Hose timer program in Exeter
Professional hose timer program services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Hose timer connected to your tap and programmed to water when you want. Set-and-forget watering for pots, borders, or whatever needs regular attention - takes the hassle out of garden maintenance.
Stop Forgetting to Water
Bought a hose timer to make life easier but can't work out how to program the damn thing? You're not alone. The instructions are always terrible and the buttons are tiny and cryptic.
Or maybe it's programmed but not working right - comes on at random times, runs too long, or doesn't come on at all. Frustrating when the whole point was making watering automatic.
💡 Pro tip: A properly programmed hose timer is brilliant for holidays, hanging baskets, greenhouses, or just making sure watering actually happens during dry spells. Set it once, forget about it.
Working Timer vs Confusing Mess
| ✅ Set Up Properly | ❌ Fighting With It |
|---|---|
| Waters on your schedule | Random times or not at all |
| Right duration for your plants | Too long (wasted) or too short (dead plants) |
| Easy to override when needed | Can't work out how to adjust |
| Actually saves time and effort | More hassle than just using a hose |
What You Get
🔧 The Setup
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Install | Connect timer to tap, attach hose |
| Program | Set days, times, duration for your needs |
| Test | Run through cycle to check it works |
| Show | Explain how to adjust key settings yourself |
📦 You're Left With
- Timer working as intended
- Plants getting watered automatically
- Instructions that actually make sense
Pricing Guide
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Program existing timer | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Install and program new timer | 30-45 mins | £60 + timer |
| Multiple timers/complex setup | 1+ hrs | £60-110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Timer supplied if needed.
Ideal For
✅ Hanging baskets - need daily watering in summer
✅ Greenhouse watering - consistent schedule
✅ Holiday cover - keeps plants alive automatically
✅ Forgetful gardeners - we all are sometimes
Why Choose Us for Hose timer program in Exeter?
Timer programmed to your schedule
Connected and tested working
Shown how to adjust it yourself
Plants watered even when you forget
What to Expect
Step 1: Understand Your Needs
Work out what you're watering, how often, and for how long. Check your existing timer (if you have one) or advise on what type would work best.
Step 2: Get It Working
Connect everything up, program the schedule, run a test cycle to make sure it actually does what it's supposed to. Adjust timing if needed.
Step 3: Hand Over Knowledge
Show you the key buttons - how to override, adjust duration, change frequency. You don't need to understand the whole thing, just the bits you might want to tweak.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to program it yourself? Here's how most work:
🔧 Common features
- Days: Which days to water (every day, every other day, specific days)
- Start time: When watering begins
- Duration: How long water runs
- Override: Temporary on/off without changing program
📱 Programming basics
- Clear any existing program (usually hold 'reset')
- Set current time/day
- Set watering schedule (days)
- Set start time
- Set duration
- Turn to 'auto' mode
💧 Getting duration right
- Test run and watch how long it takes to properly soak
- Hanging baskets: 15-20 minutes usually enough
- Borders/beds: 30-60 minutes depending on size
- Soaker hose: Longer but gentler - 45-90 minutes
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not setting current time first - program runs at wrong times
- Leaving in 'off' instead of 'auto' - nothing happens
- Setting duration too short - wastes battery turning on for nothing
- Dead batteries - change yearly at start of season
💡 Pro trick: Set timers to water early morning (5-7am). Less evaporation than daytime, doesn't leave foliage wet overnight (which can cause disease). Plants get maximum benefit from the water.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔋 Battery life: Most run on 2x AA batteries. Change them at start of each season whether they seem dead or not. Weak batteries cause erratic behavior that'll drive you mad trying to diagnose.
Tap adapters: Some outdoor taps have odd threads. Might need an adapter to fit the timer. I'll sort it or advise what to get.
Water pressure: Very low pressure might not trigger the timer's valve properly. I'll test and advise if pressure's an issue.
Frost protection: Take timer off in winter. Freezing water inside will crack the valve and kill it. Start of spring, put it back on, fresh batteries, good to go.
Multiple zones: If you want different areas watered on different schedules, you need multiple timers (one per tap/zone) or a fancier controller with multiple valves. I'll advise what suits your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I just set the timer myself?
You absolutely can - but the instructions are often confusing and there's usually multiple buttons to press in the right sequence. Most people get frustrated and give up. I do these regularly so I know the process. Gets it done in minutes instead of you fighting with tiny buttons and cryptic symbols.
What if I want to change the watering times later?
I'll show you how to adjust the key settings once it's programmed. Most timers let you override or adjust duration pretty easily once the basic program's in. You won't need to start from scratch each time.
Will it work with my existing hose setup?
Most battery-operated hose timers fit standard outdoor taps. If you've got drip irrigation or soaker hoses, even better - the timer controls those too. I'll check your setup and advise if anything needs changing.
How long should I water for?
Depends what you're watering and the weather. Hanging baskets might need 15-20 minutes daily in summer. Established borders might only need an hour twice a week. I'll advise on settings that suit your garden and you can tweak from there.
Do these timers actually work reliably?
Decent ones do, yes. Cheap ones from discount shops can be hit and miss. I'll tell you honestly if yours is rubbish or if it's just not set up right. Sometimes worth investing in a better timer rather than fighting with an unreliable one.
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