Timer, Controller & Rain Sensor Repair in Deltona, FL
We repair and program controllers, replace failed rain sensors and install Wi-Fi controllers set to Deltona's watering rules.
Signs you need timer, controller and rain sensor repair
The controller, also called the timer, is the brain of the system. These signs point to it or to the rain sensor:
- The system waters on the wrong days or at the wrong time
- The screen is blank, flickering or shows an error
- Zones run in the wrong order or skip entirely
- The program resets itself after a power outage
- Sprinklers run during or right after heavy rain
- Sprinklers never run, even on dry weeks
- You want app control or weather-based watering
The controller and the rain sensor
The controller tells each valve when to open and for how long. When it fails, the whole system can look broken even though every head and pipe is fine. Many problems are settings, not hardware: a program that was never updated for the change between daylight saving time and standard time, a start time stacked on top of another, or a backup battery that died and let the program reset.
A rain sensor is a small device, usually mounted on a gutter or fence, that stops the system from watering after enough rain has fallen. Florida law requires one on automatic lawn sprinkler systems installed after May 1991, and the water management district's rules say it must be installed, maintained and operated. Sensors wear out in the sun and can stick in the wet or dry position, so we test them on every controller visit.
What we do
- 1
Check power and wiring
We confirm the controller is getting power, inspect the transformer and test each station's output and the common wire.
- 2
Review the program
We read every program, start time and run time and compare them with your watering day and the time-of-day limits.
- 3
Test the rain sensor
We check that the sensor interrupts the system when wet and resets when dry, and replace it if it no longer responds.
- 4
Repair, replace or upgrade
We fix wiring and settings, replace failed controllers, or install a Wi-Fi controller and set it up with you, including app access if you want it.
Local conditions in Deltona
Watering rules drive most controller work in Deltona. The St. Johns River Water Management District assigns watering days by address, with two days a week during daylight saving time and one day a week during standard time, and no watering in the middle of the day. Rules can tighten during a declared water shortage, as they did in parts of the district in 2026. We set your controller to the schedule that applies when we visit and show you where to check the district's current watering restrictions and the City of Deltona irrigation page.
Summer storms are the other big factor. Lightning and power surges can knock out a controller screen or individual stations, and a rain sensor that has failed in the dry position will let the system water through a week of afternoon storms. A Wi-Fi controller can help here: many can adjust for local weather and let you pause watering from your phone. We install them without tying you to any one brand, and we set them up to follow the district's rules.
What to check before you call
Look at the controller screen and note any error messages, the current date and time, and the days and start times in each program. Take a photo of the screen and the wiring terminals. That photo tells us the model and how the field wires are connected before we arrive.
Test the rain sensor by pressing the test button if it has one, or by wetting it with a hose and seeing whether a running zone shuts off within a few minutes. Check that the sensor is not bypassed: many controllers have a sensor switch that can be set to ignore it.
Timer, Controller & Rain Sensor Repair questions
Do I need a rain sensor in Florida?
Florida law requires anyone operating an automatic lawn sprinkler system installed after May 1991 to have a working rain sensor or similar shutoff device. Even on older systems, a sensor saves water during the rainy season.
Why does my timer water on the wrong days?
The most common reasons are a program that was not changed when the clocks changed, a date or day setting that was lost after a power outage, or a second program running on top of the first. We sort out all programs so only the right one runs.
Is a Wi-Fi controller worth it?
For many homes, yes. It lets you pause or adjust watering from your phone and can skip cycles after rain. It still needs to be programmed to follow the watering rules, and we set that up during the install.
Can you repair a controller after a lightning strike?
Sometimes. If only a fuse or the transformer failed, a repair may be enough. If the board is damaged, replacement is usually more reliable. We check the field wiring too, because a strike can affect both.
How do I set my timer for the time change?
The schedule changes when daylight saving time starts and ends. We can set up two programs, or a Wi-Fi controller with seasonal settings, and show you exactly what to change. Our watering days guide walks through it.
Free estimates
Request a free estimate
Tell us what your system is doing and where in the area you are. We will call you back, talk through what we think is wrong and set a time to take a look.
(386) 359-2258 Text a photo of the problemA photo of the broken head, the leak or the controller screen helps us bring the right parts on the first visit.