Smart hose timer internal flooding

post by Fymaxwell on Jun 26, 2024

I’ve got water flooding into the battery chamber of my Rachio smart hose timer. I’ve been through this in the past with two units that Rachio replaced, and I am starting to wonder if it’s me or Rachio that’s to blame.

I am currently running four timers. Three of the timers are trouble-free. The one that is malfunctioning was bought at the same time as the two others that previously failed, so perhaps there were manufacturing issues with that batch? I’d appreciate any insight that the community might be able to offer, as this is starting to drive me mad.

post by Thomas_Lerman on Jun 26, 2024

I have one timer with no issues.

post by franz on Jun 26, 2024

@Fymaxwell I’m having our support team reach out to you. They will take care of you!

post by WaterMunkee on Oct 9, 2024

Same here. Twice. First time I thought maybe I could’ve incorrectly installed the battery door. Lots of corrosion inside after 45 days, device quit working. After cleaning thoroughly, I installed fresh batteries and battery door and ensured everything was snug. New batteries completely rusted/corroded within 45 days again, and again device quit working. Obviously this unit’s battery compartment is not waterproof. Frustrating!

post by bgorbet on Oct 24, 2024

Same problem. I’ve only had this device a few months and its already all corroded inside. Doesn’t seem like the waterproofing works well enough.

post by PamL on Nov 18, 2024

I have only 1 timer and I have the same problem with it flooding and the batteries corroding.

post by Jkuri on Dec 15, 2024

Hello,

I seem to have a similar problem with the battery compartment. When I went to swap out the batteries the compartment had water inside.

I am quite sure that it was installed properly and I am not subject to freezing temperatures.

Been less than 6 months so did not expect batteries to be expended already… installed in June.

post by franz on Dec 16, 2024

@Jkuri I’ll have someone from our support team reach out to you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

post by Jkuri on Dec 31, 2024

As a follow up and some may find this useful.

The support team did reach out and solved my issue quickly and easily and I am back up and operational. So a big thank-you for the great customer service and supporting your product.

post by rhawley on Mar 20, 2025

I’m having the same issue with internal flooding while my other timer is perfect.

post by Davico on Apr 22, 2025

I have the same issue in one of my devices, but both of them are not working as expected anymore. Water leaks from inside the device.

post by ecobuilding on Apr 28, 2025

Hi- I too am having the flooding issue. The two valves I’m running were showing as disconnected and I found the flooding when I thought it was a battery issue. I turned out the two screws holding the battery compartment to the valve body. The design is such that the flooding was confined to the battery compartment, and the circuit board and solenoid are sealed. Tried to capture in the photos.

post by wodentx on Apr 30, 2025

Wish I would have searched here before throwing my old one away that was 14 months old a few weeks ago. The responses being provided sure do instill confidence!

I too had internal flooding into the battery compartment. Figured it was my fault when I put the batteries in it.

post by cmschoell on May 9, 2025

Same here. Just replaced my batteries for the first time and I have the same little pool in the battery compartment, corrosion, etc. Poor design for an outdoor product.

post by Thomas_Lerman on May 9, 2025

Mine has not leaked at all and I have changed the batteries at least a couple of times. I wonder if these leaks could be preventable. Because of other things I have learned and teach (SCUBA), whenever I see any kind of O-ring after opening something up (such as Rachio), I make sure it is clean (no sand, dirt, etc.), seated properly, not pinched or torn, still soft, and periodically use a type of grease on it.

post by Xempt on May 11, 2025

I’m having this same issue. My battery compartment was secured but it is now corroded inside and not working.

post by franz on May 12, 2025

@Xempt I am having our customer success team reach out to you.

post by Fymaxwell on May 12, 2025

Hi! I started this thread, and now I’m having the exact same problem with yet another of my smart hose timers. Note that this is the last remaining unit from the initial product release (all of the units I purchased later are problem free, which suggests to me that the problem has been solved). @Franz, would you be able to have someone from your team reach out to me about replacing this one? Thanks in advance!

post by Pamelaneko on May 18, 2025

Hi - I’m having the same problem with leaks and batteries getting wet. Is there a solution?

post by am817 on Jun 2, 2025

Hi, i’m having the same problem as everyone else here. Second time this has happened, and i’ve made sure to screw in tightly.

post by Rcca223 on Jun 9, 2025

Hello - I purchased 3 of these and 2 of them are having this same issue - water coming through the chamber and the batteries corroding. I also made sure the screws were tight.

post by dcampbell386 on Jun 24, 2025

I have (2) timers and both are having internal flooding and the batteries are completely eroded. What do I do?

post by uncgal10 on Jun 30, 2025

Oh wow, I am not alone! My Rachio keeps internal flooding, I was able to clean up the rust to get it to work again but it has not only rusted again now corroding the battery contacts. will be reaching out to support on this based on this thread.

post by train_wreck on Jul 2, 2025

Well, I just had this happen on a hose timer I bought exactly 40 days ago new from Amazon. The app notified me that one of the timers was disconnected, opened it up and saw the same brown corrosion and dead batteries as everyone else.

post by jeffbankston on Jul 4, 2025

I’ve had the same problem, it almost killed a couple of my potted plants when it stopped working. Rachio sent me a new unit (kudos on that) but when I open it, it looks like the same design. There’s no way that little rubber foam pad can seal this battery compartment properly.

post by train_wreck on Jul 7, 2025

I was thinking about just duct taping over the battery door on my remaining valves, then just having to peel off/re-tape every time I change batteries… obviously a kludge but I don’t see how else to ensure the compartment is dry.

post by NinaGail on Jul 31, 2025

Just had this issue on one of my hose end timers. Thought it was something I did wrong till I saw this thread. My other timer has not had any issues, but it has not been in use as long. Will be extremely disappointed if this is an ongoing issue.

post by joshuaTrue on Aug 2, 2025

I also have a valve flooding into the battery compartment and it no longer works.

post by franz on Aug 4, 2025

@joshuaTrue I will have our customer success team reach out to you and get this taken care of.

post by Trung2704 on Aug 8, 2025

Have 1 out of 3 newly bought hose timers where the battery compartment is flooded. Can tech support contact me to determine if it can be repaired?

post by dpinney on Aug 14, 2025

Sorry Franz, same issue here. Valve disconnected from timer after about 16 days because the batteries melted. Put in fresh batteries but the device wouldn’t reconnect.

post by tkbrigham on Aug 18, 2025

Hi Franz et al, also had issues with water inside the battery chamber leading to corrosion. Only happened to one of the two I bought. Love the product otherwise - hardware and software!

post by justinappleby on Aug 20, 2025

Same problem here. The battery compartment flooded and corroded the batteries and the internal terminals. I tried thoroughly cleaning the terminals and the interior of the battery compartment with 99% Isopropyl alcohol, just a blue flashing light with new batteries.

post by franz on Aug 20, 2025

@justinappleby I am having our customer success team reach out to you.

Thank you for reporting this!

post by tkbrigham on Aug 21, 2025

Hi Franz - would you connect me as well? Thanks!

post by Mck123456 on Sep 20, 2025

Hello, I am having the same issue. Could you send me to customer support / success team as well? Thank you!

post by Peterachio on Oct 4, 2025

Same exact issue, @franz can you please connect me with customer service?

post by franz on Oct 6, 2025

@Peterachio I am having our customer success team reach out to you. Thank you for your patience.