How to Fix a Broken Sprinklers Head

Hey there readers and welcome to my blog!

I have five plus years of experience repairing and installing commercial and residential sprinkler systems. I thought I would share some of my knowledge with all of your. Fixing sprinklers really is not that hard! Anyone can do it! 

So lets start with the simplest of repairs: fixing a broken sprinkler head.

One morning you walk outside to go to work and BAM! You see a geyser of water shooting up into the air.

You panic! You rush over and try to block it with your finger but the water just sprays everywhere. You're soaking wet and the water just keeps coming! 

Okay stop! Take a deep breath, there's no need to panic. Simply walk over to your sprinkler timer. If you don't know where this is, it might be in your garage, attached to the side of your house, or in a shed. Turn the dial to the OFF position. The water should turn off in 10 seconds or less. 

So now the water should be off and you can get to work replacing your sprinkler head. In my opinion it's always a good idea to dig up the problem and see what parts you need first, before making a run to the store. 

Step 1: Identify where the sprinkler head is. Get down there and feel where it is in the grass, you don't want to crunch it more with your shovel.

Step 2: Use your shovel to cut the grass in a circle around the sprinkler head. I'd say about a 6 inch radius from the sprinkler head to be safe! I like to stick my shovel in the ground, jump on it, and then scoot and few inches over and repeat.

Step 3: Peel back the grass and expose the sprinkler head. Use a hand shovel to clear away more dirt. You should dig down enough so that the entire sprinkler head is exposed and you can move the head around. The sprinkler head will be attached to a thin, black, flexible pipe called funny pipe.

Disclaimer: Don't dig that big of a hole! Not necessary at all! Dig just enough so that you can see a few inches of the black funny pipe and have some mobility with the broken head.

Step 4: Grip the sprinkler head tightly (you might need a pair of channel locks for better grip) and twist the sprinkler head counter clockwise.

Step 5: Take the sprinkler head with you and head to the store. Try to find the exact same sprinkler head you had before! MAKE SURE THE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM MATCHES. Sprinkler heads threading on the bottom (the twisty hole) come in two different sizes so make sure you get the right one. 

Step 6: Place the new sprinkler head on the thread of the funny elbow! The funny elbow is going to be sticking out of the sprinkler pipe! Here's what it looks like!

Step 7: Screw the new sprinkler head onto the funny elbow, twisting clockwise until tight. You might have to use your channel locks again. Make sure you really get it on there tight!

Step 8: Test your work! Go back to your timer and do a manual run of that area of your system. Most timers, you can select the zone number and then press an manual button.

Step 9: To adjust the spray grab the shaft (the riser) of the sprinkler head that pops up while its spraying. If you hold the rest of the mechanism, you should be able to crank the riser until it's spraying where you want it. You'll here a clicking sound as your cranking it. Don't worry you're not breaking it! It's supposed to do that!

Step 10: If it's spraying where you want it to, and there's no leaks, then it's time to bury that sucker! Pack the dirt back around it and make sure that your head is level or slightly lower than the grass around it. If it's too high it's subject to breaking again!

Great work! You did it!! You repaired your first sprinkler head! I knew you could do it! Please comment or email me if you have any questions! Until next time!.