Best Watering Timers in 2022

Last update: November 25, 2022

Do hose timers leak?

No, hose timers do not leak.

Do sprinkler timers need electricity?

No, sprinkler timers do not need electricity. They can be battery-operated or use a low-voltage power source.

Do water timers need electricity?

No, water timers do not need electricity. You can find manual water timers that operate without electricity. These types of water timers are often used in gardens or small farms.

Does a hose timer waste water?

If you have a hose timer, it may be wasting water. This is because the timer may be set for a longer period of time than necessary, causing the water to run for longer than necessary. In addition, the timer may be set to turn the water on and off at intervals, which can also result in water waste.


Orbit 62034 Mechanical Watering Timer Review:


This is a straightforward, highly effective alternative to establishing a sprinkler system to save watering time overall.• and yes, even though it's not at all like a sprinkler system, these do work to save you time and labor because they're not intrusive or expensive. There are many watering timers available, but this one, being mechanical, keeps it simple and makes it much less likely to have a failure. Plus, at $8.71, it is an incredible price to save yourself some labor and time! It effectively turns into your water on/off valve by simply rotating it to your desired watering duration.• Its main component is plastic, but it's a thick plastic, so it should be pretty tough; it also has drip-free sealing on both the female and male ends.However, keep in mind that the sun is bad for most plastics, so try to keep it covered or in the shade to stop the sun from hastening the evaporation of plasticizers, which leads to failure and breaking. We're tucking it under a juniper for shade while it's not in use, which should keep it from cracking for a long time. If it's possible for your setup, you could either do that or cover it with a little piece of simple-to-put-on-and-take-off, sun-blocking fabric.• Be aware that the female end of the timer has a filter to stop water system dirt from getting inside the mechanism; this filter will need to be cleaned on a regular basis, so be ready to remove the female end of the timer for maintenance. If the pressure coming from the timer ever drops, there probably is debris stuck in the filter on the female end. (A photograph of the filter is included below.)Finally, with relation to pressure, we discovered no drop in water pressure in the hose that emerges from this timer valve, which was unexpected but very gratifying since we had anticipated it to do so due to the filter. It functions exactly like a completely open, unrestricted on/off valve and has the added benefit of automatically shutting off after the time period you choose. A great product!We bought two of these timers, and they both work flawlessly, saving us important time and labor in our watering process.The best is saved for last; my wife, who is not a fan of watering, had been insisting everyday and has now stopped mentioning the need for us to put in a sprinkler system! ;-)Thank you; we are both really happy.



Orbit 62056 One Outlet Single-Dial Hose Faucet Timer Review:


This past summer, we had landscaping work done in our backyard, and we needed a way to water the new plants. Anyone who has had landscaping done will attest to how difficult it is to maintain adequate watering (every day watering for the first few weeks, at least every other day watering after that, new trees require 15 gallons a week, blah blah blah). When you're working with the designer on the plans, everything seems simple, but once everything is planted, the song changes ("Time to water AGAIN?!"). After a few weeks of new yard maintenance, we splurged on this timer, 250' of soaker hoses, and a 4-way splitter for the soakers. I had anticipated it would be useful, but holy cow, it has given me a significant portion of my after-work life back, and my new plants are contentedly watered. I would be in fat city if I could figure out how to set up one of these devices to fill the 5-gallon buckets beside our baby trees three times each week. Someone will have to develop that at some point.



Appy Garden Edge 1 Hose Faucet Timer (Single Port) Review:


