Over time, sprinkler heads get worn out and damaged. The causes can be due to constant use, accidental chipping and breaking, or even the severe cold temperatures brought about by winter. A damaged sprinkler head will not function properly, spraying out more water than usual or worse, flooding the surrounding area. If it isn’t fixed or mitigated, the water bill might tear a hole in your wallet. Which is why inspection and changing of old or damaged sprinkler heads are needed. A question though, how do you change a sprinkler head?
This post will answer that question. By following these six steps, you’ll be able to change it by yourself!
Here’s how:
- Investigate the zones for possibly damaged sprinkler heads.
The first action needed to be taken is to find which sprinkler heads in your lawn needs changing. Sprinklers with unusual output or have chipped or broken head are the ones that require changing. If you found the sprinkler heads needed to be changed, buy a new sprinkler head at the nearest hardware. It must have the same brand and series as the old or damaged one.
- Excavate the perimeter of the damaged sprinkler head.
Begin by slowly and carefully removing the grass around the faulty head in a circular shape. The excavated grass patch should have a measurement of 6-8 inches of diameter and 2-3 inches deep so that you can return it in place later. Then, dig about 6-8 inches deep around the sprinkler itself. Exercise caution while digging, since there might be pipes in the area. Also, set aside the removed grass and excavated dirt so you can return it in place after.
- Remove the old or damaged sprinkler head from the riser.
The riser is a part of the sprinkler system where the sprinkler head is attached. To do so, rotate the sprinkler head from the riser in a counterclockwise motion. If the riser comes with the sprinkler head, then rotate it off and return it back to place. A tip before unscrewing the sprinkler head: prepare a cloth as cover to the exposed water line after the sprinkler head is screwed off from the riser. The cover is to prevent foreign materials from entering the line, such as dirt.
- Screw in the replacement sprinkler head.
Once the faulty sprinkler head is removed, it’s time to put in the replacement. Tie a Teflon tape around the male part in a uniform manner, then twist it to the riser. The Teflon tape is used to fill the gaps in the area it is rotated on. After that, remove the cloth covering the exposed water line and make sure nothing went in it. Then twist in the new sprinkler head at the riser tightly, in a clockwise direction.
- Adjust the nozzle, then test if the new sprinkler head works.
Once the new sprinkler head is installed, adjust and set the nozzle of the new sprinkler head to your desired direction. No adjustments are needed if it’s a radial sprinkler. After that, open the water supply line on the new sprinkler’s zone to determine if it works. If it does, proceed to the final step.
- Clean up the working area.
Before covering up the exposed sprinkler, check the area for leaks. If there are none, cover up the exposed area with the excavated dirt and properly place back the removed grass. Make sure that the sprinkler head’s top is no more than ½ inch above ground.
And that’s how you change a sprinkler head! If you think these steps have helped you, then please don’t hesitate to share this with others!