Stop the water now
- Turn the controller to Off. If the water stops, a zone was running and the break is on that zone’s line or a head. It only leaks while the zone runs, so leave the controller off until it is fixed.
- Still running? Close the sprinkler shutoff. Water that keeps flowing with the controller off means a valve is stuck open or the main line is broken. Many homes have a separate shutoff on the line that feeds the valves.
- No sprinkler shutoff? Close the main water shutoff to the house.
- On a private well? Switch the pump off at its breaker.
- Then call us. Tell us your address and what you see.
Main line or zone line? Why it matters
Your sprinkler main line runs from the water supply to the valves and is under pressure all the time. When it breaks, water runs nonstop until someone shuts it off. The zone lines after each valve only hold water while that zone runs, so a break there floods only during its cycle.
That is why the first step is the controller. If turning it off stops the water, the break is on a zone line. If it doesn’t, it is the main line or a valve stuck open.
A valve that won’t shut off
A zone that keeps running after the controller is off usually has debris in the valve, a torn diaphragm, or a solenoid stuck open. If your valve has a flow-control handle on top, turning it all the way clockwise can close it until we get there. Otherwise, close the sprinkler shutoff.
See our guide on a sprinkler valve that won’t shut off for more.
Then call us
Call or text (559) 203-7881 with your address and what you see. We’ll get you on the schedule as fast as we can. Our Fresno location is open Sunday through Thursday 5 AM–9 PM and Friday 5 AM–6 PM, and closed Saturday. Our Clovis location is open every day, 8 AM–6 PM.
What the repair involves
We find the break, dig only where it is, cut out the damaged section and repair it with proper fittings. A stuck valve gets cleaned, rebuilt or replaced. Then we run every zone. See sprinkler pipe repair and valve repair.
Written by ACRE Landscape Inc, Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 30, 2026.