How to Replace Sprinkler Heads to Irrigate Your Lawn Like a Pro
Swapping a sprinkler head takes minutes, even for beginners
Although parts of your lawn are lush and thriving thanks to your helpful sprinkler system, you’ve noticed lately that one sprinkler head is leaking or spraying unevenly. What’s the deal? Sprinkler heads can take a lot of damage. Maybe a kid accidentally kicked it while running through the lawn, or it was damaged by the lawn mower. No matter what happened, learn how to replace a sprinkler head in just 10 to 20 minutes.
Why Do I Have to Change My Sprinkler Head?
Sprinkler heads can last just a few years for low-quality products or over 10 years for high-quality sprinkler heads. But over time, they can simply wear down. You may need to replace one or multiple sprinkler heads if you notice they aren’t spraying, are spraying unevenly around the yard, or are leaking. Faulty sprinkler heads may also have lower than usual water pressure.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Sprinkler Head?
Installing a new sprinkler system costs $1,670 to $3,550, but if you only need to replace one or two sprinkler heads, each new sprinkler head costs about $5 to $40, depending on the type, size, and brand.
Prepping to Replace a Sprinkler Head
Before you can install new sprinkler heads, you need to find replacements that will work with your existing sprinkler system. While you don’t have to buy the same brand of sprinkler heads, this can help you get the perfect fit. Otherwise, you need to make sure you buy the same type and size sprinkler heads that are already in your yard. You’ll also want to find a sprinkler head that matches the same spray delivery rate and patterns as your older heads to make sure the sprinkler will perform the same way.
How to Replace a Sprinkler Head
Whether you’re replacing a pop-up sprinkler head, including a rotary head that rotates to spray, or a spinning impact sprinkler, there’s a standard process to follow. Just make sure you replace like with like—if you are swapping out a stationary sprinkler head, you should swap it out with the same size stationary sprinkler head. With that in mind, grab a shovel and get ready to swap out that old sprinkler head.
1. Turn Off the Water
First, shut off the valve that supplies water to your sprinkler system. The shut-off valve may be somewhere warm where it can’t freeze, like in the basement or utility room, or it might be near your water meter. If you aren’t sure, you should consult with a sprinkler repair professional for assistance.
2. Remove Dirt Around the Sprinkler Head
Use a small shovel to dig out the soil around the sprinkler head so that you can fully access it. The hole should reach about two or three inches around the sprinkler head and about four to six inches deep until you can see the riser. The riser is what connects the water pipes and the sprinkler head. Dig carefully to avoid piercing the water lines buried underground.
3. Remove the Old Sprinkler Head and Assembly
Turn the old sprinkler head counterclockwise until it is loose, then pull up. The sprinkler head will come out, along with interior components, called the assembly.
4. Inspect Riser
With the sprinkler head removed, you can now peer down inside the hole to see the riser. Check it for any damage, like cross-thread damage or cracks. If the riser is damaged, you can purchase a replacement that is the same size.
Like the sprinkler head, the riser simply twists off of its connection. If you need to replace it, place thread seal tape around each end of the riser for better protection against leaks. Then, screw the new riser into place before moving on.
5. Test the Riser Height
If you want your sprinkler heads to sit at a certain height, you should also test the height of the risers. This can come in handy if you want to still be able to mow the lawn seamlessly without hitting a sprinkler head. In other cases, you may want a rotating sprinkler to sit slightly above ground height.
Test the riser height by placing the sprinkler head on the riser and screwing it in gently, taking care not to overtighten it. If the height works for you, you’re good to move on to testing the sprinkler.
If the riser isn’t the right height, you’ll need to buy a new riser with a larger or smaller height, depending on your needs. Risers cost about $1 or less each.
6. Thread on the New Sprinkler Head
Once the riser height works for the new sprinkler head, go ahead and twist the sprinkler head onto the riser clockwise. Don’t overtighten, or you could strip the threads and damage the riser and the sprinkler head.
7. Turn On the Water to Test the Sprinkler
With the new sprinkler head in place, move away any tools and supplies from the sprinkler head, then turn on the water supply and sprinkler system to make sure it is spraying correctly.
If the sprinkler head is leaking or not spraying properly, you may try turning the screw of the nozzle on top to adjust the spray height. However, if this still doesn’t work, call in a sprinkler repair professional for assistance.
If the test goes well, turn the water back off so you can fill in the hole without being sprayed.
8. Fill in the Hole
If the sprinkler head is spraying properly, you can go ahead and use the shovel to fill the soil back in around the sprinkler head. Then, you can turn the sprinkler controller back on, and your new sprinkler head is ready to irrigate your lawn and garden.
Taking Care of a Sprinkler System
Routine sprinkler repair and maintenance is important if you want your sprinkler heads to last longer between replacements. And by caring for your sprinklers, they can work more efficiently, ultimately wasting less water and saving you money on your water bill.
Clean Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler heads typically sit low enough that you can mow, leaf-blow, or remove weeds without damaging the heads. But grass clippings, leaves, mud, and other debris can cling to sprinkler heads, which can block some of their spray. Clean the sprinkler heads at least once or twice per year to prevent clogging.
Winterize the Sprinkler System
You can winterize a sprinkler system yourself, or call in a sprinkler expert who can perform this service for about $50 to $120. Winterizing the sprinklers is important because it prevents excess water from freezing in the sprinkler lines. Without winterization, the water pipes can freeze and crack or burst.
Schedule an Inspection
Scheduling an annual yard sprinkler inspection is one of the best ways to keep your irrigation system working as efficiently as possible. A sprinkler inspection costs about $115 on average, and during this inspection, a pro will check for any signs of damage to the sprinkler heads, valves, controller, and pipes. Ultimately, these inspections can save you money on wasted water month after month.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Replace Sprinkler Heads
Capping a sprinkler head or switching out an existing sprinkler head for a new, but similar, model are easy tasks for any homeowner to take on comfortably. If you already have a small shovel and some garden gloves at home, you’ll just need to spend about $5 to $40 with pop-up heads costing on the lower end of this range and impact heads costing on the higher end.
Hiring a sprinkler repair pro near you is a good idea if you’re not comfortable digging in the lawn to remove sprinkler heads, or if you want to switch the types of sprinkler heads, say your stationary pop-up heads for rotating heads. This will cost about $50 to $100 per hour, or you may pay about $3 to $30 per head for the cost to repair sprinklers.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should shut off the water supply to the sprinkler system, not just turn off the sprinkler system, before changing a sprinkler head. Otherwise, there’s a risk that when you remove the old sprinkler head, water will spray out from the riser. This not only makes it harder to change out the sprinkler head, but it can also leave you wet and uncomfortable. It may also create a muddy mess around the riser.
At the top of the head, you’ll see a small part with a screw, and that’s the sprinkler head nozzle. Different nozzles can have different spray patterns and distances. If you want to switch out a sprinkler head nozzle, turn off the water, then use a screwdriver to gently lift the nozzle upward, then screw it out of the sprinkler head. Thread in the new nozzle gently, then drop it back into the sprinkler head.
A sprinkler head is the entire endpoint of the sprinkler system, containing all the parts needed to spray water out onto the lawn. The sprinkler head is a larger piece that connects to a sprinkler riser. The sprinkler nozzle is a tiny part at the top of the sprinkler head that controls the spray pattern and distance.