If you’re looking to install or upgrade your home irrigation system, you’ve likely come across Rain Bird. As a leading manufacturer of irrigation products since 1933, Rain Bird has become a go-to brand for homeowners, landscapers, and irrigation professionals.
But how do Rain Bird’s products actually perform? Are they worth the cost? In this comprehensive Rain Bird review, we’ll dive into the key features, pros and cons, product reviews, and ease of use across their most popular irrigation offerings. Read on for the details.
Contents
Overview of Rain Bird Products
Rain Bird provides a wide range of irrigation products, including sprinklers, valves, controllers, and accessories. Their catalog includes solutions for residential, commercial, and agricultural applications.
Some of their most popular products include:
- Smart irrigation controllers: Rain Bird’s smart timers and controllers connect to Wi-Fi to enable control via smartphone. These controllers use local weather data to automatically adjust watering schedules and promote water conservation.
- Rotary sprinklers: Rotary sprinklers like the 5000 Plus Rotors provide full or partial circle coverage using a rotating stream. They’re highly customizable for lawn and garden watering.
- Spray heads: Spray head sprinklers distribute water in a fixed spray pattern and are commonly used for smaller areas like flower beds.
- Drip irrigation: Drip irrigation products like tubing and emitters deliver water slowly at the root zone of plants. Ideal for watering gardens and shrubs.
- Valves: Valves like the PEB series regulate water flow and allow sectioning off areas of an irrigation system for customized control.
No matter the specific products, Rain Bird aims to provide high efficiency, customized control, and water savings across its catalog.
“Rain Bird products are designed to help customers achieve greater water savings while maintaining the health and vibrant appearance of gardens, lawns, golf courses, commercial landscapes, and agricultural fields,” said Rain Bird Marketing Communications Manager Dave Johnson.
Next, let’s look at the key benefits and downsides of choosing Rain Bird for your irrigation system.
Read more: Rain Bird Sprinkler System Review: Are They Worth Your Lawn?
Rain Bird Review: Pros and Cons of Their Products
Pros:
- Water efficiency: A major focus across all Rain Bird irrigation products is promoting water efficiency. Features like pressure regulation, rotating nozzles, drip irrigation, and smart water scheduling minimize waste.
- Durability: Rain Bird’s sprinklers and other irrigation components are built from quality brass, stainless steel, and UV-resistant plastic to ensure longevity. Their products are designed to withstand freezing winter temperatures, summer heat, and typical wear and tear.
- Customization: Products like nozzles, valves, and rotary sprinkler bodies allow customizing water flow rate, reach, and scheduling for the unique needs of any landscape.
- Wi-Fi connectivity and smarts: Rain Bird’s smart controllers leverage local weather forecasts and sensors to automatically adjust watering schedules and promote conservation. App control and voice assistants provide convenience.
Cons:
- Higher cost: In general, Rain Bird products come at a higher price point than competitors. The investment pays dividends through increased efficiency and reduced monthly water bills over time.
- Professional installation recommended: While Rain Bird aims for accessible DIY installation, larger projects with components like valves benefit from a professional setup. Proper placement is key.
- Ongoing maintenance: As with any irrigation system, periodic inspection, adjustment, and part replacement is required. Winterization in cold climates is also advised.
Now that we’ve covered the basics with this Rain Bird review, let’s dive into reviews of some popular products.
Reviews of Top Rain Bird Products
Rain Bird offers a diverse range of solutions. Here we’ll focus on reviews of some of their most common residential offerings based on insights from both experts and homeowners.
Rain Bird 32ETI Automatic Sprinkler System
Ideal for homeowners looking for an integrated smart sprinkler system, the 32ETI package includes six rotary sprinkler heads, a hose faucet timer, and simple push-to-connect installation.
The Rain Bird review by Sprinkler Warehouse highlights the quality and convenience of this ready-to-go kit:
“The 32ETI sprinkler system from Rain Bird provides a complete, quality irrigation system that connects right to your hose faucet [..] My lawn has never looked better.”
