How do I use Alexa with my Rachio?

Last Update:Oct 22 2024 3:53pm • Est. Read Time:Est. Read Time: 5 MIN

Amazon Alexa Integration

Want to get your Rachio devices integrated with Amazon Alexa? this article can help you with that.

Getting Started

Before you start, make sure:


  1. Your Rachio devices are online and connected to your Rachio account.
  2. You have downloaded the Alexa app.


Note

Please note, international use is only supported in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.


Step-by-Step Instructions

To configure your Rachio device to work with Alexa, follow the steps below. Actual integration steps may vary from those listed below depending on your usage of Android (Google) or iOS (Apple).

Note

In order to work with Alexa, your Rachio device must be owned by your Rachio account. In other words, these functions will not work with Rachio devices that are shared with your Rachio account.


  1. Locate the Alexa Skills Store
    Open the Alexa App on your phone and tap the “+" symbol. Then tap "Device". Tap the help icon (?) in the top right corner, and then proceed to tap the "skill store" link.

  2. Locate the appropriate Rachio skill in the Alexa ap
    Once in the Alexa Skill Store, search for "Rachio". Tap the appropriate Rachio skill which corresponds to your device, and then "Launch" to link your account. 

  3. Log In
    After tapping "Launch" you'll be redirected to the Rachio login page. Log into your Rachio account with your credentials and follow the steps to link your devices. Please note, you will need to complete these steps again if adding multiple device types.

  4. "Try it now"
    After logging in and selecting your device. The Alexa app will prompt you to "Try it now". Under Try it now, tap "this phone". Alexa will then ask you what you'd like to do. You can then respond with a relevant command.

Note

  • Only one Rachio 3 Controller can be paired to Amazon Alexa at a time.

  • If a Rachio device is renamed in the Rachio app, the name change will not automatically be reflected in Alexa. To sync name changes, disable and re-enable the Alexa skill.

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Troubleshooting

For general troubleshooting...

Try power-cycling the phone or device you are using and then follow the steps above.


Is your Rachio device not responding?

The Rachio device must be online for Amazon Alexa to work.



Need to remove your devices from Alexa?

Note

This will remove all Rachio devices associated with the Alexa Skill you are disabling.

From the Alexa app, go to Skills and search for "Rachio". Select the desired skill, tap "Settings", and then tap "Disable Skill" > "Disable". This will remove all Rachio devices associated with that skill from Alexa.

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Alexa Commands

Below are the commands you can use to control various Rachio devices with Alexa. 


Rachio Smart Hose Timer:

When you open a valve using the voice command, it will open and remain open for the default Quick Run duration before closing. This default quick run duration can be adjusted in the Rachio app from the valves settings page.


To open a valve, use the command:

"Alexa, open [valve name]."


To close a valve, use the command:

"Alexa, close [valve name]"


To find out if a valve is currently open or closed, use the command:

"Alexa, is [valve name] open?." or "Alexa, is [valve name] closed?."



Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller:

When controlling your Rachio 3 with Alexa, the following phrases must be used exactly as they appear below.

 

To begin, use one of these entry commands:

  • “Alexa, open Rachio” --  Alexa will then ask you what you'd like to do. 
  • “Alexa, tell Rachio [insert any of the commands listed below]”

We will then follow the entry command with an action command. Any text in the command list below which appears in brackets { } indicates space for custom voice input:


For example, the command "run zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}" may be spoken in practice as "run zone three for ten minutes". 


When paired with an entry command above, this entire command phrase may sound like: 


"Alexa, tell Rachio to run zone three for ten minutes".


Pair any action command below with an entry command from above.


