Diagnose My Sprinkler Problem | What’s Wrong With My Sprinklers?

Choose the closest match. Each answer opens the questions a sprinkler technician would ask next, the most common causes, what should be checked, and the repairs that usually fix it.

This is a preliminary diagnosis based on common causes, not a guaranteed diagnosis. A technician should confirm the cause before parts are replaced.

What’s wrong with your sprinkler system?

ANothing is working

Does the sprinkler controller have power / a display?

No display, and the outlet doesn't power other devices

Possible causes:

Tripped breaker
Tripped GFCI outlet
Bad outlet
House electrical issue

What a technician should check:

Verify 120V input
Test the outlet
Check breaker and GFCI
Inspect the transformer

Likely repairs:

Reset power
Outlet / electrical repair
Replace controller transformer
Replace controller

Controller replacement cost

The outlet has power but the controller is blank

Possible causes:

Failed transformer
Blown fuse
Damaged controller board
Lightning or surge damage
Internal controller failure

What a technician should check:

Measure transformer output
Test controller input voltage
Inspect the fuse
Verify terminal output

Likely repairs:

Transformer replacement
Fuse replacement
Controller repair
Controller replacement

Controller replacement cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

The controller has power but doesn't show the system running

Possible causes:

Programming issue
Rain delay turned on
Seasonal adjustment set too low
Controller setting
Rain or weather sensor interrupting

What a technician should check:

Inspect the schedule
Check rain delay
Sensor bypass test
Manually activate zones

Likely repairs:

Controller programming
Sensor repair or replacement
Controller replacement if defective

The controller says a zone is running but nothing happens anywhere

Possible causes:

Water supply to the irrigation system shut off
Master valve failure
Pump failure (pump-fed systems)
Common-wire problem
Failed controller output
Backflow or shutoff valve issue

What a technician should check:

Verify water supply
Inspect the irrigation shutoff
Check the master valve
Voltage test at the controller
Common-wire continuity
Pump / pump-start relay test

Likely repairs:

Reopen the shutoff
Master valve repair
Common-wire repair
Controller repair
Pump or relay repair

Wire repair cost · Pump repair cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

BOne sprinkler zone isn't working

Does the controller indicate that the zone is running?

Controller says the zone is running, but no heads come up

Possible causes:

Bad solenoid
Failed valve
Broken field wire
Bad common wire
Controller output failure
Zone shutoff closed
Severe main or lateral line break

What a technician should check:

Voltage at the controller station
Resistance (ohm) test
Activate the valve manually
Test the solenoid
Test wire continuity
Inspect the valve diaphragm

Likely repairs:

Replace solenoid
Rebuild valve
Replace valve
Repair wire
Controller module repair

Solenoid replacement cost · Valve replacement cost · Wire repair cost

Some heads come up but others don't

Possible causes:

Broken pipe
Clogged nozzles
Blocked lateral line
Pressure loss
Broken fitting
Damaged heads

What a technician should check:

Pressure test
Inspect heads
Cap and test suspect locations
Run the zone and look for an underground leak

Likely repairs:

Pipe repair
Nozzle or head replacement
Lateral line repair

Leak repair cost · Head replacement cost

Heads rise but spray weakly

Possible causes:

Leak
Valve not opening fully
Pressure issue
Clogged filter or nozzles
Too many heads on the zone

What a technician should check:

Dynamic pressure
Flow check
Valve inspection
Nozzle inspection

Likely repairs:

Leak repair
Valve rebuild
Nozzle cleaning or replacement
Zone redesign if overloaded

The controller doesn't activate the zone, but other zones work

Possible causes:

Bad station terminal
Programming issue
Field wiring issue
Solenoid issue

What a technician should check:

Output voltage on that station
Ohm test
Wire continuity
Manual valve activation

Likely repairs:

Wire repair
Solenoid replacement
Controller module repair

Wire repair cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

CSprinklers won't shut off

Potentially urgent. If it is safe and you can reach it, turn off the water supply to the irrigation system. How to stop the water

Are the sprinklers still running even when the controller says OFF?

