Sprinkler Timer Troubleshooting: 5 Tips

A sprinkler timer may not always operate as you programmed it. Try a bit of troubleshooting to determine what the problem is before replacing the timer entirely.

Problem #1 – Watering Occurring at Odd Times

If your electricity goes out of your timer gets unplugged or disconnected, the clock or day settings may get skewed.

If you discover that your sprinklers are not running when you anticipate, examine the display to see if the clock and day are actually correct. If not, reset the clock and days.

Run through the zone settings to correct the times that the sprinklers should run. Try temporarily setting the times and days for a time when you are available to watch to make sure that the clock and day are synchronizing with the settings.

Problem #2 – Zones Not Being Watered

If you discover that zones are not being watered when you expect them to be watered (or at all), double-check to make sure that your zone settings are actually correct. Look at the display and run through each zone setting.

Occasionally, you may discover that zone settings have been changed due to a temporary disconnection in electricity or because it has been set incorrectly. This is easy to correct by going to the zone settings and adjusting them to the desired times and days.

Problem #3 – Sprinklers Not Running at All

You may occasionally forget that you have turned your sprinklers off due to rain or changed your settings to 'Manual' in order to allow an extra watering cycle.

Make sure to keep children away from the control panel as some tend to flip dials and switches. After visitors have left, look at the timer and make sure all dials are set correctly to the 'Run' setting.

Problem #4 – Sprinklers Come On, But Then Turn Off Right Away

This is usually a case of the run time being set for a very short duration. This problem can be easily solved by reviewing the duration settings for each zone. Double-check the duration by temporarily setting the run time for a short duration that you can evaluate immediately.

Problem #5 – Sprinklers Come On, But Do Not Turn Off

In this case, the duration time has likely been set incorrectly for an unusually long period of time, or the timer is stuck on 'Manual.'

If the dial is correctly placed in the 'Run' position, go through the duration settings and correct them as needed.

If neither of these solutions appears to work and the sprinklers keep running, double-check outside to make sure that an external valve is not open. An open valve will require more extensive corrections that do not involve the electronic timer.