How to Start Lawn Sprinklers

Activate Manually

• 1

  Locate the sprinkler control box. It's usually located along the edge of the house in a black and green container.

• 2

  Remove the lid to the box by pulling up on one of the tabs.

• 3

  Grab the black ring around the base of the sprinkler solenoid. The solenoid is located on the top of each valve and is usually black and round.

• 4

  Turn the ring 90 degrees counterclockwise to release the valve. Water will begin flowing to your sprinklers immediately.

• 5

  Water for about ten minutes and then turn the ring 90 degrees clockwise to shut off the water.

Automatic Timer Control

• 6

  Locate your sprinkler control timer. It could be inside or outside your home.

• 7

  Open the lid or panel on the timer.

• 8

  Move the dial to the "run" or "on" position. If your timer is digital, press the "run" or "on" button once. Digital timers may prompt you to input a run time. You can select any amount of time, but ten minutes is an ideal setting for most lawns. Press the "up" arrow key or input the time on the keypad, depending on your model. Analog models may require you to turn a separate dial to indicate how long to run the sprinklers for.