How to Turn Off Your Sprinklers

To turn off sprinklers, turn the controller dial to OFF on a Rain Bird or SYSTEM OFF on a Hunter. That stops automatic watering and shuts off any zone that is running, and your program stays saved. To shut off the water to the whole sprinkler system, close the irrigation shut-off valve, usually a brass gate or ball valve just after the tee where the irrigation line leaves the house supply.

There are three levels of “off,” and which one you need depends on why. Stopping watering for a day is a dial turn. Pausing for rain or a trip is a rain delay. Shutting down for winter or a leak means closing the water valve. The steps below are from Rain Bird and Hunter manuals and support pages, linked in each section. If your model is not listed, look for its name on the front panel or inside the door, then check the maker’s manual.

Pause for Rain or a Few Days (Rain Delay)

A rain delay stops watering for a set number of days, then goes back to normal on its own.

Rain Bird ESP-TM2 (up to 14 days)

1. Turn the dial to AUTO RUN.
2. Press and hold the + button.
3. Press – or + to set the DAYS REMAINING.

To cancel, set DAYS REMAINING back to 0 (ESP-TM2 manual).

Rain Bird ESP-ME3 (up to 14 days)

1. Turn the dial to AUTO.
2. Press and hold + to enter Rain Delay.
3. Press – or + to set the DAYS REMAINING.

To cancel, set it back to 0 (ESP-ME3 manual).

Hunter X2 (1 to 99 days)

1. Turn the dial to SYSTEM OFF and wait for OFF to stop flashing.
2. Press + to set the number of days.
3. Turn the dial back to RUN.

To cancel, turn the dial to OFF, wait until OFF stops blinking, then turn it back to RUN (Hunter X2 programmable rain off; Hunter X2 user guide).

Hunter Pro-C (1 to 31 days)

The Pro-C has a Programmable Rain Off feature for 1 to 31 days. We could not get a clean copy of every step from the manual text, so rather than guess, use the Programmable Rain Off section of the Hunter Pro-C owner’s manual. If you just need it off, SYSTEM OFF works; you turn it back to RUN when you want watering again.

Orbit timers

Orbit’s Easy-Set Logic timer has a RAIN DELAY setting, and other Orbit models work differently. Follow Orbit’s own instructions: the Orbit Easy-Set Logic guide or the Orbit Easy Dial support page.

Wi-Fi controllers run from an app. Use the app maker’s help pages for their pause or skip feature.

Emergency: A Zone Will Not Shut Off

Rain Bird’s valve guide (section 3-A) gives this order:

1. Put the controller in auto/off mode.
2. If watering continues, unplug the controller.
3. If it still continues, turn the valve’s flow control knob (if it has one) to the lowest flow.
4. If water is still flowing, turn off the manual main shut-off valve to the sprinkler system.

If unplugging stops it, the controller is the likely problem. If it keeps running, the valve is stuck open, usually from debris on the diaphragm. How to find and fix that is in sprinkler valve leaking.

Turning It Back On

Open the irrigation shut-off, then return the dial to AUTO or AUTO RUN (Rain Bird) or RUN (Hunter). If the controller was unplugged for a long time, check the clock and date. Then run each zone and watch the valves and heads for leaks. If it has been months, the season has changed, so reset your seasonal adjust. Our sprinkler timer guide has the steps and month-by-month starting points, and the High Desert irrigation guide covers the rest of the basics.

If your controller is old, or you want a system that is easier to manage, Monarch installs and upgrades sprinkler and drip systems across the High Desert. The irrigation cost guide covers what goes into that work.

Turning Off Sprinklers: FAQs

Does turning the dial to OFF erase my sprinkler program?

Not on the Rain Bird and Hunter models covered here. Rain Bird says rain mode keeps programming and time settings, and Hunter says the X2 resumes the normal programs at the next scheduled start time when you return the dial to RUN.

How long can I set a rain delay?

Up to 14 days on the Rain Bird ESP-TM2 and ESP-ME3, 1 to 99 days on the Hunter X2, and 1 to 31 days on the Hunter Pro-C, according to each maker’s manual.

Where is my sprinkler shut-off valve?

Rain Bird describes it as a brass gate or ball valve just after the tee where the irrigation line leaves the house supply, ideally inside a valve box.

Do I have to turn off my sprinklers after rain in Phelan?

Yes. Phelan Pinon Hills CSD prohibits irrigation within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.

Should I shut the water off to my sprinklers for winter?

If you are not watering in winter, yes. Liberty Utilities tells Apple Valley customers that the water supply should be shut off to prevent freeze damage to the sprinkler system.

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