What does a smart controller need to work well?

Accurate zone settings and a steady connection. The controller needs each zone's plant type, sun or shade, soil, slope and sprinkler type, and a weather-based model needs reliable Wi-Fi where it is mounted. On factory defaults or offline, it behaves much like an ordinary timer with a nicer screen.

Should I fix leaks before installing a smart controller?

Yes. A smart controller changes when and how long zones run, but it cannot seal a broken pipe, replace a broken head or fix a poorly designed zone. The City of Peoria's rebate page says exactly that. Repair the system first so the new controller schedules water that actually reaches the plants.

Smart and Wi-Fi Irrigation Controllers

Install and set up a weather-aware controller, and line it up with the City of Peoria rebate rules where they apply.

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What a smart controller changes

A conventional timer waters on a fixed program until someone changes it. A smart controller adjusts on its own: EPA WaterSense describes weather-based models that tailor the schedule to local weather and the yard, and soil-moisture models that skip watering when the soil does not need it, and estimates that swapping a clock timer for a WaterSense labeled controller saves an average home about 15,000 gallons a year.

The savings depend on setup. The controller needs to know what each zone waters: what grows there, how much sun it gets, the soil, any slope and the kind of sprinkler or emitter. On factory defaults it will happily adjust the wrong schedule. It also needs a steady Wi-Fi signal where it hangs, because a weather-based unit that drops offline behaves like an ordinary timer. In Peoria the watering window should still sit inside the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. hours the city asks for, smart features or not.

Installing one with the Peoria rebate in mind

Installation moves each station wire to the new controller, confirms every valve answers, and enters zone details so the first adjustments start from a sensible base. City of Peoria residential water customers can apply for the city's standalone smart controller rebate, which the city lists at up to $250, one per household every seven years; check the page before buying, because terms and funding change.

The rules shape the purchase. The model must be an EPA-listed WaterSense standalone controller, add-ons and plug-ins do not qualify, it must run online in smart mode, the proof must be an itemized receipt rather than a contractor's invoice, and a city meter technician verifies the installation. Customers of Sunrise, Rose Valley or EPCOR, which serve parts of Peoria, are outside the city program. The city also says smart controllers do not fix leaks, broken parts or poor design, so repairs come first. Related: irrigation controller repair and the irrigation efficiency audit.

Source: City of Peoria, Standalone Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate, Checked Oct 1, 2026