Your Sprinklers Run Too Much. Your Water Bill Proves It.
Smart controller upgrades, rain sensors, and drip conversion cut irrigation water use 30-40% without a single brown patch. Most upgrades run $300-$800 and pay for themselves in under a year through lower bills.
Most St. Pete Sprinkler Systems Waste 30-50% of the Water They Use
The average Pinellas County home with a basic irrigation timer overwatering costs an extra $40 to $80 per month on their water bill. The timer runs the same program in January as it does in July. It waters through thunderstorms. It gives every zone the same duration whether it is sunny turf or shaded beds. It has no idea the forecast calls for three days of rain.
That is not a broken system -- it is an unmanaged one. The sprinklers work fine. The programming is the problem. And the fix does not require replacing your entire system. In most cases, a smart controller upgrade, a functioning rain sensor, and possibly converting bed zones to drip irrigation drops your water bill by a third within the first billing cycle.
We audit your current system, identify where water is being wasted, and implement targeted upgrades that pay for themselves. No ripping out pipes. No major construction. Usually a single visit.
Three Upgrades That Drop Your Water Bill Immediately
Smart Controller Upgrade — $300-$600
Replace your basic timer with a WiFi controller that adjusts run times based on real-time weather. Automatically skips watering when rain is forecast. Increases run times during hot dry stretches. Controls from your phone. Rain Bird ESP-ME3 and Hunter Pro-HC models handle 6 to 22 zones. Savings: 20-40% of irrigation water costs immediately.
Rain Sensor Installation — $100-$200
Required by Florida law but missing from many older systems. Automatically overrides the controller and prevents watering when it has rained. During St. Pete's summer rainy season, a rain sensor prevents 2-3 unnecessary cycles per week. That is 30-45 minutes of runtime saved each week when your yard already has enough water. Pays for itself in 2 months.
Drip Conversion for Beds — $200-$500/zone
Landscape bed zones with spray heads waste 30-50% of the water to evaporation and overspray. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots through low-volume emitters at ground level. Eliminates overspray onto sidewalks and fences. Reduces fungal issues on plant leaves. Targets exactly where roots need it.
The Two-Day Rule and How Smart Systems Handle It
Pinellas County follows SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) irrigation restrictions. The rules are straightforward but many homeowners violate them unknowingly because their timer is programmed incorrectly:
- Two days per week only -- Odd addresses: Wednesday and Saturday. Even addresses: Thursday and Sunday
- No watering 8 AM to 6 PM -- Daytime irrigation loses 50%+ to evaporation anyway
- Rain sensor required -- All automatic systems must have a functioning sensor. Fines for non-compliance
- No runoff onto sidewalks/streets -- Overspray that reaches pavement violates water use rules
Smart controllers are pre-programmed with these rules. They will not let you set a schedule that violates the two-day restriction. They automatically prevent daytime watering. The weather-based scheduling goes beyond the minimum requirements by skipping cycles when soil moisture is adequate, even on your permitted days.
If your current system is running outside permitted days, watering during restricted hours, or missing a rain sensor, you are at risk of fines. We can audit your system, fix compliance issues, and implement smarter scheduling in a single visit. For properties that want to eliminate irrigation water entirely, our artificial turf removes the need for any watering system.
Paying Too Much for Water? Let Us Audit Your System.
Free irrigation audit. We run every zone, check for waste, and tell you exactly where your money is going. Most upgrades pay for themselves within the first year -- often sooner.
Request a Free AuditA Largo Home Saving $65/Month After One Visit
A homeowner in Largo was paying $165 per month for water. They assumed it was normal for a Florida household with a lawn. Their 12-year-old system had a working mechanical timer, functioning heads, and no obvious leaks. They did not think anything was wrong.
Our audit found three problems: the timer ran all 5 zones for 25 minutes every permitted day regardless of weather. The rain sensor had failed 3 years ago and was never replaced (Florida law violation). Two landscape bed zones were using overhead spray heads that were watering the fence and sidewalk as much as the plants.
We upgraded the timer to a Hunter Pro-HC smart controller ($350), replaced the dead rain sensor ($125), and converted both bed zones to drip irrigation ($450). Total: $925. Single visit.
Their next water bill: $100. Down $65 from the previous month. The smart controller cut lawn watering by 35% using weather-based adjustments. The rain sensor skipped two complete cycles during a rainy week. The drip conversion eliminated all overspray waste from the bed zones. At $65 per month in savings, the entire $925 investment paid for itself in under 15 months.
Water Management Questions
Most St. Pete homeowners save 20-40% on irrigation water costs. On a typical $120 monthly water bill where irrigation accounts for 50-60%, that is $30-$50 in monthly savings. The controller pays for itself in 4-8 months.
Pinellas County limits residential irrigation to two days per week. Odd addresses: Wednesday and Saturday. Even addresses: Thursday and Sunday. No watering 8 AM to 6 PM. Smart controllers are pre-programmed with these schedules.
Drip delivers water directly to plant roots through low-volume emitters at ground level. Reduces waste by 30-50% compared to spray heads. Best for landscape beds, gardens, foundations, and tree bases. Not for open lawn areas where rotary or spray heads work better.
$300-$600 including the unit, installation, wiring, programming, and phone app setup. Rain Bird ESP-ME3 and Hunter Pro-HC are our standard models. Handles 6-22 zones. Includes WiFi connection and weather-based scheduling configuration.
Smart controllers technically satisfy Florida's sensor requirement through weather-based scheduling. We still recommend a physical sensor as backup -- weather data can have delays, while a physical sensor responds to rain hitting your specific property in real time.
Yes. One of our most common upgrades. Conversion costs $200-$500 per zone depending on bed size. Eliminates overspray, reduces water use 30-50%, and reduces fungal problems on plant foliage. Usually done in a single visit.
Flow sensors monitor water usage per zone in real time. If flow exceeds normal (indicating a break or stuck valve), it alerts your phone and can shut down the zone. Recommended for properties with leak history. Adds $150-$250 to the system.
Smart controllers adjust automatically. Manual timers should be changed at least 4 times per year -- more for dry spring, less for rainy summer, more again for dry fall, less for winter. Most manual timers run year-round unchanged, wasting 30-40% of applied water.
More Ways to Manage Water on Your Property
Irrigation Installation
If your system is too old to upgrade, a new smart system with proper zones costs $3K-$6K and saves from day one.
Learn More →Irrigation Repair
Broken heads and leaking valves waste water before it ever reaches your lawn. Fix the leaks first, then optimize scheduling.
Learn More →
Artificial Turf
The ultimate water savings -- zero irrigation needed. Eliminate your watering bill entirely for sections of your yard.
Learn More →