Why sprinklers not working

Manually activate all the stations one at a time. Using your voltmeter, check the voltage at each station terminal screw when that station is active.

If not, the controller or station module needs to be replaced. Is there voltage on the station wires at the valve? Using your voltmeter, check the voltage on each wire at the valve location when that station is active. This can be caused by tree roots or because a vehicle has compressed the soil and compressed the pipe.

The only option here is to systematically dig up the lawn until you find the bad pipe and replace it. When the sprinkler zones do not turn on at all, it is generally a problem with the electrical signals running from the controller to the valve solenoids. More rarely, it is caused by a faulty valve that needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The problem may be with insufficient voltage to the terminals that feed the wires leading to the valve for the problem zone.

You can use a multimeter to test between the common terminal and zone terminal—if the voltage is too low they should be between 24 to 28 volts you will need to replace the entire controller. The low-voltage wires leading from the controller to the zone valve's solenoid may be damaged or disconnected. Check the wires and make sure they are intact and properly connected to both the controller and the zone valve solenoid.

The solenoid on the valve may be faulty. In this case, you will need to replace the solenoid. With the controller in the OFF position, simply remove the wires on the solenoid and unscrew it from the valve.

Screw on a new solenoid and reconnect the wires. The valve itself may need to be rebuilt or replaced. In some cases, simply disassembling and cleaning the diaphragm will solve the problem.

In other cases, replacing the diaphragm and spring will be the fix. In severe cases, replacing the entire valve will be the solution. The problem may be with the transformer that supplies low-voltage power to the controller.

Use a multitester to test the wire terminals marked "vac. Leaking around a zone valve could be caused by several issues. On valves where the anti-siphon device is built into the valve, the problem may be resolved simply by tightening the screws holding the cover to the body of the valve.

Leaking can be caused by a torn or damaged diaphragm inside the valve. In this case, disassemble and rebuild the valve with a new diaphragm.

While high quality heads are designed to resist all of this, general wear and tear happens. One of the most common problems is a clogged nozzle. Sometimes a clog can be cleared by simply using a small tool or brush to clear the obstruction. Other times the nozzle may be irreversibly damaged, so a new one is needed. In these cases, your sprinklers might drip water instead of spraying it. Or, no water actually leaves the head, and either a leak forms underground or water flow is interrupted to the rest of the system.

That may require us to replace the head altogether. This will usually stem from leaks or blocks, and both can be located in a number of places. Our trained and licensed technicians fix sprinkler systems for a living, so they know the right places to begin looking to diagnose a problem.

This expertise allows us to isolate the source of the problem and minimize the digging that might ultimately be necessary to fix the pipes. Leaking pipes can lead to water damage, and that can get out of control very quickly. Share on twitter. A Faulty Sprinkler Controller The controller is the most important component in your sprinkler system. Pump Buzzing Pump buzzing is another fatal defect. Pop Up Failure This defect can come in many forms.

Incorrect and Ineffective Head Height Ineffective head height is something not many people even register as an issue. Poor Water Pressure Poor water pressure is one of the major factors behind poor lawn coverage. Skipping Irrigation Zones This issue normally arises with pump-fed systems.

Clogged Sprinkler Heads Lastly, clogged sprinkler heads are an extremely common issue. About Us. Recent Posts. Follow Us. Facebook-f Twitter.