If you are like most people, you probably do not think about your sprinkler heads until they start to malfunction. When that happens, it is usually a race against time to get sprinkler head replacement before your lawn turns into a disaster.

If you are lucky, you may be able to do the job yourself. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of sprinkler head replacement. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced DIY-er, this guide has got you covered.

 

Required Tools for Replacing Sprinkler Head:

 

Required Tools for Sprinkler Head Replacement

 Following are a few tools that you will need to change a broken sprinkler head:

 

  • A small shovel
  • Seal tape (Teflon or PTFE)
  • Sprinkler adjustment tool
  • A garden hose
  • A serrated knife
  • T-tool

Now, let us get delve into the process of replacing sprinkler heads

 

 How to Change a Sprinkler Head?

 

How to Change a Sprinkler Head

If you have a lush lawn, it is important to keep up with regular watering. A sprinkler system can help provide this for your landscape needs and ensure that there are no dry spots or brown patches when most needed.

For this purpose, it is important that the sprinkler system is functioning properly. A broken spray head can do more harm than good. Therefore, it is crucial that you keep maintaining the spray head and if it gets broken, then fix it as soon as possible.

We have collated some steps for you, and by following them, you can easily replace the sprinkler head and make it run like new again. Take a look below:

 

 Dig up for Exposing the Broken Sprinkler Head:

 

 

To get the irrigation sprinklers spray sprinkler head out, you will need to expose it and remove any dirt or other materials that are blocking its path. To avoid possible leaks, be sure to dig up and replace sod or patching of grass around the head carefully.

Excavate in a circle form for around 8 inches in diameter, which will be 2 to 8 inches deep. While doing this process, just make sure not to damage the water line accidentally.

Moreover, ensure that there are no leaks in the water line before replacing sprinklers spray heads.

If you notice a crack or break, get help right away because this may mean something has gone wrong with your plumbing.

 

Unscrew the Broken Sprinkler Head:

 

The second step of the sprinkler replacement process is to remove its head from its riser pipes. For the installation process, first, unscrew the old ones. When you remove your old sprinkler head, make sure to unscrew it carefully so that no parts come off in a hurry.

There should be a plumber’s tape or pipe thread sealant on both riser and sprays with an extra layer. This will help avoid leaks during the installation of a new one. When you remove the sealant or tape from your water pipe, it is important to inspect the condition of the riser.

If the threads are cracked and worn out, then this could indicate a problem with the stability of the riser, and it would require replacement. However, if everything looks fine after inspecting for cracks, then just apply new thread-sealing agents before reattaching them back onto their respective places.

The good news is that replacing your sprinkler head riser is easy. If you find a damaged one, simply buy new ones and screw them in. Put in some Thread Seal Tape apply at both ends so that the riser does not get leaked.

 

Replace with a New Sprinkler Head:

 

It is time to install the female end of your sprinkler spray head. Make sure it’s firmly secured—jiggle them a few times to check its firmness. Once you’ve screwed on the new head, make sure it is in place by rotating and adjusting with the tool. Rotate this way until water comes out evenly around all areas of your lawn or garden.

The key to getting an even distribution is using one single nozzle for each zone. After that, it is important to seal the joint between your spray head and riser so that no leakage occurs.

 

 Time to Test the New Sprinkler Head:

 

Once the system is turned on and operational, watch for about a minute to see if there are

any leaks around your sprinkler head spray nozzles or riser. If so, turn it off immediately. Apply thread sealant wherever necessary until it is tight enough to avoid further leakage.

Besides, do check for the height of the sprinkler head. The height of your sprinkler heads is important for two reasons. The first reason is that it must be low enough to avoid damage from mower blades but also have a uniform head to ensure an accurate spray pattern across the lawn and not just one side or corner.

Check your sprinkler system for leaks, and tighten any loose nuts or screws on the heads. If you find anything wrong with it, then compare measurements before replacing anything in order to make sure that everything is consistent- including how high each pipe goes up.

 

 Fill the Hole Up:

 

Make sure to fill in the hole with dirt, tamp it down and spread evenly across the base. Tamp your new sprinkler head well before putting an irrigation system into place by troweling up some loose soil from below onto its bottom surface so that water can flow through easily.

The sod should be simple to add after you replace a sprinkler head, sitting it on top of the dirt around an irrigation fixture. Tamp down and water immediately so that lawn can reestablish its roots.

When you first set up your sprinkler system, be sure to spread new grass seed on the ground around it and fertilize with an organic fertilizer.

 

 How Long Do Sprinkler Heads Last?

 

How Long Do Sprinkler Heads Last

The average life expectancy for a sprinkler system is 20 years, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all components will last the same amount of time. As with everything in life, there are always exceptions; if you have poor quality heads or nozzles, then they’ll only get 2 – 3 years before breaking down.

A lot goes into determining how long your pipes are going to remain safe from corrosion decrypts such as high humidity levels outdoors versus dryer environments indoors.

 

 The Bottom Line:

 

Sprinkler heads are an important part of your irrigation system, and they should be replaced when they start to show signs of wear and tear. We have outlined the sprinkler head replacement process for you in this comprehensive guide, so you can replace it quickly and easily.

Just be sure to test the new sprinkler head before filling up the hole to make sure everything is working properly.