Amazon customers back up this assessment, with 82% providing a positive 4 or 5-star rating. The simplicity of installation and use are consistent positives, though a minority of reviewers report issues with Wi-Fi connectivity and the timer.
Rain Bird 5000 Plus Rotary Sprinklers
The 5000 Plus series rotary sprinklers are a popular choice for watering medium to large lawns. The rotating design ensures water reaches up to a 55’ diameter.
On YouTube, a Rain Bird review from Florida-based irrigation company Aqua-Matic highlights the durability and customization of the 5000 series:
“With Aqua-Matic, we rely on Rain Bird rotary heads like the 5000 Plus across hundreds of residential installations. Their durability in our hot climate paired with easy arc and distance adjustment are real assets.”
Field adjustability does require a special adjustment wrench sold separately. Some homeowners note occasionally needing to clear debris that clogs the rotating mechanism.
Rain Bird Drip Irrigation Kits
Simple drip irrigation kits provide an affordable way to water gardens, trees, and shrubs with maximum efficiency.
The Rain Bird review by Gardening Know How details how Rain Bird’s drip kits excel at targeted, low-volume watering:
“The Rain Bird drip irrigation system is easy to install, requiring just basic tools like scissors and pliers. Flexible tubing and various emitter attachments let you customize watering for landscape plants of all types.”
DIY installation is straightforward, though some reviewers on Home Depot mention wishing the kit included a few more pieces and fittings to accommodate larger areas.
Rain Bird ST8I Smart Wi-Fi Irrigation Controller
Rain Bird’s smart controllers represent the top tier of convenience for home irrigation systems. The ST8I model controls up to 8 zones and connects to home Wi-Fi for app and voice control using Alexa or Google Assistant.
One customer tested the controller firsthand and reported in his Rain Bird review that the intuitive app interface made irrigation management a breeze:
“Being able to check zone status, make adjustments, and start watering cycles right from my phone was incredibly convenient. The ST8I definitely takes the headache out of sprinkler system upkeep.”
Some users report needing to reboot the controller after power outages to restore connectivity. And be sure to have a strong Wi-Fi signal wherever the unit is installed. But overall smart capabilities make caring for your system much easier.
Now that we’ve looked through the top products in this Rain Bird review, let’s look at the overall performance you can expect from Rain Bird’s offerings.
Rain Bird Product Performance Overview
Across categories, Rain Bird aims to provide efficient watering and robust design. Reviews show their products generally perform reliably when properly installed and maintained.
- Irrigation sprinklers like rotary heads and spray nozzles earn high marks for durability and uniform water coverage. Occasional clogging can be avoided with good filtration and winterization.
- Smart controllers make water scheduling and adjustment convenient via app access. Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity is important for full functionality.
- Drip irrigation components excel at low-volume targeted watering. Some more fittings and tubing may be needed for expansive gardens.
- Valves offer consistent shutoff and zoning capabilities when correctly placed within piping. Leaks are rare but can occur over time.
While “smart” does come at a price, components like valves and sprinkler bodies should operate reliably for many years with periodic maintenance. Wi-Fi connectivity issues are the most common complaint among higher-end controllers.
Is Rain Bird Easy To Install and Use?
A major goal across all Rain Bird products is simplified DIY installation and maintenance. Their contractors and designers also prioritize user-friendly experiences.
Here’s our Rain Bird review of ease-of-use for homeowners:
- Sprinklers twist or pop into place and are adjustable without tools via built-in ratcheting. No complex wiring needed.
- Hose-end timers attach to your spigot and provide timed on/off control for manual hoses or irrigation systems. Very straightforward.
- Wi-Fi controllers involve more steps to connect to home internet and phone apps. But they make ongoing adjustments simple via phone.
- Valves require some plumbing expertise for proper positioning within irrigation main lines or laterals.
Larger installations with multiple zones benefit from professional planning and design. But basic maintenance like adjusting sprinkler reach and replacing worn nozzles is quite simple even for novices.
