Sprinkler Valve or Controller Problem? Denver Estimate-Prep Checklist

Start with seasonal status, not a live test

Label the system active, winterized, or unknown. In late October, do not restart a winterized system just to reproduce a symptom or take a better photo. Use observations from the last time it ran and record when that happened. If shutdown is still pending, say so separately from the repair request. Seasonal service, diagnosis, and replacement parts are different scopes; one appointment should not be assumed to include all three.

Describe one zone versus all zones

Write down which numbered zones were affected and whether the problem happened during a scheduled cycle, a previous manual cycle, or after watering should have stopped. For example, “zone 3 did not run last Tuesday, while zones 1 and 2 ran” is more useful than “the timer is bad.” If every zone was affected, report that too. Controller settings, power, sensors, water supply, wiring, and valves can affect operation, so this pattern is a clue for review rather than a diagnosis.

Distinguish repeated cycles from continuous water flow

A program that starts again later is not the same observation as water that never stops. Note any breaks between cycles, the approximate timing, and what the controller displayed when the issue was observed. Multiple start times may repeat an entire program; they do not establish that a valve has failed. A wet patch after shutdown also needs context: where it appears, how long it remains, and whether rain, a downspout, or another source could contribute. Do not run extra cycles merely to complete this checklist.

Photograph the controller without opening electrical equipment

If safely accessible, photograph the outside model label, normal display, visible error or sensor indicators, and existing schedule screens. Record program names, start times, watering days, seasonal adjustment, and recent changes such as a power interruption or new smart-controller setup. Do not reset the controller or erase programs just to make the screen look simpler. Keep account passwords and network credentials out of shared photos, and do not remove wiring covers or handle exposed connections.

Show valve-box location and access, not disassembled parts

A wide photo can show where a known valve box sits relative to a fence, bed, walkway, or lawn edge. Note if access is blocked by rock, mulch, debris, or a recent landscape change. Report visible standing water or a damaged lid without reaching into a flooded box, digging, forcing a valve, or loosening fittings. A box that looks wet does not, by itself, identify a failed valve or prove the water came from irrigation.

Keep pressure, head, drip, and drainage concerns separate

Include distinct notes for weak spray, broken heads, dry planting beds, leaking drip tubing, and water collecting near a foundation or downspout. Mention recent sod, artificial turf, rock, mulch, or xeriscape-style changes that may have altered access or coverage. Repairing a controller cannot correct every layout or drainage problem. If lawn replacement or a drain is also being considered, scope that project separately rather than using an irrigation symptom as proof it is needed.

Send an estimate handoff that can be reviewed

Include your Denver metro city, controller make/model if known, total zone count, affected zones, the last observed symptom and date, seasonal status, recent repairs or yard changes, wide photos and close-ups, gate access, and your requested outcome. Say whether you want troubleshooting first or also want a separate landscape-change estimate. Photos help prepare the conversation; testing, access, component compatibility, and site conditions may change the final repair scope and price. Request availability rather than assuming an immediate service slot.

Know when documentation should wait

If active water is causing damage, prioritize timely qualified help rather than waiting to finish photos. Stay away from wet electrical equipment and do not force an unfamiliar shutoff, adjust pressure, connect a compressor, or excavate to chase a suspected fault. This guide is for estimate preparation, not a DIY electrical, valve-rebuild, or winterization procedure. Record what you can safely observe and explain what remains unknown.

Helpful Denver landscaping resources

Sprinklers FAQ