SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Somebody turned it off. If you can think of another way, let us know.
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Figured out the problem.
The main valve on the back of the house is broken and stuck pretty much off. It does allow very little water through. Going to replace it and will be back in business.. Now the crazy part is how did this break by changing 3 sprinkler heads?!?!

Try to be methodical - if a customer in a case like tells me the wiring is perfect, I check it anyway, measuring zone resistance at the controller

Quoted from "mrfixit"

From what you've described you didn't cause the problem. Sometimes thing just break.
One time I was talking to a homeowner. I hadn't touched a thing yet. His mainline in the front lawn just burst. Was a fluke.

Is there a wire hooked up to the controller in the master valve or pump slot? mv or p
If so you have a master valve. If not you don't.

Are the flow controls turned off on the valves?

Maybe the shut off valve is broken in the off position.

Yeah, crazy things can happen for sure!

There is no wire connected to the MV terminal in the control box on my wall. So I am assuming there is no Master Valve.

I haven't changed anything on the valves and they all worked the morning before I changed out the 3 heads.

From what you've described you didn't cause the problem. Sometimes thing just break.
One time I was talking to a homeowner. I hadn't touched a thing yet. His mainline in the front lawn just burst. Was a fluke.

Is there a wire hooked up to the controller in the master valve or pump slot? mv or p
If so you have a master valve. If not you don't.

Are the flow controls turned off on the valves?

Maybe the shut off valve is broken in the off position.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

Do all the valves do this?
A broken pressure regulator could cause low pressure to all the valves.
A shut off valve that's partially open. Sometimes a gardener will fiddle with it.
A bad master valve.
Is there a pump? Is there some sort of filter on the line?
Have you turned the water off at the meter recently? Sometimes a plumber will not turn it back on all the way causing low flow.

Thanks for your help.

To answer your questions.
1. Yes. None of the zones work but there is a very little water passing through each of them.
2. Where would I check for the broken pressure regulator?
3. Where would I check or a broken master valve?
4. There is no pump.
5. Nope. I was down there tonight and turned it off and all the way back on to be sure.

System ran just fine yesterday morning. All I did was unscrewed the broken heads and installed new. How could that cause this?

Do all the valves do this?
A broken pressure regulator could cause low pressure to all the valves.
A shut off valve that's partially open. Sometimes a gardener will fiddle with it.
A bad master valve.
Is there a pump? Is there some sort of filter on the line?
Have you turned the water off at the meter recently? Sometimes a plumber will not turn it back on all the way causing low flow.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

How do you know the water is on to the sprinkler system if none of the valves come on manually?

Water comes out of zone 1 but it's very low. Low enough that the heads won't pop up.

How do you know the water is on to the sprinkler system if none of the valves come on manually?

Quoted from "mrfixit"

Did you turn the water off somehow? I've seen it done more than once.
People shut off the water to the sprinkler system and forget they've done it.
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Maybe you cut a wire going to the master valve?

I triple checked the water is on.

How can I determine if the master valve wire is cut? If the common wire was cut wouldn't each zone still start when I manually start them at the control valve box in the ground?