When it comes to home irrigation system maintenance, replacing sprinkler heads is a task you don’t need to be afraid of. Weather, accidents and age can impact the health of your system, and spring is the perfect time to make sure everything is working correctly – starting with your sprinkler heads. The wear and tear can show up in different ways, so determining where there are heads that need to be replaced is the first step.
How do you know if any of your heads need replacing?
Common signs it’s time for a new sprinkler head are:
- Water pooling around a sprinkler head
- Inconsistent pressure, either very high or low pressure, from one sprinkler head compared to the others operating in the same zone
- A soggy area in the yard
- A dry area in the yard
- Visible damage to a sprinkler head
- A sprinkler head that will not pop up at all or only comes up part way
Types of Sprinkler Heads
There are several types of sprinkler heads, and it’s important to make sure your replacement head is the same type as the broken one. Each delivers water in different ways. A pop-up sprinkler head can be a fixed (also called stationary) spray, which creates a fan pattern of water, such as the 570Z Pro Series Pop-up. Another typically used type is called a rotor sprinkler, which creates one or more continuous streams of water, such as the Toro T5 Series Rotors.
Things to consider when buying a replacement sprinkler head
In your search for a replacement sprinkler head, here are a few needs to consider before purchasing:
- It DOES NOT need to be the same brand as the old head.
- It DOES need to be the same size.
- It DOES need to be able to throw water the same distance.
- It DOES need to be the same precipitation rate.
- It DOES need to work under the same pressure.
Find these details printed on the top of the sprinkler head or on the sprinkler head’s label. And if you’re going through the work of replacing one or more sprinkler heads, why not choose one that is water efficient and will give you professional results.
How to replace your sprinkler head
After purchasing your replacement sprinkler heads, it’s time to install them. Remember to wear any appropriate and customary PPE. Before starting, make sure the main water supply is turned off. We suggest tagging water main valve to ensure that it is not inadvertently turned on while you are working.Then using a small knife or a trowel, carefully dig up your sod around the sprinkler you need to replace. Try to keep the sod in as large of chunks as possible to replace it after and promote growth once you’re done. Dig into the soil down to the bottom of the head, being careful not to damage the water line. Unscrew the head, by placing your hand on the top of it and turning the head to the left until it is fully loose and can be pulled up and out of the ground, being careful not to get dirt into the exposed hole. If dirt does get into the sprinkler system, take care to remove it using a shop vacuum or by flushing the system by turning the water one for a few minutes. Next, carefully screw the new sprinkler head into place, being sure not to overtighten to allow room for small adjustments. Then check the alignment of the head to make sure it is set to where you want it to water, and make sure the nozzle is installed in the head. Then, refill your hole and place the sod back into place. You have successfully replaced a sprinkler head!
Now that you know how to replace a sprinkler head, you can feel empowered to do it yourself. If you’d like some guidance, call your local irrigation professional. You can also find more information at Toro.com.
