Irrigation zone running even though system is OFF

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Old 05-03-2025, 07:49 AM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Default Irrigation zone running even though system is OFF

Hoping I can get help in a Sat morning. I’m a new tenant in a home that owner is out of town and unavailable.
Cottage home in Monarch Grove.
Although the system is OFF zone 3 has been running since 4pm yesterday. Discovered this morning.
When running the zones manually zone 3 continues to run while 1, 2 or 4 are selected. It never stops, the others do.

I can’t find anything in electric panel that controls sprinkler system, neither garage breaker does.

Any names & numbers on who I can call?

Can irrigation water be turned off while leaving house water running? I don’t easily see a shut off valve.

Thanks
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Old 05-03-2025, 07:59 AM
pacjag pacjag is offline
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Each zone is controlled by an electric valve and the valve for that zone is stuck open. It will likely need to be replaced. The house water and irrigation water are separate and there should be two separate valves in the front yard. You should be able to open the covers for those and turn them each off to see which is the irrigation valve (it should have purple colored piping going from the valve towards the house, denoting it is non-potable water). Just leave that one off until a repair person can come out.
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:03 AM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Thanks. I lifted the one black cover I coukd find. It’s in the zone 3 so it’s flooded - can’t see a thing. Any suggestions on who I can call ? I am bailing the water. Much appreciated
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:09 AM
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Be nice to which brand you system has? But, this video explains majority of them. Most likely the valve stuck open. As shown in video you can just replace the guts and and not have to cut irrigation pipes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-SzmZZ2VUk
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scubawva View Post
Thanks. I lifted the one black cover I coukd find. It’s in the zone 3 so it’s flooded - can’t see a thing. Any suggestions on who I can call ? I am bailing the water. Much appreciated

Hopefully the water leak in the box coming for zone 3 valve and not the PVC piping. You should been able to see the water swirling were leak at?
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
Hopefully the water leak in the box coming for zone 3 valve and not the PVC piping. You should been able to see the water swirling were leak at?
If you are renter call owner see who he want to call for the repair. If I was renter that what I would do. It’s his responsibility being owner of property. If he unavailable I would just shut irrigation off using the control panel and manual valve before it enters the control box where the zone valves are till I could contact him?
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:21 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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I would suggest that you open the white electric box in the garage and unplug the controller. There should be a transformer plugged in at the bottom of the electric box. Although, I don't know if this will solve your problem.
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:28 AM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Thanks all
The system has already been unplugged, still running

The owner unavailable, normally they would be my first call

A neighbor trying to help

I’m happy to just turn off water & wait for owner to handle, that was my initial question. Problem is we can’t find how to do that for irrigation only and leave house running.

Neighbor working in it, hopefully he can get irrigation water off

Keep suggestions coming. If anyone knows an irrigation guy I could contact please share that number
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:38 AM
MarshBendLover MarshBendLover is offline
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Would be interesting to see what problem is, but killing power would not stop water. Only turning water line off. Valve probably broken inside and allowing water to run free.

As a landlord you should be ready to be available 24/7 when you have a renter.
You have done what you can do.

Be thankful it's not your water bill
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Old 05-03-2025, 08:53 AM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Water off! Found the box in ground and got to Cellinoud valve to stop. Had to bail water out of it - as luck goes both boxes in the zone that’s been running.

The owner is responsive, their regular irrigation guy hasn’t been which is why looking for new guy.

Now need good irrigation guy.

Much appreciated quick responses.

Lesson - learn where your sprinkler valve box is located before it’s flooded 🤪

Last edited by scubawva; 05-03-2025 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 05-03-2025, 09:41 AM
bagboy bagboy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scubawva View Post
Water off! Found the box in ground and got to Cellinoud valve to stop. Had to bail water out of it - as luck goes both boxes in the zone that’s been running.

The owner is responsive, their regular irrigation guy hasn’t been which is why looking for new guy.

Now need good irrigation guy.

Much appreciated quick responses.

Lesson - learn where your sprinkler valve box is located before it’s flooded ������
Call Joe Tucker for irrigation repair. 352-430-5615
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Old 05-03-2025, 11:15 AM
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bragones bragones is offline
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Solenoid valves screw into their respective sockets in the irrigation box. If the solenoid is slightly loose, meaning slightly unscrewed counterclockwise, the zone will run continuously. You might want to check to see if each solenoid is tightened. If the problem is a bad solenoid, its a pretty easy fix/replace. I have never used Joe Tucker but have read favorable reviews on him.
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Old 05-03-2025, 01:44 PM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Joe is booked for the month of June. Chuck Roast is going to help. Thanks again all.
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Old 05-03-2025, 03:22 PM
CarlR33 CarlR33 is offline
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I had that happen up north. The valve sticks open due to most likely dirt so the valve cannot shut its water off so the only way to whoa it down is turn the water off. You might get lucky and take one of the zone’s sprinkler heads off, run it for a few with that head off to suck the dirt out of the controller. If that don’t work it’s only four screws to take off and replace the guts or the controller. At least here they put the valve in a known box. Up north I had to locate them in the middle of the yard and not a fun project at all.
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Old 05-03-2025, 04:41 PM
scubawva scubawva is offline
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Found water shut off. It’s in the yard about 7’ from street on lot line between neighbors.

Black box with 2 pink circles. One valve inside for each neighboring house. This is on opposite if house where black box with meter is, on same side as box with sprinkler system valves.

If only I had known! Neighbors didn’t either. Good thing to know before you need it.

Thanks again.
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