Sprinkler System Doesn't Run

18 years ago

Checked to see that the water was on, it was, checked to see that the controller had power, it did, bypassed the rain sensor, no effect.

Any ideas on whats gone wrong? Its a new install and I am waiting for the crew to come back and fix a few broken heads and pipes but its been working fine with the exception of the zones with the broken heads which I have shut down.

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Comments (9)

coho
18 years ago
Try the link!

Here is a link that might be useful: Troubleshooting.
eltigre
18 years ago
Since its a new install, and hopefully under a warranty, sounds like they will have it back online before you get this note. Perhaps someone has the water shutoff somewhere (probably the main contol box out in the yard, near the back flow preventer (which could also be shut off or plugged up and failed)). Or a fuse could be out in the controller, or a solenoid valve could be manually shutoff or unwired. Or a loose wire in the controller. Or the controller prg parameters got changed.... let us know what they find.
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Hi Toni, Try to answer the questions as best you can. Try to describe your system physically from well to sprinklers including uphill and down hill distances to fittings. The solenoid is a little fat black cylinder on top of the valve housing that has either two black or white same colored wires(can you see wires coming out of the top side?). It could be construed as a knob. If you turn it you are screwing it off but the wires have to be disconnected first to take it off. Turning the solenoid enough should turn on the sprinklers though. Part of the troubleshooting is to check if water is getting to the valve and then making sure the valve is operating properly from the controller (describe your timer/controller, brand, dial type, digital etc.). We can take it step by step. Aloha
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I tried searching for this info in the archives but couldn't find anything related. I was trying to plant in my back yard and hit a sprinkler line, the lines are a bit oddly laid due to insane amount of rock in the ground so it's not a big surprise. I go out front to turn off the water main to the irrigation system, again, not a big deal. I'm assuming it's a regular ball valve and it has on and off written on it with the respective arrows (righty tighty, lefty loosey). So I tighten it. It does nothing. I can run the sprinklers and the water still flows, you can feel it in the line. This is a new Rainbird system put in last September when the house was built so I know it's not rotted out or anything. Am I doing something wrong here? I can turn off the main house valve and shut all the water off but not the irrigation system. I am definitely not some sort of experienced landscaper (obviously) but if it says 'irrigation' on it and the valve says 'off' I'm making the wild assumption that that's how you turn it off....help!
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In-ground boxes were used; however, they were overgrown with grass. We finally managed to locate all 7 zone valves and the master valve. It only took about 10 hours, but we found them all, and cleaned them out. That was 80% of the time spent on this project. Lesson learned...keep those valve cover areas weedeated out every week!! The root cause appears to be sand from our well. We get this really fine sand from the Paluxy Sands in our well water. We had severe sand issues for a while after first digging the well, and apparently it was enough to cause problems in the irrigation system 3 years later! The sand got into the diaphragms in the valves and blocked the little pin holes that allow the valves to close. That, combined with lowering the water pressure slightly, would not allow the valves to close. Thus, multiple stations would be running at the same time. Everything is working better than before now, thank goodness! I found a great site for electrical troubleshooting that helped a lot (link below); that helped narrow down the possibilities right off the bat. Here is a link that might be useful: Sprinkler System Electrical Troubleshooting
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bogey123
Original Author
18 years ago
The electronics failed, nothing we could do about this one.
eltigre
18 years ago
Thats pretty rare in a new system... what brand was it?
beachmamaproperties
18 years ago
this is the same situation I am facing. Except I have never run my new irrigation system, I am waiting for my new sod to be installed. I want to run the system because they just installed my palm trees and foundation plantings yesterday though. The timer shows that it is running, but no sounds out of my new well pump. the switch outside by the pump is in the on position.
bogey123
Original Author
18 years ago
The controller is made by Irritrol, its one of their 15 zone controllers.

beachmamamproperties - if you look at where the pipe exits the house there might be a spigot close to the backflow valve. Check to see if you have the water on. Since you don't have any grass yet they may have kept the water valve closed.
Waterit
18 years ago
Check to make sure the breaker that controls the pump is on.
doug2010
13 years ago
my sprinkler system doesnt run. does anyone know where the water shut off would be in the yard? recently rebuilt whole house due to fire and water was turned off i dont know if they shut off sprinkler system also.
lehua49
13 years ago
Doug,

Are you in communications with the re-builder still? Do you know where the water meter is located. How is your system hooked up to the water source? Please describe your irrigation system and what and where is visible above ground. You need to remember forum members can not see your yard or house and can not visit your property. Your best bet would be to hire an landscaper to start up and test your irrigation system and repair anything that is not working properly. Worth the "piece of mind" and the hassle of continually repairing small problems. If money is an issue then fill us in on the details and we will help the best we can. JMHO Aloha

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Sprinkler System Doesn't Run

Comments (9)

coho

eltigre

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bogey123
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Sprinkler System Doesn't Run

Comments (9)

coho

eltigre

Related Discussions

bogey123Original Author

eltigre

beachmamaproperties

bogey123Original Author

Waterit

doug2010

lehua49

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BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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bogey123
Original Author

bogey123
Original Author