to program.
The City of Fresno’s programs, as of October 2026, include a free smart controller retrofit for eligible homes and a smart controller rebate. Check the City’s water pages for what’s available now.
What it won’t fix
A smart controller only decides when and how long a zone runs. Leaks, broken heads, bad coverage, and stuck valves still need repair, and they’re often where the biggest water losses are. That’s why we suggest a free inspection before or with an upgrade.
We install and program smart controllers in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, and Madera Ranchos, set to your address’s watering days.
Safety first: if you can’t stop the water, close the shutoff valve for the irrigation system, or the main shutoff to the house. Before you dig anywhere, call 811 to have buried utility lines marked.
Written by ACRE Landscape Co., Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 26, 2026.