If nothing turns on
- Power. Is the controller display on? Check the outlet, a tripped GFCI, the breaker, and the plug-in transformer.
- Off or rain mode. The dial may be on Off, a rain delay may be set, or a rain sensor may be holding the system off.
- The program. Make sure there’s a start time, the right watering days, and run times above zero. A seasonal adjust set to 0% stops everything too.
- Water supply. The irrigation shutoff or the valves on the backflow preventer may be closed.
The schedule changes twice a year. On November 1, Fresno and Clovis switch to one watering day a week through March 31, and on April 1 back to three days. A controller set to the wrong days can look broken. See the Fresno and Clovis schedules.
If one zone won’t turn on
Run that zone by itself from the controller. If it still won’t start, try opening its valve by hand with the manual bleed screw or a quarter turn of the solenoid.
- It runs by hand, but not from the controller: the problem is electrical. A wire cut during digging, a corroded splice, or a failed solenoid are the usual causes.
- It won’t run even by hand: the valve is the problem. Look for debris, a damaged diaphragm, or a flow control turned all the way down.
- You hear a hum or click at the valve but no water: power is reaching the solenoid, but the valve isn’t opening.
Close the manual bleed again when you’re done, hand-tight only, or the zone may keep running.
When to call us
Wiring and valve problems take testing equipment and some digging. Our free 21-point inspection checks the controller, every valve, and every zone, and itemizes each issue with what it costs to fix. Or go straight to sprinkler repair in Fresno or Clovis.
Safety first: if you can’t stop the water, close the shutoff valve for the irrigation system, or the main shutoff to the house. Before you dig anywhere, call 811 to have buried utility lines marked.
Written by ACRE Landscape Co., Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 26, 2026.