What to do if…
your irrigation or sprinkler system turns on unexpectedly and won’t shut off

What to do now

1. Get to a safer pause. Watch for slippery paving, spraying jets, and water near outdoor sockets, pumps, lights, or extension leads. Move children and pets away from the spray and any pooling.

2. Turn off the irrigation controller power if you can do this safely.

   • If it is a plug-in timer or controller, switch it off or unplug it with dry hands from a dry position.
   • If it is hard-wired, use the safe local switch or fused spur only if you know which one it is.
   • This may stop the system if the problem is electrical or programming-related, but water can still keep flowing if a valve is stuck open.

3. Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system.

   • Look for a dedicated shut-off feeding the sprinklers or irrigation pipework.
   • It may be near where the irrigation pipe branches off, near an outside tap, in a garage or utility area, beside a valve box, or near the pipe entering the garden.
   • Turn the valve slowly to OFF. Many wheel valves close clockwise; many quarter-turn valves are off when the handle is across the pipe.

4. If you cannot quickly find a dedicated irrigation shut-off, use your internal stop tap.

   • This will usually shut off water to the whole property.
   • It is commonly under the kitchen sink, in a kitchen cupboard, garage, utility room, downstairs toilet, cellar, under stairs, near the front door, or close to where the water pipe enters the property.
   • Turn it slowly clockwise to close. Do not force it. It may take a few minutes for water already in the pipework to stop flowing.

5. If only one zone is running and you can safely reach the valve box, check for a manual-open valve.

   • Look for the valve serving the running zone.
   • A solenoid often looks like a small cylinder with two wires on top of the valve.
   • If the solenoid has been loosened, gently hand-tighten it clockwise until snug.
   • If there is a small bleed screw or bleed knob on top of the valve and it is loose, gently hand-tighten it.
   • If you are unsure, leave the valve alone and keep the water isolated.

6. Limit damage while the water is off.

   • Move valuables, tools, plant pots, and stored items away from the wet area.
   • If water has entered a house, garage, or shed, keep people away from wet electrical fittings.
   • If it is safe to reach the consumer unit from a dry position, switch off affected circuits or the main switch only if you are confident what to switch. If water is in or near the consumer unit, keep clear and get urgent professional help.

7. Get help if it will not stay off or you cannot isolate it safely.

   • If you rent, report it to your landlord, letting agent, council, housing association, or repairs line as an urgent water issue.
   • If you own the property or can arrange repairs, contact a plumber or irrigation engineer.
   • If the internal stop tap will not turn or will not shut the water off, contact a plumber. If you cannot locate or use an external stop tap, contact your water supplier.