Lower the effective price

Smart controller rebates, explained

Many water utilities pay you back for upgrading to a smart irrigation controller. A rebate can meaningfully lower what you actually pay. Here’s how the programs work — and the honest status of where Sprinkler Gnome stands.

How utility rebates work

Local water providers run conservation rebates to reduce outdoor water waste. For smart irrigation controllers, rebates commonly land in the range of roughly $50–$250, with some programs higher [VERIFY — varies by utility]. They’re typically claimed after purchase with a receipt and sometimes the product’s qualifying-list entry.

The WaterSense label is usually the gate

Most utility programs require the controller to carry the EPA’s WaterSense label to qualify. WaterSense is an EPA program that certifies a controller’s scheduling performance through third-party testing.

Where we stand

WaterSense certification is on our roadmap — the local, ET-based design qualifies for the testing. Until that’s complete, Sprinkler Gnome isn’t yet on the label-gated rebate lists, so check your utility’s requirements before counting on a rebate.

What certification gates is narrow: the right to use the WaterSense name/logo, and rebate eligibility. It is not what lets a product save water — that comes from the model.

Your savings don’t wait for a rebate

A rebate lowers the purchase price once; watering to need lowers your bill every season. The EPA finds a smart, WaterSense-labeled controller saves an average home nearly 7,600 gallons of water a year (EPA WaterSense). Sprinkler Gnome waters the same way — to need, not to a clock. Our calculator estimates the number for your yard, climate, and water rate.

How to find your rebate

  1. Search “[your city or water utility] irrigation controller rebate.”
  2. Check whether the program requires a WaterSense-labeled controller (most do).
  3. Note the rebate amount and how to claim it (usually a post-purchase form + receipt).

An automatic rebate lookup by ZIP is coming to this page.