Pause schedule:

  • pause run for {pauseDuration}
  • pause
  • pause schedule for {pauseDuration}
  • pause zone for {pauseDuration}
  • pause for {pauseDuration}

Resume schedule:

  • continue schedule
  • resume schedule
  • resume zone
  • continue watering
  • resume watering

Setting a rain delay for one day:

  • that it's raining
  • it's raining
  • turn on rain delay

Setting a rain delay for a custom amount of time:

  • set a rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • start a rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • turn on a rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • add a rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • configure a rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • rain delay for {delayDuration}
  • delay for {delayDuration}
  • {delayDuration} delay
  • delay watering for {delayDuration}
  • please delay watering for {delayDuration}
  • pause watering for {delayDuration}
  • can you please pause the watering for {delayDuration}

Cancel a rain delay:

  • cancel rain delay
  • turn off rain delay
  • stop rain delay
  • cancel my rain delay
  • cancel my delay
  • cancel the delay

Turn Rachio on (disable Hibernation - formerly Standby - Mode):

  • turn Rachio on
  • turn on
  • on

Turn Rachio off (enable Hibernation - formerly Standby - Mode):

  • turn Rachio off
  • turn off
  • off

Running a zone:

  • run zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • water zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on the water in zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start the water in zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • {runtimeDuration} of water in zone {zoneNumber}
  • run zone {zoneNumber}
  • start zone {zoneNumber}
  • water zone {zoneNumber}
  • turn on zone {zoneNumber}
  • turn on the water in zone {zoneNumber}
  • start the water in zone {zoneNumber}
  • start watering in zone {zoneNumber}
  • start watering zone {zoneNumber}
  • start water in zone {zoneNumber}
  • turn on sprinklers in zone {zoneNumber}
  • please water zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • can you please start zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • I need you to run zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • get the water running on zone {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • run zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • water zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on the water in zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start the water in zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • {runtimeDuration} of water in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • run zone number {zoneNumber}
  • start zone number {zoneNumber}
  • water zone number {zoneNumber}
  • turn on zone number {zoneNumber}
  • turn on the water in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • start the water in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • start watering in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • start watering zone number {zoneNumber}
  • start water in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • turn on sprinklers in zone number {zoneNumber}
  • please water zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • can you please start zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • I need you to run zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • get the water running on zone number {zoneNumber} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start watering
  • start watering the lawn
  • start watering the yard
  • start watering the grass
  • start watering for {runtimeDuration}
  • start watering the front lawn
  • start watering the back lawn
  • start watering the front yard
  • start watering the back yard
  • turn on the water
  • turn on watering
  • turn on sprinklers
  • turn on the sprinklers
  • run {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • water {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on the water in {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start the water in {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • {runtimeDuration} of water in {zoneName}
  • run {zoneName}
  • start {zoneName}
  • water {zoneName}
  • turn on {zoneName}
  • turn on the water in {zoneName}
  • start the water in {zoneName}
  • start watering in {zoneName}
  • start watering {zoneName}
  • start water in {zoneName}
  • turn on sprinklers in {zoneName}
  • please water {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • can you please start {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • I need you to run {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • get the water running on {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • run the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • water the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • turn on the water in the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • start the water in the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • {runtimeDuration} of water in the {zoneName}
  • run the {zoneName}
  • start the {zoneName}
  • water the {zoneName}
  • turn on the {zoneName}
  • turn on the water in the {zoneName}
  • start the water in the {zoneName}
  • start watering in the {zoneName}
  • start watering the {zoneName}
  • start water in the {zoneName}
  • turn on sprinklers in the {zoneName}
  • please water the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • can you please start the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • I need you to run the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}
  • get the water running on the {zoneName} for {runtimeDuration}

Stop a zone:

  • stop watering
  • stop Rachio
  • stop watering zone {zoneNumber}
  • turn the sprinklers off
  • turn off the sprinklers
  • kill the sprinklers
  • turn off the water
  • switch off the sprinklers
  • no more water
  • stop watering {zoneName}
  • stop {zoneName}
  • stop watering the {zoneName}
  • stop the {zoneName}
  • stop watering zone {zoneNumber}
  • stop watering zone number {zoneNumber}
  • stop zone number {zoneNumber}
  • stop zone {zoneNumber}

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