Do you have a controller with a timer instead of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology? Then, you may find that you’re wasting water and paying through the nose on your water bill.

When you invest in retrofitting your water sprinkler, including the controller and spray heads, you’ll see that your water bills start to go down.

A wireless controller also saves you time because you can set the timer to turn on and off with an app on your smart device.

The best part? Retrofitting your old water sprinkler system to make it smart isn’t hard.

Why Retrofitting is the Way to Go

Older sprinkler systems waste water and money because they don’t have the technology, such as rain/rain freeze sensors and Wi-Fi capability, which causes your older sprinkler system to overwater the lawn.


Installing a newer irrigation controller allows you control—no matter where you are—over the timing and how much water is used when the sprinkler system is turned on. You also control when the sprinkler system shuts off.

When you retrofit your sprinkler system, you also want to install new sprinkler heads that use less water. Alternatively, you may change the spray head for drip irrigation or tree bubblers to improve landscape watering.

For example, at K-Rain, our EPA WaterSense-certified Pro-S™ Sprays regulate water pressure and meet state mandates for water pressure regulators in sprinkler systems. Our Pro-S Sprays with Stop Flow™ prevent water waste by stopping the water flow if the nozzle is damaged or removed.

Choosing the Right Wireless Tech

Investing in a brand-new irrigation controller with wireless technology makes using a sprinkler system hassle-free and convenient. These controllers are designed to help save water, not waste it. Plus, you save money on your water bill every month that you have a smart controller.

A smart irrigation controller replaces the old-fashioned timer for your water sprinkler. You choose the irrigation controller that will cover the number of zones you have. For example, if you replace your timer with an RPS™ 46 Mini Irrigation Controller, you can choose between one, two, and four zones.

You can use the water budgeting feature on the RPS™ Mini Irrigation Controller for easy adjustment when making seasonal changes to your water sprinklers. Other features of this smart controller include

• Four and six station models to choose from
• Four fully independent programs where you can have up to four separate start times per program
• The indoor models use an external transformer and plug
• You can make seasonal adjustments to save water during the spring and fall seasons
• It’s rain sensor ready, which means you can add a rain sensor that turns off the sprinkler system when it starts to rain
• It has battery back-up, so you can still control your water sprinkler system when the electricity goes out.

The Retrofitting Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have a relatively new irrigation system, even from another manufacturer, you can easily switch out the nozzles, sprinkler heads, and sprinkler timer with K-Rain sprinkler products.
When retrofitting or installing K-Rain sprinkler heads, drip irrigation, tree bubblers, and our other irrigation products, always refer to the manuals for each product. There, you’ll find detailed step-by-step instructions.


Here is a general step-by-step guide for retrofitting your sprinkler system into a smart one using K-Rain products:

1. Call 811 before you put a shovel in the ground. You don’t want to hit any underground cables and wires accidentally. Put colored flags where the lines are located.
2. Test each sprinkler zone to see which sprinkler heads must be changed. Use a different colored flag from the underground lines for each sprinkler head.
3. Turn off your sprinkler system at the controller.
4. Use your shovel to dig down to each sprinkler head you want to retrofit. Unscrew older heads and replace them with smart sprinkler heads. Attach nozzle guards to protect sprinkler heads from mowers and edgers.
5. If you’re installing drip irrigation to one of your landscaped areas, screw in a T-head for drip irrigation just like other heads. After that, connect drip tubing to both ends of the T to make a closed-loop system.
6. To swap out the timer, first unplug the old one. Label the wires before you pull them out. Add the new timer, hook up the wires, and plug it in. Finally, link the timer to your Wi-Fi to control it remotely.
7. Do a final test of each zone to ensure that the retrofitted sprinkler heads, new drip irrigation, and tree bubblers work as expected.

If you’re not a DIY’er, you can hire an irrigation contractor to retrofit your old system with a smart one.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

If you encounter problems with your upgraded sprinkler system, refer to K-Rain manuals for the specific part. Also, contact our customer service with any questions or problems.

When you perform monthly checks, you keep your retrofitted sprinkler system in top shape. You can run 15-minute tests for each zone using tuna fish cans at each zone to see if your lawn is getting the right amount of water.

Also, walk around your yard to see if any wet areas could indicate a water line break. You want to stay on top of leaks to save water and money. Check sprinkler heads every few months to clean out dirt and ensure they’re in working order.

K-Rain Irrigation Products Save Water and Money

Upgrading your sprinkler system with technology will make your sprinklers more efficient and use less water. The above retrofitting instructions should work if your system is five years old or less. You may need to start from scratch if you have a system older than five years.

Buy your K-Rain irrigation products at these retailers or our online store.

Do you have questions about your K-Rain sprinkler system part? Then contact our customer service today.

Sources:
FamilyHandyman.com, What to Know About Smart Sprinklers.
ThisOldHouse.com, How to Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation System.