Cycle and Soak Features for Rachio Irrigation Devices

Last Update: May 9 2026 12:58pm • Est. Read Time: 8 MIN

Summary

Rachio devices are capable of splitting total watering times into smaller segments to give the soil enough time to absorb the water. This helps you save even more water and avoid run-off, as no one likes to see water running onto the sidewalk during watering!

Note

Soak features are available both for Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controllers and Rachio Smart Hose Timers.

Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller

Now that you have your Rachio up and running, you may have had the chance to create a schedule. You may be wondering what is the Cycle and soak technique and how does Smart Cycle uses it to improve efficiency. This article is for you!

Cycle and Soak is a proven landscaping and irrigation technique that splits up watering durations into multiple, short watering durations. This method prevents wasteful and harmful water runoff while increasing plant health by encouraging deeper root growth. By including Smart Cycle or manual cycle and soak in your watering schedules, you can prevent soil erosion, stop harmful lawn chemicals from washing into fragile rivers and streams, and even save money on your water bill!

This feature affects your total watering duration, but not the amount of water delivered.

With Smart Cycle activated, watering times may seem longer on the surface. But don't worry - your schedules are not applying more water, just watering more efficiently.

With Rachio, you can choose how to apply this technique to your watering schedule. You can select:

Rachio's Smart Cycle feature, which uses your unique zone settings in order to automatically apply cycle and soak technology to your schedule if needed.
Manual cycle and soak, which allows you to determine the soak and cycle times.
No cycle and soak

What is Smart Cycle?

Smart Cycle is Rachio’s implementation of the “cycle and soak” technique. It automates the cycle and soak process and removes the guesswork of how long to cycle and soak. It intelligently breaks up run times to maximize your watering capabilities. Smart Cycle is recommended, and enabled automatically on all schedules, but can be edited (see below for instructions).

The duration of the cycle and the soak times for each zone is calculated automatically by the Rachio, utilizing the zone's unique zone settings. For example, a zone with a 14-minute run time may be irrigated for 7 minutes, and then turned off while the controller advances to irrigate another zone. While the second zone is being watered, the original zone has time to soak up all the water into its soil, thus preventing water runoff. Then, after the second zone cycle is complete, the original zone is then irrigated for the remaining 7 minutes to achieve the total 14-minute run time. This 14-minute run time may also be irrigated for 2 minutes, turned off while the controller advances to irrigate another zone, then irrigated 2 more minutes, continuing this pattern until 14 minutes is achieved.

What is manual cycle and soak?

The manual Cycle and Soak feature allows you to do the same thing as Smart Cycle (split up watering durations into multiple shorter watering durations), except that you define the parameters instead of Rachio doing this for you. Unlike Smart Cycle, applying a manual cycle and soak to your schedules takes some work and configuration to implement.

How can I use Smart Cycle, manual cycle and soak, or edit my selection?

You can make your cycle and soak selection during the schedule creation process. Want to edit cycle and soak or add Smart Cycle to a schedule?

Select the "Schedules" tab
Tap the schedule you would like to edit, then scroll down and tap "Cycle and soak."
Tap the option you would like to apply to your schedule (Smart Cycle will automatically apply to your schedule, unless you make a different selection). Want to try manual cycle and soak instead? After making your selection, use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the length of "cycle" (minutes of active watering) and length of "soak" (minutes of delay between watering repeats).

Smart Cycle FAQ

How does Smart Cycle affect my watering times? Why do watering times sometimes seem longer?

With Smart Cycle activated, watering times may seem longer on the surface. But don't worry - your schedules are not applying more water, just watering more efficiently. Watering less frequently for longer is usually the best long-term thing to do for your lawn.

How long can a zone's watering duration continue before it needs to get cycle-soaked?

The following table shows the relationship between soil type (precipitation intake rate) and slope. Notice that clay, which does not have a very high intake rate, is allowed much smaller surface accumulation than either loam (topsoil) or sand.

The Maximum Runtime allowable before runoff occurs will be calculated from the following formula:

Rt (max) = 60 (ASA)/(PR – IR), minutes

ASA = Allowable Surface Accumulation
PR = Precipitation Rate. The amount of irrigation water applied per unit of time.
IR = Soil intake rate

The following are the maximum allowable watering minutes without cycling for different types of soils, slopes, and nozzles.

