Free Diagnostic Tool
Diagnose your irrigation system
Start with sprinkler heads, valves, pressure, leaks, controls, sensors, backflow, or winterization. Each path helps you identify the likely problem and its evidence before opening the matching Repair Guide.
What part of your irrigation system needs troubleshooting?
Choose the problem that best matches what you have observed.
Diagnosis guides
- Backflow Preventer Failing Its Annual Test — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing why a backflow preventer is failing its annual test — leaking RPZ, stuck check valve, cracked bonnet, and freeze damage.
- Sprinkler Zone Low Water PressureFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing low water pressure in a single sprinkler zone — clogged heads, cracked pipes, failing valves, and pressure regulator faults.
- Wet Spots Between Watering CyclesFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing persistent wet spots that appear between irrigation cycles — valve bleed, lateral-line leaks, and scheduling faults.
- Irrigation Controller Not Running a ProgramFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing an irrigation controller that will not run a program — timer faults, wiring faults, and power supply failures.
- Sprinkler Head Leaking at the BaseFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler head leaking at the base — failed base seal, worn O-ring, impact damage, and over-torqued installation.
- Smart Irrigation Controller Not ProgrammingFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a smart irrigation controller that will not program — WiFi connectivity failures, schedule sync issues, and app pairing problems.
- Irrigation System Winterization — Diagnostic GuideFree step-by-step guide to winterizing your irrigation system — blow-out vs. drain method selection, pre-winter inspection checklist, and valve isolation steps.
- Why Is My Sprinkler Valve Not Turning OnFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing why a sprinkler valve won't turn on — electrical faults, solenoid failure, debris, wiring, and controller issues.
- Sprinkler Head Not Popping UpFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing why a sprinkler head won't pop up — low pressure, clogged nozzle, broken spring, damaged riser seal, and valve flow issues.
- Sprinkler Controller Won't Turn OnFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler controller that won't turn on — dead outlet, tripped GFCI, blown transformer, failed backup battery / surge damage, and bad wiring at the controller box.
- Why Is My Winterization Failing — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a winterization that failed — blow-out not clearing zones, freeze damage after blow-out, manual vs. auto drain, backflow plug won't budge, compressor undersized for the pipe.
- Why Is My Rain Sensor Not Shutting Off — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a rain or freeze sensor that misbehaves — false-tripping, no shutdown in rain, controller not honoring bypass, and irrigation running in freezing weather.
- Sprinkler Valve Won't Shut Off (Stuck Open) — DiagnosticsFree diagnostic guide to a sprinkler valve that will not shut off — observable symptoms, safe visual checks, likely failure categories, and emergency safety direction.
- Sprinkler Head Low Flow / Clogged — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler head with low flow or clogged output — symptom ID, debris/clog inspection, filter-screen check, static vs. dynamic pressure test, and nozzle-vs-head failure triage.
- Broken Sprinkler Lateral Line Leak — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a broken sprinkler lateral line leak — symptom confirmation (soggy zones, pressure drop, wet patches between heads), zone isolation, static vs dynamic pressure test, pump-down localization, and excavation triage.
- Sprinkler Zone Not Turning On — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler zone that will not turn on — electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic triage; field-wire continuity, solenoid resistance, manual bleed test, controller output voltage, diaphragm inspection, and shared-zone comparative test.
- Sprinkler Wiring Short / Decoder Fault — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler wiring short or decoder fault — symptom ID (zone will not fire, controller error codes, tripped breaker), multimeter wire continuity test, short isolation by zone, decoder vs direct-wire triage.