I've used a lot of timers (including Orbit and others) over the years, and this one is more simpler to set up and use than the others. Only two of my CONs are listed below. Since I have only used it for one day, I am unable to comment on its longevity, which is a concern with all of my orbits because they break down after one to three years.PROS: -Easy to adjust; if you don't read the directions, it could take a little trial and error, but it's quite simple once you do.-I prefer the digital display over the Orbit wheel, which I believe to be the Orbits' weak point.-Seems to be resistant to weather (the plastic lid on the outside is not weather proof but protects the display from debris, etc).-The programming/display module easily detaches from the hose/valve unit.-My water pressure is 70 PSI, and I couldn't tell the difference between the sprinkler distance for an App vs. a faucet merely.It appears that the female thread insert is made of solid brass.-A few people have connected their faucets using teflon tape, but in my opinion, if you have a standard faucet and a good hose washer, it shouldn't leak (my faucet didn't and I have a very high pressure).CONS: -You can only modify the run interval; there is no possibility to separately program alternative start times for the same day. Therefore, you can program it to begin at 4 am and run for 30 minutes every 6 hours, 12 hours, or three days (etc.), but you cannot program it to begin at 4 am and run for 20 minutes and again for 30 minutes at 5 pm. Possibly a significant issue for some. The inability to set the date is really not a huge deal.



Orbit 58910 Programmable Hose Faucet Timer, 2 Outlet, Green Review:


We bought both the 3 outlet programmable and the 2 outlet programmable models, both of which had great results and were simple to configure. I changed the installation to fix a few irritating issues that could be bothering other people. To stop water hammer when the valve closes, I added a water hammer arrester (bottom of picture) with a quarter-turn ball valve on the water supply line T off the hose bib. I placed white Teflon tape around the threads at the inlet top hose bib connection to stop it from dripping. The supplied bracket that connects to one of the outlets was modified and painted, and it is now fixed to a steel stake planted in the ground. Additionally, I added a variable water pressure regulator with a 50 psi setting to lessen pressure on the valves and seals, extending their lifespan and lowering water hammer. The pipe manifold arrangement I created maintains a free hose bib at the top and provides room for expansion with a second hose bib that is capped at the bottom, close to the arrestor. The assembly is fastened to the steel stake using stainless steel clamps. Painters and the above-mentioned deck demolition attempt failed to upset this setup. To increase long-term dependability, I installed 2 long-lasting AA lithium batteries. To prevent the back-siphoning and back-pressure of contaminated water into the potable water supply, back flow preventers were put on outlets.



Melnor 65034-AMZ AquaTimer Digital Water Timer with 2 Stainless Steel Filter Washers Set, 1-Zone, Amazon Bundle Review:


I also have an older one port and two port so I'm pretty familiar with how these models work. It takes a little while to get used to the programming and learn how to turn on and off manual because when you turn manual on one zone for 5 minutes and then maybe you come back the next day to turn manual on another zone, the original zone you set for 5 minutes also comes on. Therefore, if you're only doing one zone, you have to make sure all zones are set to 0 minutes in manual.Another thing to note is that the manual never explicitly states how to disable a Zone. I had a situation where I only needed three of the zones and not the fourth, so it wasn't clear how to disable one zone. However, I discovered that if you program the zone that you don't need to 0 minutes it never turns on. I suppose it was presuming that you would always use all four ports. Hopefully this will be helpful.



Orbit 21005 B-hyve Bluetooth Hose Faucet Timer Review:


I bought several of these, and they have allowed me to get by my apartment's malfunctioning subterranean sprinkler system.The webpage is entirely unusable. It simply always states, "You timer is presently set to OFF," and I am unable to change the active timer. It does, however, offer some configuration and status information about your active timers.Although the Android app is difficult to use, it does work. How awkward it is to manage several timers is what I find to be the largest challenge. Because of the low water pressure at my hose spigots, I stagger my timer schedules. However, because each timer is treated independently by the app, the "schedule" page only displays the schedule of the currently active timer. The synchronized schedule must remain in my memory.The Android app has never crashed on me despite having a terrible user interface, and the timers have never failed to start as scheduled.