Rain Bird Product Quality & Durability
Across the board, Rain Bird irrigation components are built to last thanks to stainless steel and UV-resistant plastic construction paired with precision manufacturing.
Their premier contractor-grade sprinklers like the 5000 Plus series rotary heads often outlast less expensive residential-grade competitors, making them a sound long-term investment. Extended 5-year warranties provide further peace of mind.
Rain Bird’s smart irrigation controllers do carry more technical complexity. But modern touches like software updates aim to enhance functionality over time – not render devices obsolete. And again, commercial-grade options simply outperform competitively priced alternatives.
Sustainable Water Savings
It’s worth mentioning in this Rain Bird review that as a technology company with 90+ years of experience, they stay ahead of the curve in developing irrigation products that promote responsible water use.
Their efforts include:
- Creating precision rotary nozzles and multi-stream sprinklers that deliver highly uniform water coverage with less overspray and runoff.
- Offering advanced soil moisture sensor technologies to detect rainfall and eliminate unnecessary watering cycles.
- Providing training resources to contractors, municipalities, and property managers on designing for water efficiency.
- Partnering with prominent environmental agencies like the EPA’s WaterSense program to research conservation best practices.
Rain Bird maintains water stewardship is a core company value driving product design and education worldwide. Their solutions enable green lawns, gardens, and agriculture while using every drop wisely.
Who Can Benefit From Rain Bird Irrigation?
While heavily geared toward residential applications, Rain Bird provides smart irrigation products suitable for:
- Homeowners: Their lawn sprinklers, hose-end timers, and smart controllers make home system design and maintenance simple. Kits are sized for yards big and small.
- Landscapers: Durability and efficiency make Rain Bird valves, rotors and spray heads ideal for landscapers managing multiple client properties day in and out.
- Farmers: Rain Bird understands agricultural irrigation needs like central control, durability, and flow management required for crop and livestock watering.
- Golf courses: From sophisticated central control to reliable in-ground and hose-end sprinklers, Rain Bird meets the specialized needs of golf course irrigation and maintenance.
- Commercial spaces: Precision components like pressure-regulating spray heads excel at evenly distributing water across parks, schools, office complexes, and HOA community spaces.
No matter your scale, you can count on Rain Bird to offer an irrigation solution tailored to your particular requirements and budget.
Why Choose Rain Bird for Your Irrigation Needs?
After going through company history, products, sustainability, and real-world performance in this Rain Bird review, some clear benefits emerge:
- Trusted reputation: Rain Bird has demonstrated irrigation product leadership since the 1930s. You can be confident in their experience.
- Water efficiency: Precision-engineered nozzles, rotating streams, and smart controls ensure not a drop is wasted.
- Durable components: Industrial-grade materials withstand all seasons and daily use year after year.
- Customization: A huge range of sprinklers, nozzles, and accessories make unique configurations a breeze.
- Smart capabilities: Modern touches like app control, voice assistants, and automated scheduling simplify irrigation management.
- Industry leadership: Rain Bird continually advances efficient irrigation through patented technologies and partnerships promoting sustainability.
While the brand does command a price premium, the adage “you get what you pay for” certainly applies. It’s reasonable to conclude in this Rain Bird review that their products deliver reliability, customization, and water savings paying dividends for years to come.
Rain Bird Review: The Bottom Line
If you seek a worry-free sprinkler system that minimizes water waste, Rain Bird rises to the top of the options. Their precision-engineered components, smart controls, and sustainable ethos just work – season after season.
For affordable coverage of smaller spaces, competitors like Orbit and Melnor offer capable alternatives. But we can confidently say in our Rain Bird review that this brand prevails when prioritizing robustness and efficiency thanks to reliable commercial-grade components.
Ready to discover the right Rain Bird’s irrigation products for your lawn or garden? Check out all their latest solutions at store.rainbird.com and use these Rain Bird coupon codes to save on your irrigation investment.
With the right Rain Bird gear keeping your landscape thriving, you’ll quickly forget you ever had to drag around a hose and sprinkler.
