# Cycle and Soak Features for Rachio Irrigation Devices > Summary 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 C ycle and soak te... Source: https://support.rachio.com/en_us/cycle-and-soak-features-for-rachio-irrigation-devices-r1_FwL1Kw Last updated: 2026-05-09T16:58:21.389Z ## 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. ## Contents 1. [Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller](#section-1) 2. [What is Smart Cycle?](#section-2) 3. [What is manual cycle and soak?](#section-3) 4. [How can I use Smart Cycle, manual cycle and soak, or edit my selection?](#section-4) 5. [Smart Cycle FAQ](#section-5) 6. [Rachio Smart Hose Timer - Smart Soak](#section-6) * * * ## 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 ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/70314db507bd2648a14b4b4cf758739c.png) * * * ## 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 zones 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?  1\. Select the "Schedules" tab 2\. Tap the schedule you would like to edit, then scroll down and tap "Cycle and soak." 3\. 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. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/fa662ac4baf1d13c12068b665cbf423a.png) #### 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. ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/9b65b3ca91bc1c92fc512d8a57f4c380.png) 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?** We have a chat support team ready to assist you! You can submit a support request by selecting the chat icon in the bottom right of this page and a member of the support team will contact you live. ### **Summer Hours (April-September)** 7 am - 5 pm (MST), 7 days a week. ### **Winter Hours (October-March)** 8 am - 5 pm (MST), Monday - Saturday. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.