Sprinkler repair

Sprinkler wire repair: find a cut or shorted wire

Test each zone’s resistance at the controller. Rain Bird lists 20–60 ohms as normal; readings outside that point to the solenoid, a connector or the field wire.

Not comfortable doing this yourself? Get help from a pro ↓

Quick take: Hunter recommends a trained professional do voltage tests (Hunter). Get a pro to trace the wire →

Check this first

  1. Measure at the controller. Disconnect the common wire, set the meter to the lowest ohms scale, hold one lead on the common wire and touch the other to each station terminal. 20–60 ohms is acceptable (Rain Bird).
  2. Below 20 ohms (a short)? At the valve, disconnect the solenoid and test it alone. Still low: replace the solenoid. Solenoid OK: the short is in the field wire (two solenoids on one station can also read low) (Rain Bird).
  3. Above 60 ohms (an open)? Test the solenoid alone. If it’s fine, cut out the connectors, twist the station and common wires together and retest from the controller. A very low reading (2–3 ohms) means a bad connector: fit new waterproof connectors (Rain Bird).
  4. Still high with the wires twisted? The break is between the valve and the controller. Rain Bird says wire tracing equipment should be used to locate it (Rain Bird).
  5. Splice to last. Use direct-bury waterproof connectors rated for 30 V or less (King) and direct-burial sprinkler wire (Southwire). Zone still dead? See zone won’t turn on.
▶ Watch howMultimeter Basics: Troubleshooting an irrigation system using a MultimeterOfficial Hunter Landscape Irrigation video on YouTube ↗

Parts you may need

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When to call a pro

Locating a buried break takes wire tracing equipment (Rain Bird). The EPA suggests hiring an irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program (EPA WaterSense).

Find a pro →

Steps summarized from the linked manufacturer and EPA pages (checked 2026-10-18). If your valve or head brand differs, follow its manual.

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