Nozzle	In/hr	Soil	Slope	Max Runtime Minutes
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay	Flat	8
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay	Slight	6
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay	Moderate	4
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay	Steep	4
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Silty Clay	Flat	10
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Silty Clay	Slight	8
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Silty Clay	Moderate	7
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Silty Clay	Steep	5
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay Loam	Flat	12
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay Loam	Slight	10
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay Loam	Moderate	8
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Clay Loam	Steep	6
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loam	Flat	15
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loam	Slight	13
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loam	Moderate	10
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loam	Steep	8
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sandy Loam	Flat	18
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sandy Loam	Slight	15
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sandy Loam	Moderate	13
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sandy Loam	Steep	10
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loamy Sand	Flat	21
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loamy Sand	Slight	18
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loamy Sand	Moderate	15
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Loamy Sand	Steep	13
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sand	Flat	26
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sand	Slight	23
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sand	Moderate	20
Fixed Spray Head	1.5	Sand	Steep	16
Rotor Head	1	Clay	Flat	13
Rotor Head	1	Clay	Slight	10
Rotor Head	1	Clay	Moderate	6
Rotor Head	1	Clay	Steep	6
Rotor Head	1	Silty Clay	Flat	16
Rotor Head	1	Silty Clay	Slight	13
Rotor Head	1	Silty Clay	Moderate	11
Rotor Head	1	Silty Clay	Steep	9
Rotor Head	1	Clay Loam	Flat	19
Rotor Head	1	Clay Loam	Slight	16
Rotor Head	1	Clay Loam	Moderate	13
Rotor Head	1	Clay Loam	Steep	11
Rotor Head	1	Loam	Flat	27
Rotor Head	1	Loam	Slight	23
Rotor Head	1	Loam	Moderate	19
Rotor Head	1	Loam	Steep	15
Rotor Head	1	Sandy Loam	Flat	33
Rotor Head	1	Sandy Loam	Slight	29
Rotor Head	1	Sandy Loam	Moderate	24
Rotor Head	1	Sandy Loam	Steep	20
Rotor Head	1	Loamy Sand	Flat	43
Rotor Head	1	Loamy Sand	Slight	36
Rotor Head	1	Loamy Sand	Moderate	31
Rotor Head	1	Loamy Sand	Steep	26
Rotor Head	1	Sand	Flat	60
Rotor Head	1	Sand	Slight	52
Rotor Head	1	Sand	Moderate	45
Rotor Head	1	Sand	Steep	37
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay	Flat	20
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay	Slight	15
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay	Moderate	10
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay	Steep	10
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Silty Clay	Flat	25
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Silty Clay	Slight	20
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Silty Clay	Moderate	17
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Silty Clay	Steep	14
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay Loam	Flat	31
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay Loam	Slight	26
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay Loam	Moderate	21
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Clay Loam	Steep	18
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loam	Flat	51
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loam	Slight	42
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loam	Moderate	36
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loam	Steep	29
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sandy Loam	Flat	66
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sandy Loam	Slight	58
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sandy Loam	Moderate	48
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sandy Loam	Steep	40
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loamy Sand	Flat	108
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loamy Sand	Slight	90
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loamy Sand	Moderate	78
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Loamy Sand	Steep	66
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sand	Flat	240
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sand	Slight	210
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sand	Moderate	180
Rotary Nozzle	0.7	Sand	Steep	150
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay	Flat	27
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay	Slight	20
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay	Moderate	13
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay	Steep	13
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Silty Clay	Flat	35
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Silty Clay	Slight	29
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Silty Clay	Moderate	24
