Free Diagnostic Tool
Diagnose your broken sprinkler head
Answer a few questions about what you see and get a precise diagnosis — plus step-by-step repair instructions for the most common sprinkler head failures.
Step 1 of 4
What are you seeing?
Select the symptom that best describes your sprinkler problem.
Wet patch / pooling water
Water collecting around or under the head
Head won't pop up
Zone runs but the head stays flush or barely rises
Weak or uneven spray
Head pops up but spray is short or patchy
Wrong direction or pattern
Spray aimed at the wrong area or arc is off
Diagnosis guides
- 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.
- Sprinkler Zone Not Turning On — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler zone that won’t 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.
- 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.
- Broken Irrigation Pipe / Lateral Leak — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a broken underground irrigation pipe or lateral leak — symptom confirmation, pressure decay test, acoustic pinpointing, and excavation-free location methods.
- 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.
- Sprinkler Valve Won't Shut Off (Stuck Open) — DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler valve that is stuck open and will not shut off — symptom check, isolation, valve-location, solenoid-vs-diaphragm path, and manifold-vs-zone split.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sprinkler Head Won't Pop UpFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler head that won't pop up — spring failure, debris blockage, riser damage, 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.
- Sprinkler Valve Won't Open (Stuck Closed)Free step-by-step guide to diagnosing a sprinkler valve that won't open — electrical faults, solenoid failure, diaphragm blockage, and pressure issues.
- Backflow Preventer DiagnosticsFree step-by-step guide to diagnosing backflow preventer failures in irrigation systems — symptoms, causes, and when to repair vs. replace.