Guides are informational
The diagnostic and repair guides are informational resources only. They do not create a certification, warranty, guarantee, or promise that DIY work is safe, effective, or legally permitted. You decide whether a task is appropriate for your property and skill level.
A guide cannot inspect your specific system or account for every local condition. Stop if the situation does not match the guide or if you are unsure what you are seeing.
Before you dig or open equipment
Check local codes and permit or inspection requirements before beginning work. Follow the manufacturer instructions for the controller, valve, pump, backflow-prevention equipment, and other components involved.
Call 811 before digging to locate underground utilities, and follow the instructions provided by the applicable utility-locating service. Do not assume irrigation lines are the only buried infrastructure.
Call 811 before digging
Mark the work area and wait for the required utility-locating process before putting a shovel or tool into the ground.
Stop and escalate when needed
Stop work and contact a qualified or licensed professional when the task involves a hazard, unfamiliar equipment, or work outside your training. A licensed professional may be required by local code or by the nature of the work.
- Electrical wiring, energized equipment, or a controller issue you cannot safely isolate.
- Pressurized water, pumps, or components that could release pressure unexpectedly.
- Backflow-prevention equipment, testing, adjustment, or repair.
- Unknown utilities, damaged lines, flooding, structural damage, or another unsafe condition.
- Any repair that local code, a permit, or an inspection requires a licensed professional to perform.
Use your judgment
Turn off equipment only when you know how to do so safely, protect yourself from water and electrical hazards, and keep people and pets away from the work area. If you are not confident a repair can be completed safely and legally, do not begin it.