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Silty Clay	Steep	20
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay Loam	Flat	45
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay Loam	Slight	38
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay Loam	Moderate	31
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Clay Loam	Steep	26
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loam	Flat	94
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loam	Slight	78
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loam	Moderate	66
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loam	Steep	53
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sandy Loam	Flat	141
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sandy Loam	Slight	124
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sandy Loam	Moderate	102
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sandy Loam	Steep	85
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loamy Sand	Flat	539
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loamy Sand	Slight	450
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loamy Sand	Moderate	390
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Loamy Sand	Steep	330
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sand	Flat	No Maximum
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sand	Slight	No Maximum
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sand	Moderate	No Maximum
K-Rain Rotary	0.54	Sand	Steep	No Maximum
Mister	2	Clay	Flat	6
Mister	2	Clay	Slight	4
Mister	2	Clay	Moderate	3
Mister	2	Clay	Steep	3
Mister	2	Silty Clay	Flat	7
Mister	2	Silty Clay	Slight	6
Mister	2	Silty Clay	Moderate	5
Mister	2	Silty Clay	Steep	4
Mister	2	Clay Loam	Flat	8
Mister	2	Clay Loam	Slight	7
Mister	2	Clay Loam	Moderate	6
Mister	2	Clay Loam	Steep	5
Mister	2	Loam	Flat	10
Mister	2	Loam	Slight	9
Mister	2	Loam	Moderate	7
Mister	2	Loam	Steep	6
Mister	2	Sandy Loam	Flat	12
Mister	2	Sandy Loam	Slight	10
Mister	2	Sandy Loam	Moderate	9
Mister	2	Sandy Loam	Steep	7
Mister	2	Loamy Sand	Flat	14
Mister	2	Loamy Sand	Slight	12
Mister	2	Loamy Sand	Moderate	10
Mister	2	Loamy Sand	Steep	8
Mister	2	Sand	Flat	17
Mister	2	Sand	Slight	15
Mister	2	Sand	Moderate	12
Mister	2	Sand	Steep	10
Emitter	0.5	Clay	Flat	30
Emitter	0.5	Clay	Slight	22
Emitter	0.5	Clay	Moderate	15
Emitter	0.5	Clay	Steep	15
Emitter	0.5	Silty Clay	Flat	39
Emitter	0.5	Silty Clay	Slight	32
Emitter	0.5	Silty Clay	Moderate	27
Emitter	0.5	Silty Clay	Steep	22
Emitter	0.5	Clay Loam	Flat	52
Emitter	0.5	Clay Loam	Slight	44
Emitter	0.5	Clay Loam	Moderate	36
Emitter	0.5	Clay Loam	Steep	30
Emitter	0.5	Loam	Flat	120
Emitter	0.5	Loam	Slight	100
Emitter	0.5	Loam	Moderate	84
Emitter	0.5	Loam	Steep	68
Emitter	0.5	Sandy Loam	Flat	198
Emitter	0.5	Sandy Loam	Slight	174
Emitter	0.5	Sandy Loam	Moderate	144
Emitter	0.5	Sandy Loam	Steep	120
Emitter	0.5	Loamy Sand	Flat	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Loamy Sand	Slight	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Loamy Sand	Moderate	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Loamy Sand	Steep	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Sand	Flat	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Sand	Slight	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Sand	Moderate	No Maximum
Emitter	0.5	Sand	Steep	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Clay	Flat	30
Drip Line	0.5	Clay	Slight	22
Drip Line	0.5	Clay	Moderate	15
Drip Line	0.5	Clay	Steep	15
Drip Line	0.5	Silty Clay	Flat	39
Drip Line	0.5	Silty Clay	Slight	32
Drip Line	0.5	Silty Clay	Moderate	27
Drip Line	0.5	Silty Clay	Steep	22
Drip Line	0.5	Clay Loam	Flat	52
Drip Line	0.5	Clay Loam	Slight	44
Drip Line	0.5	Clay Loam	Moderate	36
Drip Line	0.5	Clay Loam	Steep	30
Drip Line	0.5	Loam	Flat	120
Drip Line	0.5	Loam	Slight	100
Drip Line	0.5	Loam	Moderate	84
Drip Line	0.5	Loam	Steep	68
Drip Line	0.5	Sandy Loam	Flat	198
Drip Line	0.5	Sandy Loam	Slight	174
Drip Line	0.5	Sandy Loam	Moderate	144
Drip Line	0.5	Sandy Loam	Steep	120
Drip Line	0.5	Loamy Sand	Flat	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Loamy Sand	Slight	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Loamy Sand	Moderate	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Loamy Sand	Steep	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Sand	Flat	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Sand	Slight	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Sand	Moderate	No Maximum
Drip Line	0.5	Sand	Steep	No Maximum
Bubbler	1	Clay	Flat	13
Bubbler	1	Clay	Slight	10
Bubbler	1	Clay	Moderate	6
Bubbler	1	Clay	Steep	6
Bubbler	1	Silty Clay	Flat	16
Bubbler	1	Silty Clay	Slight	13
Bubbler	1	Silty Clay	Moderate	11
Bubbler	1	Silty Clay	Steep	9
Bubbler	1	Clay Loam	Flat	19
Bubbler	1	Clay Loam	Slight	16
Bubbler	1	Clay Loam	Moderate	13
Bubbler	1	Clay Loam	Steep	11
Bubbler	1	Loam	Flat	27
Bubbler	1	Loam	Slight	23
Bubbler	1	Loam	Moderate	19
Bubbler	1	Loam	Steep	15
Bubbler	1	Sandy Loam	Flat	33
Bubbler	1	Sandy Loam	Slight	29
Bubbler	1	Sandy Loam	Moderate	24
Bubbler	1	Sandy Loam	Steep	20
Bubbler	1	Loamy Sand	Flat	43
Bubbler	1	Loamy Sand	Slight	36
Bubbler	1	Loamy Sand	Moderate	31
Bubbler	1	Loamy Sand	Steep	26
Bubbler	1	Sand	Flat	60
Bubbler	1	Sand	Slight	52
Bubbler	1	Sand	Moderate	45
Bubbler	1	Sand	Steep	37

