Get your sprinkler system back to full strength
If one irrigation zone is not working, you might have an electrical issue with the entire system.
Other potential problems include damaged valves and leaky pipes.
Sprinkler system zones operate independently and may have different watering needs.
Contact a sprinkler repair professional to identify and fix the problem.
If your irrigation zone isn’t working properly, you should hire a sprinkler repair technician to resolve the issue right away. A faulty controller, damaged or dirty zone valve, defective solenoid, or a leaky pipe could be the cause of the irrigation zone issue. Let’s review some of the most common causes of this sprinkler system problem.
Sprinkler controllers (also known as irrigation controllers) are the command center of your sprinkler system, turning water on and off in each zone based on the settings you’ve created. The controller connects to each zone through a dedicated wire, so if there’s an issue with a particular zone’s wire, water might stop flowing to that area.
Unfortunately, wiring issues can be tricky to identify without professional help. However, there are a few simple solutions to try before you contact a pro. Sometimes, fixing a controller issue is as simple as making sure the device is on, replacing the batteries, or confirming that the watering settings are correct. If none of that works, call a sprinkler expert to take a look. They may need to repair the wiring or replace the controller entirely, which can cost up to $325.
Each irrigation zone has a sprinkler valve that controls the distribution of water to the sprinkler heads in that zone. If one particular irrigation zone won’t turn off, it might be because the valve is damaged or filled with debris, forcing it to stay open. Wet valve boxes are another potential sign of a faulty valve.
Replacing a broken sprinkler valve isn’t a beginner-friendly DIY project. You’ll need to shut off the water supply and disconnect the wiring before removing the old valve and swapping it out for an exact replacement. You might also have to cut and seal PVC pipes. For these reasons, we recommend bringing in a local sprinkler repair pro for this job.
The solenoid is an electrical device that connects to your sprinkler valve. It receives signals from the controller, which tell the solenoid when to open and close the valve (or, in other words, turn the water on and off in a particular zone).
Over time, a solenoid can become loose, get dirty, or break. If this happens, the damaged solenoid might release too much water into the irrigation zone (if it keeps the valve open) or none at all (if it shuts the valve).
Depending on the exact problem, you might only need to clean the solenoid to get it working again. Otherwise, you might need a new one. If you’re comfortable getting your hands dirty, you can replace a damaged solenoid yourself, using our sprinkler maintenance tips as a starting point. However, this task involves shutting off the water supply, disconnecting the power, and taking apart your sprinkler valve, so if you aren’t comfortable with that, it’s better to hire a sprinkler expert.
If the irrigation zone still turns on but is slower or weaker than the rest of your sprinkler system, you could have a leaky pipe in that zone. In situations like these, water will leak out of your underground pipes before it even gets to your sprinkler heads—which can result in reduced water pressure and water pooling in certain parts of your lawn.
Fixing a leaky pipe requires specialized skills, so it’s best left to the pros. For this job, a qualified plumber will start by finding the leak, digging into the ground to access the line, and repairing the sprinkler pipe. On average, plumbers charge $50 to $100 per hour for this type of work. Your total sprinkler pipe repair cost will depend on a few factors, including the pipe’s location and the extent of the damage.
Most modern sprinkler systems separate your lawn into distinct zones, each with its own sprinkler valve and multiple sprinkler heads. The purpose of zoned irrigation systems is to distribute the correct amount of water to various parts of your lawn based on their sizes and watering needs. For example, a large grassy zone in the sun will have different watering requirements than a shrubby area in the shade. Depending on the type of plants you have, your yard may also need several types of sprinkler heads.
As you might expect, the more zones you need, the more you’ll pay to install them. For instance, a one-zone sprinkler system costs between $500 and $1,000, with each extra zone adding about $1,000 to that price.
Since these zones operate independently, there are times when one of them might shut down, leaving you wondering why one sprinkler zone is not working. Here are some of the most common reasons why that might happen.
There are several reasons why one of your sprinkler zones is not working, but it’s often the result of an electrical problem, such as a faulty controller or bad solenoid. Otherwise, an irrigation zone might quit working if the valve in that zone is damaged or blocked with debris. Leaky pipes can also make sprinkler zones work less effectively, reducing water pressure and leading to soggy patches in your yard.
If a solenoid valve goes bad, you might notice an excessive amount of water coming out of one of your irrigation zones. This could indicate that the solenoid is forcing the sprinkler valve open so the flow of water doesn’t stop. Alternatively, a bad solenoid could close the valve, so the sprinklers in that zone don’t release any water.
