Last Updated on February, 2025
Why pay $150 for a technician to repair your dog fence wire when you can do it for almost nothing? Here’s how to do it yourself.
First, you have to locate the underground wire break. If you haven’t located it, you have to use a wire break locator or a DIY method to find it.
Quick Summary
You can repair an invisible fence wire yourself for almost nothing.
Locate the underground wire break. If you haven’t located it, you have to use a wire break locator or a DIY method to find it.
Turn off your transmitter and disconnect electricity from the invisible fence before you start repairing the wire.
Table of Contents
How to Find Out if the Invisible Fence Wire is Broken?
If your invisible fence transmitter is beeping, that indicates a break in the underground wire. Perform the loop test below to ensure it is a wire break.
Unplug the two boundary wires from the transmitter and plug in the two ends of a test wire to form a loop.
If the beeping goes off, your yard has a wire break.
Getting Ready to Repair the Wire Break
Make sure you turn off your transmitter and disconnect electricity from the invisible fence before you start repairing the wire. Gather these items for the repairs. Wear safety gear if you can.
- 14 gauge solid 100% copper core wire (3 feet in length or as required)
- A wire stripper (or a sharp knife/blade)
- A plier
- PVC insulation tape, NOT DUCT TAPE
- Gel joiners/capsules or wire cap (optional)
How to Repair an Invisible Fence Wire? (DIY Step-By-Step Guide)
DON’T reattach the two broken pieces of wire; any tension on the wire will pull the attachment.
Always use a new wire to properly repair the wire break.
Step 01 – Strip the Wire
Hold one side of the broken fence wire and use the wire stripper to strip the existing wire to uncover the copper core carefully. Strip about half an inch. Do the same to the new wire as well.
Step 02 – Twist the Two Ends
Twist the two ends of the wire (new & old) using pliers
Step 03 – Tying a Knot
Hold the twisted wires together and tie a knot as close to the twist as possible. This will provide additional protection for the repaired joint against future tensions.
Step 04 – Insulating the Repaired Joint
Wrap high-quality PVC insulation tape a few times around the joint.
If you prefer using wire nuts instead of tape, insert the twisted joint into the wire nut and twist until it’s tight enough.
Step 05 – Do the Same on the Opposite Side
Follow the above steps on the other end of the wire to complete the repair process.
Testing and Burying the Wire
Once you’ve finished the aforementioned steps, turn on the transmitter’s power to ensure everything is working correctly.
If the indicator lights are “on” and there’s no beeping, your pet containment system is working as usual.
Bury the areas of wire that you’ve fixed. You can place the wire nuts upwards when burying.
Ensure the wire is buried in the exact location where it was initially.
Repair Multiple Broken Wire Sections
Multiple sections of broken invisible fence wire may indicate that your fence wire has reached the end of its useful life. In this case, you might want to replace the entire boundary wire to avoid possible future wire breaks and maintenance.
If you wish to keep repairing the existing broken wires, repeat the steps above to repair multiple sections of the wire. Inspect for all wire breaks to properly repair your electric dog fence.
How to Prevent Another Wire Break in Your Dog Fence?
The procedure of locating and repairing your invisible dog fence wire is exhausting. That’s why it’s critical to keep these things in mind,
If you need to hire professionals to do yard work or outdoor projects, inform them about the boundary wire.
Always mark the boundary for them with your flags or other highlighting equipment before beginning work.
You can also get the best invisible dog fence wire.
Bottomline
Be cautious when digging around your yard’s perimeter wire for new construction, tree planting or removal, snow plowing equipment, or garden aeration. These are the most commonly reported reasons why the electric dog fence wire breaks.
If your invisible fence often screws up, it is always best to replace it with a durable one. Here are the most reliable and consistent invisible dog fences that we recommend.
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