If you notice burnt or brown spots on your otherwise green lawn, it could be an indicator that parts of your yard aren’t getting enough water. If you have a sprinkler system installed, our guide will help you learn how to add a sprinkler head. That way, you have even water coverage throughout your yard for a lush, symmetrical look.
Prepping to Add a Sprinkler Head
The first step is to assess your yard to see which areas of your grass don't receive adequate watering. This is easy to spot, especially in the summer months, because you’ll have patches of your grass that appear burnt, gold, or brown. These areas need sprinklers.
But before adding a sprinkler head, make sure the zone can handle more water flow. If it can’t, it’ll reduce the amount of water that sprays to other areas of the zone, creating a bigger problem than what you originally found.
So, how do you determine how many sprinkler heads per zone? In most cases, sprinkler systems can handle eight to 10 spray heads per zone. Along with this, you should know which sprinkler heads you have installed, as you don’t want to have a mix of spray and rotor heads in one section due to their differences in water flow.
Locate the Last Sprinkler Head in the Zone
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When installing your sprinkler system, it’s vital to have a map of where all of your sprinkler heads are. These come with your sprinkler system, so don’t toss any of the paperwork away when you first get it. These maps make it easy to find the last sprinkler head in the zone. If you need help finding it, your local sprinkler installer can assist.
Dig to Expose the Pipe
Next, put on a pair of work gloves and dig around the area of the last sprinkler head carefully to avoid damaging the pipe. Keep in mind you’ll want a three-quarter-inch pipe, as a half-inch pipe won’t provide enough water flow for all the sprinkler heads in your zone. Once you determine it is a three-quarter inch pipe, you want to make a small cut to add another three-quarter inch pipe.
Install the Fittings
Photo: Zayne C. / Adobe Stock
Next, join the existing pipe of your sprinkler system with your new one. To do this, you’ll need to cement a slip fitting on one end of your pipe and a tee fitting on the other. A slip fitting works like an extra pipe with two couplings. Meanwhile, a tee fitting makes connections to other pipes at a 90-degree angle. Make sure the tee fitting remains in an upright position.
Dig the Trench
From here, dig the trench where you want to lay the pipe. Before you dig, pay close attention to the areas you want to water with this. To illustrate, you don’t want to lay your pipe too close to a sidewalk or driveway where you’ll waste some of the water coming out of the sprinkler heads. This is where consulting a sprinkler pro or someone who’s had experience with installing sprinkler heads comes in handy. They can help you calculate water flow rates to better position your sprinkler head for maximum application.
Add the Sprinkler Head
Once you dug the trench, add the fitting pipe at the end with the attached riser. From here, put the tapered side of the sprinkler head onto the riser, screwing it until it’s firmly secured. You can use the adjustment tool on the head to ensure it has the same patterns and water flow as the rest of your sprinkler heads. Before putting dirt around it, seal the head joint to the riser with seal tape, as this will prevent the sprinkler head from leaking.
Fill the Hole
Photo: BillionPhotos.com / Adobe Stock
Finally, you’ll want to fill the hole you dug. Be careful to pat the soil down and water immediately to help the grass grow quickly. Take a cleaning cloth and remove any debris on the sprinkler head.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Add a Sprinkler Head
This is one of those projects where it’s best to leave it to the pros unless you have direct experience. Hiring a pro to do the job will cost you on average $65 to $90 per sprinkler head. Plus, a professional will help ensure your sprinkler head has proper positioning to maximize coverage for your lawn and plants while reducing water waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning how to clean sprinkler heads ensures it promotes a healthy flow of water your plants need. On this front, you can remove the sprinkler head by screwing it off counter-clockwise. Set the head in a bucket of water to remove any debris or particles that enter the nozzles. Next, apply rust remover to the sprinkler head, and then have it soak in water for 30 minutes. Doing this removes any calcium or other material buildup. Complete the cleaning by rinsing the heads thoroughly.
Lower water pressure during application, burnt patches of grass, higher water bills, or puddles on your grass all indicate there could be a problem with your sprinkler system. When any of these arise, test each zone of your sprinkler system to see which heads have poor flow or continue to flow water even after you shut down the zone. Occasionally, you’ll want to check each of your sprinkler heads for signs of leaking as well.
There are several best practices you can do to keep your lawn looking healthy. Knowing when to water grass is among the most important. Having your sprinkler timer set to early morning is best because it gives your grass and plants enough time to absorb water before the sun and wind can evaporate it. To maximize a sprinkler’s impact, aerate your lawn once or twice per year. Doing this achieves better absorption and stronger root systems for your grass.
Learning how to replace a sprinkler head is simple. Turn off your water supply, remove the head by screwing it counter-clockwise, inspect the riser for any damage, then screw the new sprinkler head on clockwise. Once secure, turn on the sprinkler system to verify the new sprinkler head applies water correctly. Keep in mind sprinkler heads usually only last a few years for affordable heads, and 10 years for higher quality ones.
Sean Jackson is a freelance copywriter from Delaware, Ohio, covering real estate, home improvement, insurance, personal finance, and solar energy for CNET, Bankrate, ZDNet, and Marketwatch.
Sean Jackson is a freelance copywriter from Delaware, Ohio, covering real estate, home improvement, insurance, personal finance, and solar energy for CNET, Bankrate, ZDNet, and Marketwatch.
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