How To Replace A Sprinkler Head In Your Lawn

Well-maintained sprinklers can work well for years without a doubt. But, no sprinkler, however good, will last a lifetime without requiring replacement.

Replacing the sprinkler head is part of knowing how to fix a sprinkler. Before you move on to the plumbing process, here are a few signs your sprinkler heads need replacing you should know of.

Sprinkler Heads Not Pushing Up or Pulling Down

Most pop-up sprinkler heads have springs that allow them to pop up or retract into the ground according to the water pressure. Sometimes, sand gets stuck between the riser stem and the sprinkler cap, jamming the head.

In the worst case, sand scratches the riser and the seal so terribly that the rough surface leads to misalignment of the riser as it moves in and out of the sprinkler body. The only possible solution is to replace the sprinkler head.

Water Escaping the Sprinkler Riser

Another factor that necessitates replacement is excessive blow-by through the sprinkler riser. This blow-by occurs when little water squirts from the in between the cap and the riser stem when the riser raises. 

A small amount of blow-by is not abnormal. It cleans dirt and grass from the riser when it pops up and down while lubricating the seal. However, a copious amount of water squirting out is problematic, necessitating sprinkler head replacement.

Water Leaking When Riser Is Fully Extended

When the sprinkler props up, water should not leak from the gap between the riser stem and the cap. You can check for this by turning on the sprinklers and inspecting each one when they are fully extended. Leakage from a fully extended riser indicates a scratched riser or cap and faulty riser seal. 

In some cases, you may need to pull up the riser with your hand if it does not come up all the way. You should also check all the sprinkler heads because if one near the zone valve leaks, it can prevent a different sprinkler further from the valve from popping up. 

Sprinkler Heads Not Rising Enough

Sometimes, when sprinkler heads are installed too low in the ground, they cannot rise above the ground or the level of surrounding plants or grass. As a result, the water does not spray efficiently, leading to flooding around the heads and coverage problems. Moreover, low sprinklers are more likely to attract dirt, which causes retraction and other mechanism failures.

Gradually, the sprinkler heads also settle to the ground from natural soil compaction and the build-up of decomposing leaves, grass clippings, and so on. Always check for the sprinkler head level.

Damaged Sprinkler Head

Sprinklers become damaged when people trip over them, and lawnmowers and cars run over them accidentally. These accidents happen when the sprinkler is raised too high. Birds, especially during hot weather, may peck at the sprinkler while drinking water, causing damage.

Broken sprinkler heads need replacement. When replacing broken sprinkler heads, consider using an appropriate swing riser assembly. These can help protect your rotor or spray sprinklers from future damage when run over or stepped on.

Using Different Sprinkler Heads 

Sprinkler heads can be of different types. Some have rotor heads, spray heads, and drip emitters, and all of them have different water delivery rates. You can use any brand of sprinkler heads in the same zone but not different types.

Mixing head types can lead to uneven water distribution, with some areas being overwatered while others under-watered. Stick to one type of sprinkler head in a zone and replace different ones.

You may need to change all the sprinklers in the zone or find one with the same specifications if the brand you are using is not available. Changing all of them may be better, though, because if you cannot find the original brand, it means they are old. 

Changing Landscape

A changing landscape or growing, replacing, or adding new plants and trees calls for a change in your sprinkler system to accommodate the coverage. This might include moving and adding new sprinkler heads and raising and lowering existing ones.

Rotor Sprinkler Won’t Rotate Properly

Malfunctioning rotor sprinkler heads that do not rotate or just turn in one direction before stopping can result in insufficient water pressure, leading to under-watering or weak coverage.

If water pressure is good, the head may be internally clogged and require cleaning, and if cleaning does not work, it will then need to be replaced.

Low Head Drainage

Water sometimes flows downhill and exits the sprinklers at the lowest elevation, even after the system is turned off.

This water only stops flowing when the pipes are fully drained, which could take several hours, and is known as low head drainage. When this happens, water wastes or floods around the sprinkler heads and leads to landscape erosion.

Knowing how to replace a sprinkler head nozzle is crucial to solving the problems discussed above. Before you get started, ensure you have all the tools and materials mentioned below:

• Replacement sprinkler head
• Trowel
• Pipe wrench or Pliers
• Thread seal tape (PTFE or Teflon)
• Flexible garden hose
• Riser removal T-tool

Step 1: Shop for Sprinkler Head Replacement

The first step in knowing how to replace the irrigation head involves finding a replacement. Installing the wrong replacement for the head may lead to over-watering or under-watering of a particular section of your lawn and affect the performance of other sprinkler heads installed nearby.

You should know a few specifications of your current sprinkler head. This information can be found on the top of the existing sprinkler head.

• Pop-up or Impact Sprinkler Head: Check if your sprinkler is pop-up or high-impact. If it is a pop-up kind, you need to know if they are stationary, rotor-driven, or gear-driven. 
• Inches-per-hour (iph) or gallons-per-minute gpm) Delivery Rate, Spray Pattern, and Water Coverage Radius: You can find this information on the side of the head or look it up online with the brand and part number. 

You can buy new sprinkler heads at local home improvement stores or online. If you are confused about the sprinkler’s specs, bring the old head to the store and consult an experienced store employee for advice.

Step 2: Expose the Sprinkler Head Pipe

Now that you have the replacement, you can begin the actual replacement. Sprinkler heads sit flush with the soil and should be dug out with a trowel. Remove the sod or patch of grass around the head and dig a hole about 6 inches deep and a foot in diameter around the malfunctioning sprinkler head carefully. 

You don’t want to puncture the underground pipe or damage the fittings. Store the grass and loose dirt in a container and set aside to prevent loose dirt from falling into the open water line. You will also need them later to refill the hole.