How does Smart Cycle REALLY work?

When running a watering schedule with Smart Cycle turned on, Rachio software divides the total watering time for each zone into a number of cycles. For each cycle, a zone is watered for a period of time short enough so that the water will not immediately runoff. The next zone is then watered for its period of time, etc., until all of the zones have had their "cycle". During this process, it's important that the soil in each zone gets enough time to absorb the water. Specifically, Rachio guarantees that each zone will get at least 30 minutes between the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

Let's look at an example: imagine that we had 4 zones, all grass with normal topsoil, all with popup sprinklers. The recommended watering time for each zone for this time of year is 30 minutes twice a week (must be August!), starting at 5 AM. With Smart Cycle, the watering schedule would look something like this:

5:00 - water zone 1 for 15 minutes - the maximum recommended watering cycle time for popup sprinklers on topsoil is about 22 minutes (see below). Since our watering time of 30 minutes exceeds that, Rachio will break it up into 2 even cycles of 15 minutes
5:15 - water zone 2 for 15 minutes - same as Zone 1
5:30 - water zone 3 for 15 minutes
5:45 - water zone 4 for 15 minutes
6:00 - water zone 1 for 15 minutes - it's been at least 30 minutes since zone 1 finished its first cycle, so it's OK to water it again.
And so on, for zones 2-4

But what if one of the zones was different - say, a tree that needs only 20 minutes of water in zone 4? The number of cycles is different for each zone, so zone 4 will only water once for 20 minutes in the first cycle, the second cycle will only have zones 1-3.

What are Cycle Times / Wait Times in Smart Cycle?

Sometimes, it's not possible to schedule a cycle such that the watering times of all of the other zones gives us our 30 minutes between cycles. If that's the case, the controller will "cycle" or wait, for as many minutes as it takes to make sure that all zones get the soaking time they need before getting more water.

Here's an example: Imagine a watering time with 4 zones that need to be watered for 30 minutes each, all with grass, popup sprinklers, and clay soil. The recommended maximum watering time per cycle for this situation is only 5 minutes (see below), so the controller will break the schedule up into 6 cycles of 5 minutes apiece. The schedule for this would be:

5:00 - 5:20: Water zones 1- 4 for 5 minutes each
5:20: Cycling phase 1 of 6 begins - zone 1 finished watering at 5:05, and it's 5:20 now, so the water hasn't had enough time to soak in. To solve this, Rachio will simply wait for 15 minutes, to give zone 1 enough time (cycling takes 30 minutes per zone)
5:35: 5:55 - zone 1 has had 30 minutes to cycle and let the water soak in. Watering resumes, followed by the rest of the zones, for another 5 minutes
5:55: Cycling phase 2 of 6. Wait for 15 minutes, etc., until all zones have had 30 minutes to soak.
8:30: We're done!

Rachio Smart Hose Timer

Smart Soak

Available under the More Options dropdown menu, Smart Soak splits up schedule runs to allow water time to soak into the ground. It improves watering in clay-rich soils and/or long schedule runs.

Smart Soak splits the total watering time for any individual cycle into two equal parts. At the start, it waters for the first half of the total duration. Then, it pauses to let the water soak in for at least the same duration as the first watering session, potentially extending this soak period if multiple runs or valves are active in the schedule. After the soak, it resumes watering for the second half of the total duration to complete the cycle.

When using Smart Soak, each valve will soak for at least 50% of the runtime of the longest-running valve included in that schedule.
When a schedule includes multiple valves, the system enhances efficiency by cycling between them to reduce total runtime, operating one valve while others soak.
If you’re using the “Open valves at the same time” feature in your schedule, you can expect to see even more soak time; as your valves will not resume their watering until the longest-running valve included in that schedule has completed its soaking.

Do you still need help?

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