Yes, and one zone runs continuously

Possible causes:

Stuck zone valve
Diaphragm failure
Debris inside the valve
Solenoid or plunger issue
Manual bleed left open

What a technician should check:

Manually close the valve
Inspect the bleed screw
Disassemble the valve
Inspect the diaphragm
Pressure test

Likely repairs:

Rebuild valve
Replace diaphragm
Replace solenoid
Replace complete valve

Valve replacement cost · Solenoid replacement cost

Several or all zones keep running

Possible causes:

Master valve issue
Multiple stuck valves
Controller malfunction
Wiring short
Hydraulic / excessive pressure problem

What a technician should check:

Shut controller power off
Isolate valves
Electrical testing
Controller terminal test

Likely repairs:

Valve repair
Controller replacement
Wire repair

Find a sprinkler pro near you

DI see a leak or water where it shouldn't be

When do you see the leak: only while sprinklers run, even when they are off, or not sure?

Leak around a sprinkler head (while running)

Possible causes:

Cracked head
Broken fitting
Broken flexible ("funny") pipe
Damaged riser
Lateral line leak

What a technician should check:

Dig out the head
Inspect the fitting
Run the zone under pressure

Likely repairs:

Head replacement
Swing-joint repair
Lateral repair

Head replacement cost

Valve box full of water

Possible causes:

Valve leak
Solenoid leak
Fitting leak
Upstream pipe leak

What a technician should check:

Dry the valve box
Run individual zones
Pressure inspection
Inspect connections

Likely repairs:

Valve rebuild
Fitting repair
Valve replacement
Pipe repair

Valve replacement cost

Water bubbling up from the lawn

Possible causes:

Broken lateral line
Cracked fitting
Root damage
Freeze damage
Excavation damage

What a technician should check:

Isolate the zone
Locate the leak
Pressure / run test

Likely repairs:

Pipe or fitting repair

Leak repair cost

Leak even when the system is OFF (more serious)

Does the water stop when the irrigation shutoff is closed? If yes, an irrigation mainline or valve issue is likely.

Possible causes:

Mainline leak
Valve not sealing
Backflow preventer leak
Pressurized fitting failure

What a technician should check:

Pressure isolation
Water meter observation
Valve inspection

Likely repairs:

Mainline repair
Valve repair
Backflow repair

Stop the water · Leak repair cost · Backflow repair cost

EOne or more sprinkler heads aren't working correctly

What is the head doing? Won't pop up, won't go down, not spraying, weak spray, wrong direction, rotor won't turn, leaking, broken off, buried, or misting?

Head won't pop up

Possible causes:

Low pressure
Clogged stem
Damaged head
Debris
Leak upstream

What a technician should check:

Pressure
Inspect the nozzle
Remove and clean the head
Check the lateral line

Likely repairs:

Clean head
Replace head
Repair leak

Head replacement cost

Rotor won't rotate

Possible causes:

Failed rotor gear drive
Clogged rotor
Pressure issue
Wrong nozzle

What a technician should check:

Inspect rotor
Verify pressure
Check nozzle

Likely repairs:

Replace rotor
Change nozzle

Head sprays the sidewalk or house

Often bundled into a system tune-up.

Possible causes:

Head out of adjustment
Crooked head
Wrong nozzle
Landscape changed

What a technician should check:

Alignment
Coverage check

Likely repairs:

Straighten
Adjust arc
Replace nozzle
Reposition head

Head broken off

Possible causes:

Mower damage
Vehicle traffic
Ground movement
Age

Likely repairs:

Replace head
Repair fitting

Head replacement cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

FMy sprinklers have low pressure or weak spray

Is low pressure affecting one head, one zone, several zones or the whole system?

One head

Possible causes:

Clogged nozzle
Damaged head
Local fitting issue

What a technician should check:

Nozzle / head inspection

Likely repairs:

Clean or replace head

One zone

Possible causes:

Lateral leak
Valve only partly opening
Valve diaphragm
Too many heads on the zone
Pressure loss

What a technician should check:

Zone pressure
Inspect valve
Isolate leak
Flow assessment

Likely repairs:

Pipe repair
Valve rebuild
Redesign / nozzle correction

Leak repair cost

Whole system

Possible causes:

Supply pressure problem
Partially closed shutoff
Backflow restriction
Pressure regulator issue
Mainline issue
Pump problem

What a technician should check:

Static pressure
Dynamic pressure
Backflow inspection
Supply test
Pump test

Likely repairs:

Restore water supply
Backflow repair
Regulator repair
Pump repair
Mainline repair

Backflow repair cost · Pump repair cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

GMy controller or timer isn't working correctly

What is happening? Blank screen, wrong watering days, runs twice, won't start automatically or manually, wrong zone runs, loses programming, Wi-Fi offline, fault message, or rain sensor problem?