Take a look at the water line for any damage as well. The problem may no longer be with the sprinkler head but the plumbing service if there is a leak or rupture. In this scenario, call an expert plumber to locate and repair the fault.

Step 3: Unscrew the Old Sprinkler Head

The sprinkler head is joined to a riser, a small pipe that transports the water to the head from the water line. To remove the sprinkler head from the pipe, unscrew it by rotating it counterclockwise with a pipe wrench or pliers. Alternatively, separate from the water line and unscrew the head after. The riser threads may be connected to the sprinkler head threads with a plumber’s tape or pipe thread sealant. 

Peel off the sealant or tape, leaving no residues on the riser threads unless you are replacing the riser. Replacement is usually necessary when the threads are cracked, aggressively worn, or appear misaligned. You should inspect the riser thread pattern for this. If the riser looks to be in good condition, use fresh thread seal tape and reseal the riser to the water pipe. Avoid spilling dirt into the open water line while doing so.

If the riser is damaged, you can replace it with a new one that matches its length and diameter. Apply thread seal tape to both ends and screw in the new riser. If the riser broke when removing the sprinkler head, remove it with a riser removal T-tool and replace it with a new riser.

Step 4: Attach New Sprinkler Head

Before you attach the new sprinkler head, check that there is no problem with the riser. Sometimes dirt may fall into the pipe while screwing the riser in place. In this case, switch on the water system to clear out the dirt or use a flexible garden hose over the riser and redirect it to an adjacent drain.

Now, shut off the water supply and twist the new sprinkler head onto the riser in a clockwise motion until it is tight. Ensure the heads are pointing towards the area requiring water. Some sprinklers spray in full circle, while others spray in half.

Step 5: Test the New Sprinkler Head

Once the head and riser are in place, turn on the water system and test for functionality. If water is leaking around the riser and sprinkler head, turn off the system and tighten the sprinkler head or reapply thread seal tape for a tighter and more secure connection. Then, test for leaks. If your sprinkler system has smart controls, test all of the functions.

Next, check the sprinkler head height with the other sprinkler heads on your lawn. It should be at the same height as the others. If you replaced all the heads, they should be low enough to avoid damage from cars, clumsy humans, and mower blades and at a uniform height for the most accurate spray pattern across your lawn.

If the new head does not align with the rest, tighten it. If you have used a new riser, check its length against the old one for height consistency. If they differ, the new riser needs to be changed. This is why it is crucial to measure the old rise. Finally, ensure that the sprinkler sprays in the right direction. If not, tighten the sprinkler head until it sprays in the right direction.

Step 6: Refill the Hole around the Sprinkler

If everything works well and no trouble exists, scoop out the dirt from the container and refill the hole. Use a trowel and spread everything out evenly. Then, tamp everything down flat using your hand, foot, or back of the trowel.

Then, lay the layer of grass on top of the dirt around the irrigation fixture if it was removed in one piece. Tamp it down and water it immediately to help the lawn reestablish its roots. If the sod was damaged during removal, spread new grass seed on the ground surrounding the sprinkler head and fertilize to encourage growth. Steer clear from where the new sprinkler head is for a couple of weeks so that the grass can reestablish itself.

Sometimes the problem with your sprinkler may be caused by the valve, not the riser or head. In that case, you should know how to change a sprinkler valve or fix its parts.

Turn Off the Water Supply

Disassembling or inspecting the valve may be difficult when water flows from it, even after turning off the sprinkler. In that case, locate the main water shut-off valve and turn it off.

You can reassured the water supply is shut off when the lever handle is perpendicular to the pipe. You may have to shut off the main water meter if there is no valve.

Locate the Valve

The malfunctioning valve is located in the green or black valve box buried underground. To access it, carefully dig at least 6 inches around the valve. Then, remove the lid of the valve box and take a picture of the wire setup.

Remove the Sprinkler Valve

To remove the existing valve, use a piper cutter to cut the PVC irrigation pipes or a wrench to unscrew pipe connections that link the valve to the main water supply. 

Fixing Valve Parts

The valve comprises various parts that function together, and any one of them being faulty may render the valve unusable. In such instances, all that needs to be done is to replace the defective component, not the entire valve itself.

• Solenoid: Automatic valves have solenoids that “click” when the sprinkler system turns on. If it is malfunctioning, remove the old solenoid by locating the plastic wire nut that holds it in place. Then, unscrew it, untwist the wires, and remove the solenoid. Reconnect new ones to the correct terminals and ensure everything is properly secured. 
• Debris: Examine the valve and its parts for any apparent blockages, foreign debris, or damage. Clear any obstacles with a small brush or compressed air.
• Seals: Replace worn-out or broken valve seals.

Install a New Valve 

Sometimes, it is better to replace the entire valve, especially if it is beyond repair. Get a new valve of the same type and size as the previous one. Wrap the new valve with the plumber's tape on the threaded joints, ensuring leak-proof sealing.

Attach the new valve in the piping using a wrench and connect the wiring just like how they were connected in the old valve. Refer to the photo you took to avoid mistakes and confusion. Ensure that everything is tight but not over-tight as this can damage the fittings.

Test the Valve

Upon installing the valve, switch the water supply back on and run the sprinkler for a brief cycle to observe any leaks.

If the valve or pipe joints leak, tighten the connections or apply more plumber's tape to the threads. If there are leaks even after tightening,  adjust the valve or replace other components.

Check the Electrical Components

For solenoid replacements, manually activate the system from the controller to ensure it functions. If you have checked and the sprinkler still is not working, you might want to check the controller or look into the wiring problems. Inspect the wiring connections to ensure they are all connected properly.

If it still does not work, check the continuity of the current with a multimeter to ensure the valve is receiving the signals. If the controller is faulty, the fuse may be blown and need replacement.