Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

So I have to admit that I was struggling to find the necessity for a connected sprinkler system. My entire house is full of IOT devices and I am a huge fan of connected technology. I finally decided to pull the trigger and see what all the fuss was about. First, the Rachio was simple to install. It took about fifteen minutes to get it connected to power, wired to my rain sensor and connected to wifi. Please do yourself a favor and check your wifi signal at the installation site. It's easy enough to do using the Ookla app or any others sped test site. I have a mesh wifi system so my speeds in the garage are very fast. Second, the app assists you with setup and accounts for types of sprinklers as well as soil types and actual weather data for your area. It was very simple to add the zones to the Rachio controller. The app is well thought out and makes installation very simple. So how is it useful? 1. I have dropped my water usage tremendously due to this device. Not only does it work with most irrigation systems, it can connect to weather stations in your area to help predict wether or not rain will be coming your way. The weather station closest to me is about six miles away so it has been very accurate. Please note that you will need to pay attention to your system when you first install it and make sure that if the system decides to skip a watering schedule, that the weather station you are tied to is close enough to be accurate. It has been spot on in my experience. 2. Having the Rachio controller makes troubleshooting or maintenance of my sprinkler system very easy. I no longer have to run a zone, run back to the controller to switch zones, and then run back to check on the next zone. Switching zones happens right from the palm of my hand from my iPhone. 3 Rachio integrates with several home automation platforms including Control4, SmartThings and Wink. This is useful because I can write rules that will delay the watering schedule. For example, if the Sonos for the backyard area is playing, delay the schedule until the speaker stops playing. It's sounds silly but it has saved me several times from total embarrassment during an outdoor gathering. 4. I get notifications every time the schedule runs or if watering is skipped due to rain. This allows me to keep an eye on what is happening. Now that I have had the Rachio for several months, I can hinstly say it is one of my favorite connected devices. It is absolutely worth the cost as I have dropped my water bill approximately $30 per month. If you have been thinking about purchasing the Rachio, do yourself s favor and pull the trigger. You'll be happy you did. Pros: Install time: approx 15 minutes App is intuitive and makes setup easy Rachio uses rain sensors and weather station data to predict rain and save from unnecessary water use. Customer service is great! Cons: I honestly have yet to find any. If I come across one, I will update my review. Feel free to send any questions you have about my real world experience with this device to mybigfatconnectedlife@gmail.com