Blank screen? Start with branch A: Nothing is working.

Runs twice

Often fixable yourself: check every program for extra start times.

Possible causes:

Multiple start times programmed
Duplicate programs
Smart schedule setting

What a technician should check:

Programs A/B/C
Start times
Weather-based adjustments

Likely repairs:

Reprogramming

Loses programming

Possible causes:

Bad backup battery
Power interruption
Failing controller memory

What a technician should check:

Backup battery
Supply voltage
Memory test

Likely repairs:

Battery replacement
Controller replacement

Controller replacement cost

Wrong zone turns on

Possible causes:

Crossed wiring
Mislabeled stations
Controller output fault

What a technician should check:

Terminal identification
Voltage
Wire tracing

Likely repairs:

Correct the wiring
Controller replacement

Wire repair cost

HI think there is an electrical or wiring problem

Do you see a controller fault, a zone that only works manually, several zones stopped, intermittent operation, recent digging, a lightning event, or a cut wire?

Zone works manually at the valve but not from the controller

Possible causes:

Electrical, wiring or solenoid problem

What a technician should check:

Station voltage
Resistance
Common-wire continuity
Solenoid resistance

Likely repairs:

Wire repair
Waterproof splice
Solenoid replacement
Controller output repair

Solenoid replacement cost

Several zones stopped together

Possible causes:

Common-wire break
Controller failure
Shared splice failure

What a technician should check:

Common continuity
Resistance comparison
Wire tracing

Likely repairs:

Locate the broken common wire
Splice or rewire

Wire repair cost

Fault appeared after digging

Possible causes:

Severed field wire

What a technician should check:

Locator / tracer
Continuity

Likely repairs:

Wire splice or replacement

Wire repair cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

IMy yard is watering unevenly

What are you seeing? Dry spots, wet spots, runoff, overspray, some areas too green, poor coverage, mixed head types, or water pooling?

Dry spots

Possible causes:

Bad head spacing
Clogged nozzle
Blocked spray
Pressure issue
Wrong nozzle
Landscape growth

What a technician should check:

Coverage test if needed
Pressure
Head layout
Nozzle type

Likely repairs:

Nozzle correction
Reposition head
Add or move a head
Adjust pressure

Runoff

Possible causes:

Run times too long
Clay soil
Precipitation rate too high
Slope
Broken head
Poor programming

Likely repairs:

Reprogram (cycle-and-soak)
Nozzle changes
Identify drainage issues

Consistently wet spot

Possible causes:

Hidden leak
Low-head drainage
Valve seepage
Grading / drainage issue

What a technician should check:

Valve leak test
Observe with the system off
Inspect head elevation

Likely repairs:

Check-valve head
Valve repair
Leak repair

Leak repair cost · System inspection cost

JMy water bill is high or I'm not sure what's wrong

Did your water bill increase suddenly or gradually? Do you see wet areas? Are sprinklers running when they shouldn't? Does the water meter move when all household water is off?

Sudden increase

Possible causes:

Broken pipe
Stuck valve
Controller programming issue
Hidden leak
Excessive run time

If the meter shows continuous flow with household water off, the cause could be an irrigation mainline leak or a household plumbing leak. Closing the irrigation shutoff and watching the meter helps tell them apart.

No obvious leak

Possible causes:

Schedule recently changed: excess run time, multiple start times, smart controller setting
Schedule not changed: hidden leak, valve seepage, inefficient system, failing equipment

Likely repairs:

Complete sprinkler system inspection

System inspection cost · Find a sprinkler pro near you

Ready for help?

Once you know the likely cause, see typical repair costs or find sprinkler repair near you.