Gilmour 804014-1001 400GTD Outlet Electronic Water Timer, Dual, Gray Review:


I purchased three of these and have them set up on my sand point well to water my yard and plants while I'm away. I currently believe that:1. The water seems to flow smoothly. Gilmour appears to have taken off the restrictor that was visible in another evaluation. My tiny finger is now around the size of the hole. It's not huge, but it works perfectly with all of my sprinklers. I just use one side of them at a time, so I'm not sure how the flow would work if you used both sides simultaneously, but it seems to work just fine.2. The item has a good build quality. We'll find out as time goes on. I've connected them with the little 6 inch kink restrictor tubes. I reasoned that this would reduce any tension at the location where it attaches to the faucet.3. Programming the unit was quick and simple. Just adhere to the guidelines. I spent more time setting the time on all three than I did programming them.4. The instructions state that Y connections are not to be used. But all of mine are connected to big Y connectors, and they all seem to function just well.5. As of yet, no leaking.This is just my opinion, but I don't think things are as horrible as some people claim. Although I have only had them for a few days, they have already fulfilled my expectations. Because I haven't had them long enough to be completely sold on them, I only gave them a 4-star rating. We'll monitor their progress over time once again. But so far, so good.



Orbit 21004 B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub, Compatible with Alexa Review:


These faucet timers are fantastic for my yard. I currently possess three (one purchased with this hub and 2 additional 21005 units). The majority of unfavorable reviews are a result of users' displeasure with Orbit's shoddy app. The following should help clarify how it operates because the documentation is also not very clear.A number of devices can be controlled with the Orbit B-hyve smart device app. You can buy a version of this device that comes with a WiFi hub, a Bluetooth-only model that can be modified to use WiFi with the supplied hub, a timer that works with other Orbit B-hyve products, etc. Theoretically, there shouldn't be a problem to use the same software on several devices, but in this situation, it can be confusing because some settings aren't relevant for the product you may have bought but are still available even if you don't want to or are unable to use them.Things to keep in mind: Each gadget is independent of the others. You manage and schedule each one independently.The faucet timers are "programmed" in the programs section. For each device, you can make a number of schedules. Devices can be set to turn on every day of the week (you can choose the days separately), periodically (every 1, 2, or so days), or only on even or odd days. Various start times can be chosen throughout the day (come on at 8am, 12pm, 3pm). You can choose the default zone and how long the faucet will be open throughout the days and times you want. Additionally, you can set a watering budget, though I have no idea what that accomplishes and it's possible that it isn't even applicable to this device, so I've left it at 100%.Zones - A Zone is the region that the device will water, despite being entirely meaningless and unimportant for these gadgets. Despite the perhaps obvious fact that they each only have influence over one zone, you must nevertheless choose that zone when configuring the timetable. You will receive notifications and prompts telling you that you haven't set up a timetable for the device's zones. I believe that many of the issues would be resolved if they simply defaulted to the single zone, but after realizing that they sell additional devices that handle six or twelve zones and that they also utilize the same user interface as our single zone devices, it all starts to make more sense.So how do these timers actually get programmed?1. You must create an Orbit B-hyve account after downloading the software to your phone or tablet.2. To enable Bluetooth on your phone for the initial pairing of the devices, the app will try to do so.3. After that, connect the hub (choose an inside wall that is closet to where your faucet timers will be installed and where you have a WiFi signal). This gadget will only be able to connect to a 2.4GHz signal. From my experience, the signal doesn't have to be that strong (mine is pretty far from my WiFi router).4. Next, use the app to add the hub to your account (it should default to pairing mode).5. The faucet timer's two double A batteries are then inserted (you will hear it click twice as it opens and shuts the valve to confirm it is functioning correctly).6. After adding a new device, the app should display an icon that resembles a timer and the MAC of the device. You will need to provide the location, which is bothersome because you appear to have to do it for every device you add. While it retains the information you previously given, you seem to be constantly prompted on a new device. I presume this is for users who plan to use the same account to control devices in several zip codes, but I don't understand why it would be enabled for most people.7. The device should prompt you to update it (one of the 3 I installed did not prompt me at first so I went into Settings - Devices - select the device - scroll down to Update Firmware). For me, it took between two and three minutes.8. This is when the confusion, fun, and frustration start.9. The new gadget should now prompt you to set up a schedule. You can either create a manual timetable or use their smart irrigation. It informs you that it wants to check the water flow regardless of what you choose to do. Since I was doing this from my sofa and wanted to use the manual schedule, that honestly confused me. I also didn't want to use the smart watering option, so I wasn't sure if I had to do that in order to move on. You don't have to, by the way:)10. If you use the wizard and perform manual setup, the options for "programming" that I stated above will be explained to you.11. You are ready to go once you save it. Connect it to your faucet, click the icon that resembles a remote control, and run a test.Once you have it programmed, it appears to be rather simple to use. If the zip code is provided, a rain delay will or may be automatically imposed if it rains (it happened to be raining when I was setting it up and it applied a rain delay automatically). However, you can always delete that or change it as necessary, which is something I think is really amazing.Although there are more features and choices, this ought to be sufficient to get someone started. The product, from what I can discern so far, is completely worth it despite the app's shortcomings.



