So, I just purchased a home that has an irrigation system in both the front and backyard. The previous owners disclosed that the system was in place, but in the 10 years they lived in the home, they never used it. 

Out of curiosity, I decided to turn the system on just to see if anything worked. To my surprise when I turned on the main valve in the basement, eight sprinkler heads, came up in the yard and after running for about 10 minutes there did not appear to be any pooling water.

Having never lived in a home with an irrigation system I am fairly confused about how to operate it. I can only assume that after sitting dormant for at least 10 years there are likely some significant problems that I am not seeing.

I have been unable to program the Rainbird system to do anything. Interestingly, when I unplug it, and the system is completely powered off every sprinkler head will turn on when the water main is open. From the reading I have been doing online, my understanding is that all of the sprinkler valves should remain closed if they don’t have power. I very well could be wrong about this though.

Today, after following the waterline from the house about 20 feet out I found an irrigation sprinkler box covered in dirt. It was pretty small and it only had one sprinkler valve in it. The system doesn’t appear to have a master valve from what I can see.

Is the most likely answer that every sprinkler valve is somehow jammed open? I have attached a picture of the control unit and also the wiring.

I know that at some point I am going to have to hire a professional to come and look at this, but I am just curious if anyone on here has any guesses as to what is going on.

Thank you so much!

Just moved to a new house and I have some questions about the irrigation system