Going on vacation: setting your sprinkler controller before you leave
Check zones, set a sensible schedule and confirm the backup before you go. A short checklist to leave your sprinkler system safe for the trip.
Short answer: before a summer trip, run every zone once to be sure it works, set a schedule that fits the weather and the watering hours, and make sure the controller will keep its settings if the power blips. A little attention in the week before you leave beats coming home to a brown lawn or a high water bill.
Why summer trips are the risky ones
In July and August, a lawn can go from fine to stressed in a short stretch if the sprinklers stop. And a system that fails in a bad way, such as a valve stuck open, can run water for days with nobody watching. Both are avoidable with a short check.
A pre-trip checklist
- Run every zone by hand. Watch for heads that do not pop up, sprays that are weak or crooked and wet spots that were not there before. Fix problems before you go, not from the airport.
- Check the controller's date and time. If a power outage reset them, your schedule will run at the wrong hour.
- Look at the program. Confirm the days, start times and run times are what you want.
- Check the backup battery if the controller has one. A dead battery can wipe the schedule on a power flicker.
- Look at the rain sensor and clear anything on it. Make sure the bypass is not switched on.
- Think about the hours. Georgia EPD allows outdoor landscape watering on a permitted public water system only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., so a schedule that runs in the afternoon heat may break the rule and wastes water.
- Ask a neighbor to glance at the yard if you can. A broken head spraying a sidewalk is easier to spot from outside.
What schedule to set
The right schedule depends on your soil, sun and plantings, so we do not give a one-size run time. The principles:
- Water early in the morning, inside the allowed hours.
- Favor deeper runs on fewer days over short daily runs.
- Give shade zones less than sun zones.
- Give new plantings and sod the attention they need, since they are exempt from the hours for 30 days but also thirstier.
- Do not raise the schedule dramatically out of worry. Overwatering a lawn that is left alone can invite disease.
Settings that help while you are away
| Setting | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Rain delay | Pauses watering after a storm | Summer thunderstorms |
| Seasonal adjust | Scales every zone up or down | Heat or cool snaps |
| Rain sensor | Stops runs after rain | Any yard |
| Smart controller | Adjusts for weather | Long trips |
| Remote app control | Lets you change settings from afar | Surprises while away |
A smart Wi-Fi controller installed starts at $575 on our price list, and a rain sensor installed starts at $425. A standard controller installed starts at $425. If you travel often, remote control is where a smart controller earns its price.
Do not leave a problem to chance
If a zone has been acting up, such as a valve that clicks but does not run, or a wet spot that appears when the system is off, deal with it before you leave. A sprinkler repair starts at $95 on our price list. In the heat, we can often be out the same day, though a call a few days ahead leaves room to fix it properly.
What about a drought restriction?
If your water provider has added local limits, those override your usual schedule. Check the provider's page before you leave so the controller follows the current rule, and not the one from last month.
When to call us
Call if you want the system checked before a long trip, if a zone is not behaving, or if you want remote control set up. Our irrigation page describes controllers and repairs, and you can request a quote ahead of your departure.
FAQ
Should I turn my sprinklers off while I am away? In a Georgia summer, usually not for long trips, since the lawn will suffer. A sensible schedule with a rain sensor is safer than none.
What if the power goes out while I am gone? Most controllers keep their program with a backup battery. Check it before you go.
Can I control the sprinklers from my phone? With a smart Wi-Fi controller, yes. A basic timer cannot.
What is the cheapest way to prepare? Run every zone once, fix what is broken and set a sensible schedule. It costs nothing but a few minutes.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026. Watering hours from Georgia EPD (epd.georgia.gov).