# Premium Software Features

> Rachio Premium Features are optional onetime purchase enhancements designed to give you greater control diagnostic capabilities and weather responsiveness b

Source: https://support.rachio.com/en_us/premium-software-features-Sk7Jpf9GWe

Last updated: 2026-08-26T22:03:28.794Z

Rachio Premium Features are optional, one-time purchase enhancements designed to give you greater control, diagnostic capabilities, and weather responsiveness beyond the standard smart controller functionality. These features ensure your system's hardware is healthy and your schedules remain optimal during extreme weather.

## Contents

1.  [Heat Wave Boost Overview](#section-1)
2.  [How Heat Wave Boost Works](#section-2)
3.  [Valve Monitoring Overview](#section-3)
4.  [How Valve Monitoring Works](#section-4)
5.  [Rachio Premium Feature Refunds](#section-5)

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## Heat Wave Boost Overview

  

Heat Wave Boost dynamically adjusts your watering schedules based on real-time extreme temperature forecasts (both hot and cold), ensuring your lawn gets the right amount of water without constant manual changes.

  

**Overview and Cost**

  

*   **Cost:** One-time purchase of **$29.99 per controller**.
*   **Compatibility:** Available for **all Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller models**.

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## How Heat Wave Boost Works

  

Heat Wave Boost uses custom, customizable weather rules to modify your watering schedule when certain conditions are met. It checks the 7-day forecast every 6 hours and updates adjustments accordingly.

  

**Rule Type**

**Function**

**Default Behavior**

**Heat Wave Rule**

Increases scheduled watering time (runtime) when the forecasted high temperature exceeds a set threshold for a specified number of consecutive days. Can also add additional watering days.

Adjusts based on 8°F above your area's average July–August high temperature.

**Cool Wave Rule**

Decreases scheduled watering time (runtime) when the forecasted high temperature falls below a set threshold for a specified number of consecutive days.

Adjusts based on 8°F below your area's average daily mean July–August high temperature.

  

**Setting Up Adjustment Rules**

  

1\. Purchase: In the Rachio app, tap on your controller's Home tab and select “+ Add Heat Wave Boost” to purchase and enable the feature.

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/5e7e5aacbd968235f17035cfc5708449.png)

  

2\. Edit Rules: Navigate to Heat Wave Boost and tap "Edit Rules."

  

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/93c5531e0f1fad30175cd703c3882deb.png)

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/dd1d93b97359bf10c9e3f00d2f6dcfea.png)

  

3\. Define Conditions: For each schedule, you can create one Heat Rule and one Cool Rule. 

You define:

  

*   The temperature threshold.
*   The number of consecutive days required to trigger the adjustment.
*   The percentage by which the schedule's watering time will increase or decrease (default is 20%).

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/79e1fcef92b61c8d048c4cbde1b6f30f.png)

  

4\. Applying Adjustments: When a rule is triggered, you will receive a notification and can choose to Apply or Ignore the adjustment, or select “Automatically apply in the future.”

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/aa85a291764228ee88eb105e703af73d.png)

  

  

**Compatibility**

  

*   Heat Wave Boost works with Fixed, Flex Monthly, and Flex Daily Schedules.
*   It respects local watering restrictions, provided you do not enable the "Water Every Day During a Heat Wave" setting.
*   It does not apply to manual Quick Runs.
*   It works in conjunction with other Weather Intelligence features like Rain Skip.

  

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## Valve Monitoring Overview

  

Valve Monitoring is a diagnostic premium feature that monitors the electrical health of your irrigation system's solenoid valves and wiring, helping you troubleshoot system failure points. 

**Overview and Cost**

  

*   **Cost:** One-time purchase of **$29.99 per controller**.
*   **Compatibility:** Supported only on **Rachio 3 (R3 and R3e) and newer controllers**.

  

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## How Valve Monitoring Works

  

**1\. Activation:** After purchasing, you will be prompted to perform a calibration reading for each zone.

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/f59aefa28d0df151467f4fe68c81c8e0.png)

  

**2\. Calibration:** This process runs each valve for 10-15 seconds to measure the electrical current in milliamps (mA) generated to open the valve. This reading is stored as the baseline for that valve.

**3\. Monitoring:** The controller then measures the current every time a zone runs and compares the reading to the baseline.

**4\. Health Status:** The health status is refreshed with every zone run.

  

  

**In-App Functionality and Alerts**

  

Valve Monitoring protects your controller from valve shorts, helps troubleshoot non-running zones, and identifies valves that are wearing out.

  

**Detected Status**

**Threshold**

**Alert Mechanism**

**Disconnected/Dead Valve (Open Line)**

Below 30 mA

In-app notification and **email alert**.

**Short (Damaged Valve/Wiring)**

Above 400 mA or 200% of baseline

In-app notification and **email alert**.

**Check (Unusual Readings)**

Higher or lower than a reasonable percentage of the baseline (default is 25% tolerance).

**In-app warning** on the Zone Tab and individual Zone detail screen.

  

**What Valve Monitoring Can Detect**

  

*   **Disconnected or Dead Valve:** Current is too low for a working valve (below 30 mA).
    
*   **Short:** Very high current that could indicate damaged or shorted wiring.  
    ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/1c91a795920b76eae112d2a1f73f26b8.png)
    

  

*   **Wearing Out:** Unusually high or low current compared to the baseline, indicating potential hardware degradation.
    

  

![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f775c7b7cad407e578daa84/6ac07e81ca6aea4ea508cec5892aac4a.png)

  

#### Note on Multiple Valves:

Valve Monitoring measures the current in the wires connected to the zone terminal. If two valves are wired to a single zone, the current (mA) reading will essentially double.

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## Rachio Premium Feature Refunds

  

Rachio Premium Features — like Heat Wave Boost and Valve Monitoring — are one-time purchases. If one turns out not to be the right fit, you may be eligible for a refund. Where you request it depends on where you bought it.

  

**Where You Purchased**

**Who Handles the Refund**

**What to Do**

**Rachio.com**

Rachio

Contact Rachio Support within 30 days of purchase.

**Rachio app on an Android device (Google Play)**

Google

Request a refund through Google Play.

**Rachio app on an iPhone or iPad (App Store)**

Apple

Request a refund through Apple.

  

**Purchases Made on Rachio.com**

  

You can request a refund within 30 days of your purchase date using the chat icon at the bottom of this page. It helps to have the email address on your Rachio account and the approximate purchase date ready.

  

Approved refunds go back to your original payment method and may take a few business days to appear on your statement. When a premium feature is refunded, it's removed from the controller it was purchased for.

  

This policy applies to Rachio premium feature purchases, and doesn't affect any rights you may have under applicable consumer law.

  

#### Purchases Made in the App Store or Google Play:

When you buy a premium feature inside the Rachio app, Apple or Google processes the payment, and their refund policies apply instead of ours.

  

**Android:** Google handles these refunds, and requests are most likely to be approved within 48 hours of purchase. You can request one through [your order history on Google Play](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/15574897).

  

**iPhone or iPad:** Apple handles these refunds. You can request one at [reportaproblem.apple.com](https://reportaproblem.apple.com). Apple reviews each request and decides whether it qualifies, so a refund isn't guaranteed.

  

Because Apple and Google each set their own policies and deadlines, we recommend contacting them as soon as possible. We're sorry for the extra step.

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## **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.