Summer thunderstorms and your controller: rain sensor or smart skip?
A rain sensor reacts to rain at your yard; a smart controller uses forecasts and weather data. Rain sensors install from $425, smart Wi-Fi controllers from $575.
Short answer: a rain sensor stops the sprinklers once rain has already fallen at your house. A smart controller can use weather data to skip a cycle, and often to adjust run times through the season. Both prevent the classic summer waste of sprinklers running in a downpour. On our price list a rain sensor installed starts at $425 and a smart Wi-Fi controller starts at $575.
The problem they solve
Georgia summers bring afternoon storms that can drop a lot of water in a short time. A basic timer does not know. It runs at its scheduled hour whether the lawn got soaked the evening before or not. That wastes water, pushes soil past what it can absorb, and in clay leaves the ground soggy for days.
How each one works
Rain sensor. A small device mounted where it can catch rain. When enough rain falls, a component inside swells or a switch flips, and the controller is told to hold off. When the device dries, watering resumes. It reacts to what actually fell on your property.
Smart controller. A Wi-Fi controller that pulls local weather information. Depending on the model, it can skip a day when rain is forecast, shorten run times in cool weather and lengthen them in a heat wave. It gets its information from outside, so it can act before the rain starts.
Side by side
| Rain sensor | Smart controller | |
|---|---|---|
| Reacts to | Rain that has fallen at your yard | Forecasts and weather data |
| Skips before rain arrives | No | Often |
| Adjusts for seasons | No | Often |
| Needs Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Installed price from | $425 | $575 |
| Weak point | Placement and dirt | Wi-Fi and settings |
Where each one fails
- A rain sensor placed under a tree or eave may never get wet, or may stay wet long after the rain. Placement matters.
- A dirty or clogged sensor can stay on hold or never trigger. Pollen, leaves and dust all matter, and we cover this in our spring pollen post.
- A smart controller on weak Wi-Fi may lose its connection and fall back to a basic schedule.
- Either device with a bypass switch left on does nothing. We see this often.
- A smart controller with wrong zone settings can make poor choices. Soil, slope, sun and head type all need to be entered correctly.
Which one fits your yard
A rain sensor suits a simple system on a tight budget, where the goal is not running in the rain. A smart controller suits larger yards, several zone types, or owners who want the schedule to adjust without constant attention. For more on the choice, see our post comparing smart controllers and standard timers.
Not every old timer can take a sensor. Some cannot be paired with one at all, which is where replacing the controller makes sense. A standard controller installed starts at $425.
Settings that matter during storm season
- Check that the sensor's bypass switch is set to active.
- Look at the rain delay feature on your controller. It can pause watering for a set period after a storm.
- Stay inside Georgia's watering hours. On a permitted public water system, outdoor landscape watering is allowed between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., according to Georgia EPD.
- Keep the sensor clear of leaves and debris.
- Review the schedule after a long wet spell. Soil that has been soaked needs time.
When to call us
Call if your system runs during storms, if the sensor seems stuck on hold, or if you are deciding which device to buy. We find the cause rather than replacing parts until it stops, and we tell you the options before we install. See the irrigation page for controllers and the pricing page for numbers, or request a quote.
FAQ
Is a rain sensor enough for Atlanta summer storms? For many yards it is. It stops watering after rain has fallen, though it will not skip a cycle before the rain arrives.
Do smart controllers save water? They can, because they skip cycles and adjust for conditions. The savings depend on how the settings are entered, so we do not quote a number.
Can I add a rain sensor to my old controller? Many controllers have a sensor terminal. Some older timers do not, and replacing the controller is the better route.
What does each cost? A rain sensor installed starts at $425, and a smart Wi-Fi controller starts at $575 on our price list.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026. Watering hours from Georgia EPD (epd.georgia.gov).