Most home irrigation systems have the control valves installed in ground boxes or above ground. But, in some situations the valves are buried directly in the ground without a box. In this case, locating the valve can be a hit or miss operation without the correct tool. While it is possible to locate a valve with a simple metal detector, most valves do not have enough metal to register on the detector. The easiest way to locate the valve is to trace the wire.

1. Step 1

   Remove the cover to the irrigation control valve wires. Some controllers have this located on the bottom or back of the controller. Check the owners manual for the correct location.

2. Step 2

   Remove the red wire for the valve to be located.

3. Step 3

   Attach the positive (red) wire from the wire "ringer" box of the locator to the red wire for the valve. Most locators have a simple alligator clip to attach this wire.

4. Step 4

   Attach the black wire from the "ringer" to the ground wire for the system. Some locators have a probe attached to the black wire of the "ringer", and in this case the probe will be stuck in the ground.

5. Step 5

   Use the hand held locator wand to follow the wire to the valve. The valve will be located where the wire "ring" ends. In a case where the red wire is broken, the "ring" will end at the break in the wire. Mark the location of the valve with the ground marking paint.