How to Troubleshoot a Sprinkler System

If you’re experiencing sprinkler problems, it’s time to learn how to troubleshoot your sprinkler system to figure out the issue. 

Keep in mind that sprinklers connect to your water source and use electricity to operate, so make sure you feel comfortable troubleshooting your sprinkler system before fixing DIY style. A local sprinkler service can diagnose the issue if you’re unsure. Here are seven ways to address common sprinkler problems.

1. Sprinkler Controller Issues

Errors with the irrigation controller used to operate your system can be especially frustrating. A blank display, sprinklers refusing to come up or retract, and uneven spray patterns are just a few of the issues.

How to Fix It

As with most electric appliances, make sure you run through the basic checklist first:

• Check to make sure the device is on.

• Check if the battery needs replacing or if the backup battery needs recharging.

• Check the device to make sure there isn’t obvious damage to it.

• Be sure the controls you’ve pre-set are still what you want them to be. (Make sure no one changed them by accident.)

If your controller passes this checklist, it’s likely something further down the line causing issues. Avoid taking apart your controller unless you know how to put it back together. Instead, consider hiring a sprinkler professional for help troubleshooting your controller issues. If they are unable to fix your controller, you’ll need to purchase a new controller that can cost as much as $325.

2. Leaking Sprinkler 

Leaking sprinklers leave puddles around your water and unevenly water your yard. If the problem persists, you could cause damage to your lawn or worse—water drainage issues that could affect structures on your property.

How to Fix It

To troubleshoot the issue, turn your water supply off first and then search the sprinkler in question for obvious signs, such as:

• Clogged sprinkler head

• Clogged filter

• Dirty or clogged valve

• Loose or damaged valves

Often, you can fix a leaking sprinkler by unscrewing the nozzle and removing any dirt or debris inside the sprinkler head. Next, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to gently remove the filter to clean it. If this does not fix the issue, or you have a loose or broken valve, you might need to replace them. 

3. Zone Valve Issues

Most lawn irrigation systems use zoning to channel water to specific parts of your yard. This system allows your entire yard to receive a soaking without negatively affecting water pressure inside the home, which could disrupt appliance performance.

Unfortunately, sometimes a sprinkler zone will stop working, or your sprinkler system will just skip a zone altogether, which can greatly affect the health of your grass in the affected zones. 

How to Fix It

In all likelihood, the issue is an electrical one. Either your controller is defective (and you’ll need a pro to replace it), or the solenoid valve, which is opened and closed using your controller, is faulty. If you’re willing to try your hand at DIY sprinkler repairs, you can replace a solenoid on your own. Otherwise, you can have a sprinkler repair company to do it for you.

4. Broken Sprinkler Head

Regardless of which type of sprinkler head you have, even small cracks can cause issues, such as pooling water or uneven distribution across your lawn. Blunt trauma can break the head clean off, but small amounts of wear and tear over time (your lawnmower repeatedly passing over it, for example) can lead to cracks or chips that deteriorate performance.

Frozen water left inside your pipes in the fall can lead to liquid expansion, which may crack your sprinkler heads, too. This is why hiring local lawn aeration services and troubleshooting sprinkler system issues in the fall to remove water and microbes is very important.

How to Fix It

Sprinkler heads cost between $3 and $30 to replace—and even more if you have a professional do it. If you choose the DIY route to replace your damaged sprinkler head, be sure to order one that matches your system.

5. Low Water Pressure

Troubleshooting low water pressure with your sprinkler is one of the most frustrating problems, as the leak could be anywhere in the system—damage at the sprinkler head, a clog in the valve, or even a rupture in the sprinkler line beneath. If not addressed, your sprinkler system will not properly irrigate your lawn and could cause long term damage or even death of your grass. 

How to Fix It

Fixing a buried sprinkler line will require a shovel to turn up dirt, and you may have to dig several feet to find where the fault lies. Outsourcing this task if it seems out of your wheelhouse is recommended.

6. Strange Noises Coming From Sprinkler

A small leak or crack can lead to whining or high-pitched screeching noises from your sprinkler. Water pressure builds up when liquid moves through your sprinklers, and these imperfections in your system can lead to unexpected noises. 

How to Fix It

Although strange sounds aren’t the most serious problem on this list, it can be an early warning sign of greater issues happening within your system. To stop the sounds, replacing the sprinkler head or applying epoxy putty to the dried small hole is your best bet. 

7. Watering at Off-Hours

In certain areas, especially drought-prone and urban locations, you must run your sprinklers during off-hours (late at night or early in the morning) to avoid low water pressure. If your system is running outside of these times, there could be an issue with the settings or controller.

How to Fix It

Double-check to make sure you didn’t set your sprinkler to run twice by accessing your controller, or that the settings weren’t interrupted or changed by accident. If left unaddressed, you will likely end up with a large water bill, a poorly watered lawn, and possibly even a violation depending on local regulations.

If it continues, your controller may, once again, be the problem. If so, you might be able to fix it by looking up your specific controller’s instruction manual online and resetting your system.

When to Call a Pro

If you’ve tried these sprinkler system troubleshooting tips without any luck, it’s time to call a local sprinkler repair company. Similarly, if you think your sprinkler issue might be due to an electrical failure, you shouldn’t attempt to fix it yourself unless you have prior experience. Otherwise, you could shock yourself or damage your sprinkler system even further.

On average, professional sprinkler repairs cost between $130 and $410, but costs depend on the specific problem.

How to Prevent Sprinkler Problems

You can’t prevent all sprinkler problems, but with proper sprinkler system maintenance, you may be able to ward off certain issues. Here are a few tips: 

• Schedule professional inspections: It’s best to have a pro inspect your sprinkler system annually. Not only will this help ensure your system is running properly, but it can also detect small issues before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems.

• Clean your sprinkler heads: It’s also important to clean your sprinkler heads once per year. This means removing them and soaking them in a cleaning solution, but be sure to check your user manual for specific instructions. 

• Monitor water pressure: If you have low water pressure in your sprinkler system, it could be due to a sprinkler valve leak. By identifying these types of problems early, you could prevent flooding and drainage issues.

• Install a rain sensor: A rain sensor stops your sprinklers from running while it’s raining, preventing unnecessary wear and tear on your sprinkler system and reducing water waste.