Melnor AquaTimer Duo Hose Timer Review
I bought the Melnor AquaTimer Duo Hose Timer for $29.99 from Home Depot with high hopes. I’ve always wanted a fancy in-ground automatic sprinkler system, but haven’t been willing to spring for it. The Melnor AquaTimer promised the middle class alternative: just hook it up between the hose spigot and the sprinkler, set up a watering program, and you’re good to go for hassle-free watering.
Unfortunately, the Melnor turns out to be hassle-free for only seven days.
On or about the seventh day, you’ll find the plastic coupling on the top of the timer has broken and disconnected from the spigot (see below). Of course, the water will still be flowing at full force, flooding anything that’s down grade from where the timer used to be connected.
Our Experience
We’ve owned two of these units now. The first I connected directly to the spigot per the instructions from Melnor. It worked for about a week before the coupling failed. I realize that any product can fail once, so I took it back to big orange and exchanged it for another. I figured that the weight of the timer and hose hanging from the spigot may have contributed to the failure. So, I attached a small 5 ft. hose to the spigot, then the timer, and then the long hose to the sprinkler. One more week passed, this time with the timer sitting on the ground, and it failed again, dumping hundreds of gallons of water into the back yard.
Pros, Cons, and Verdict
Pros:
- Easy-to-use digital interface.
- Multiple programming options for watering on specific days, odd/even days, etc.
- Second non-timed connector for regular hose use.
- Promises to use only one 9-volt battery for the full watering season
Cons:
- Similarly-priced models can control two hoses (although usually lack digital programming)
- Works for about 7 days, then fails in the worst way
Verdict: Great for spontaneous mud pit creation and flooding the neighbor’s basement. Fortunately, the 9-volt still has enough charge after 7 days to be used for something else.
What do you think? Have you had a better experience with a Melnor product? Can you recommend a hose timer that actually works?
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
By the way, I probably should have read the reviews on Amazon before buying this. Scroll to the bottom of the page and look on the right side. There are a few very negative (and sometimes funny) comments.
http://www.amazon.com/Melnor-Electronic-DUO-AquaTimer-3060/dp/B00004SDVT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1208998546&sr=8-1
April 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I have the Raindrip Brand Two Zone Water Timer… it’s not digital, but it has never failed us. It keeps chugging along, watering every 5 days at 4:30 am through the summer. We had the other side go on 3 times a day for 5 minutes at a time for some new grass at the same time…
Nothing broken on it!
May 17th, 2008 at 8:01 am
[...] night I just took back the broken Melnor AquaTimer Duo. I bought that timer last fall and it failed in about a week. (Recall that that was the [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I only discovered the litany of bad experiences after the first unit simply failed to shut off the water. After removing it from the faucet to retrieve my battery before packing it back up to take to Home Depot, I discovered the battery compartment flooded. That, apparently, wasn’t the problem however. You could hear the valve opening and closing internally, but it just didn’t work.
After discovering the overwhelming complaints on-line about this product, I wrote a letter to Melnor, vowing never to buy one of their products again. I should point out the new aqua duo was bought to replace an older model Melnor timer that cracked internally and was spewing water from BEHIND the battery cover plate.
Funny. No one at Melnor service bothered to respond to the concerns of a consumer who had been duped into buying an historically defective product. Another reason to avoid Melnor.
But, foolishly, I thought I’d give Melnor another chance. I exchanged the defective unit for another one at my local Home Depot. There were dozens on the shelf, so I figured, maybe I just had bad luck. Besides, I need a timer and frankly, the concept is a good one. Apart from what some reviewers say about not understanding that only one outlet is timed, that was clear to me, and it’s a good design idea.
So I get the second unit home, hook it up, and Voila! It works! Yeah. Except for the giant LEAK where it connects to the faucet…once again, rendering the unit completely useless.
I just don’t understand how the company can allow this product to be sold, given the immense frustration and ill-will it’s engendering among consumers - particularly those consumers who are keen about gardening. But I also can’t understand why Home Depot would ignore what must be return after return of a product that just doesn’t work.
I have since written to Home Depot outlining my concerns. At least THAT company sent me an automated response to indicate they got the email. Melnor’s front office must be in China, along with the unbelievably miserable factory where this cheap plastic crap is slapped together.
So, don’t waste your time, like I did. It looks good. But it’s a fraud. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, AND YOU WILL BE REWARDING BUSINESS INCOMPETANCE, ARROGANCE and NEGLIGENCE.