How To Set A Sprinkler Timer

Setting a sprinkler timer can help you conserve water and keep your landscaping beautiful and lush.

Depending on the type of timer you’ve purchased, these steps may need to be altered slightly. It’s best to have your owner's manual nearby just in case something is different.

Basic Things to Know

Before you start, you need to know the current date and time. You also need to know which days of the week you want your system to run, what time you want it to start, and the duration you want each station to run. If your neighborhood or area has watering restrictions during certain times of day or days of the week, have this information handy.

Set Program

Locate the mechanism that lets you Set the program. This is usually a slide switch and you can slide it to the middle to set. You should see an On/Off switch on one side and a Run switch on the other.

Dial Current Time

Use the dial to set the current date. There should be 2 buttons on the timer that have a plus and a minus sign. You can use these buttons to set the current time.

Set Number of Times to Run

Turn the dial over to the section that says Valve Run or Run Time. Make sure you set the dial to the correct station you intend to set. Then use the plus and minus keys to set the times you want the sprinkler to start. You may be able to set the timer to run as many as 3 times a day, like if you want to run them in short 10- or 15-minute increments.

Set Up a Schedule

Now turn the dial to the selection that says Schedule or Day. This is where you will set the days you want the sprinkler to turn on.

Repeat

Repeat this process for each station. Many people will divide their lawns into different zones or stations that need unique watering schedules, like regular grass, a flower bed and a vegetable garden. This will make it easier to maintain each area of your yard.

Stop Watering

If it rains on a day when your sprinkler is supposed to run, all you have to do is set the slide switch to Off for that time. On an especially hot day, you can also switch to Manual and give your yard some extra water.

Write It Down

To make it easier to remember later on, label the stations and tape your schedule near the timer. If your power ever goes out and erases your settings, this will make reprogramming the schedule very easy. A lot of people also find this helpful if they have many different watering stations that need to run on different schedules.