Melnor 15438-HDC Digital 1-Zone Water Timer, Gray Review:


Even though I only needed one stage, I chose the two stage JIC. The timer was simple to set up, and there is a manual setting that runs for 3 minutes so you can position the sprinkler as desired. You can stop it at any point, but if you let it run for the full three minutes, the auto timing will resume. In the sweltering Gulf Coast sun, I set mine while on vacation to water my plants for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the late afternoon.



Instapark PWT-07 Outdoor Waterproof Digital Programmable Single Outlet Automatic On Off Water Faucet Hose Timer with Rain Delay and Manual Control Review:


These are great things. I keep buying more since they are so reasonably priced and effective. On my farm, I utilize a number of them to manage sprinklers, a privacy hedge, and a hop trellis with drip lines that are connected to them. I also have one for my house's sprinkler. incredibly simple to program. A lot of adaptability is provided by the variety of settings. I have one set to run for 300 minutes every three days on the drip line for the privacy hedge and another set to run for two minutes every two hours on a sprinkler I'm using to reseed a section of bare lawn. requires two AA batteries. My two-month-old devices are still reporting a full battery. I don't know how many times a set of batteries can be used. I use these timers outdoors in areas where they get wet from irrigation, and the seal has never failed me. I've bought five, and so far there have been no issues.


How can I water my garden without a sprinkler system?

If you don't have a sprinkler system, there are still plenty of ways to water your garden. You can use a hose, a watering can, or even a bucket. Just make sure to water your plants early in the day so that the water has time to evaporate before nightfall.

How can I water my house plants while on vacation?

Before leaving on vacation, water your plants well and place them in a shady spot outdoors. Group plants together so they can support each other and reduce water evaporation. Place a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. Set up an automatic drip irrigation system with a timer to water your plants while you're away.

How can I water my plants while away for 2 months?

If you are planning to be away from home for an extended period of time, it is important to take measures to ensure that your plants will be properly watered. One option is to install a drip irrigation system, which can be set up to water your plants on a schedule. Another option is to place your plants in self-watering pots, which use a wicking system to keep the soil moist. You can also ask a friend or neighbor to water your plants while you are away.

How can I water my plants while on vacation?

There are a few options for watering your plants while on vacation. One is to set up a drip irrigation system with a timer. This can be programmed to water your plants on a schedule. Another option is to water your plants before you leave and then place them in a cool, shady spot. Grouping plants together can also help to conserve moisture. Finally, consider using self-watering pots which have a reservoir for water.

How do I water my garden automatically?

If you're looking to water your garden automatically, there are a few things you'll need to do. First, you'll need to purchase an automatic watering system. These can be found at most home and garden stores. Once you have your system, you'll need to install it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once it's installed, you'll need to set it up to water your garden on a schedule that works for you.

How do I water my garden while away?

If you're going away for a while and can't water your garden yourself, there are a few things you can do to make sure your plants stay healthy. First, try to group together plants that have similar watering needs. This will make it easier to give them the right amount of water. Second, make sure your garden is in a spot that gets plenty of sun. This will help the soil dry out more quickly between watering. Finally, consider installing a drip irrigation system. This will allow you to water your plants slowly and evenly, and you can set it up to water your garden