Question
Hi there.  I have recently moved into a house with a Richdel electronic watering system.  The actual irrigation system is in disarray - sprinklers have come out etc.  I will not have a problem fixing this.  The Richdel system has power to it but when I put it on any station nothing happens.  Can you please tell me how it is connected to the water and what to do?  I have tried digging a hole in front of it and got to about a foot deep with lots of roots and nothing.  I am worried about digging into electrical cables since the Richdel system is actually situated on the house electricity box.  Many thanks for an answer.

Answer
The Richdel is the controller that electronically turns on and off the valves that should be located somewhere in your yard.  I would suspect that if your system is in disrepair, there are probably electrical problems with the valves and controller.  First, locate the valves, and check to see if the wire connections are good.  You may want to replace them with waterproof wire nuts.  Then check to see if the wires are secure in the terminals at the controller.  If this doesnt solve the problem, you may want to consult with a landscaper.