See brown spots in your lawn? Do your sprinklers dribble water even when the system is off? Have a geyser in your front yard that rivals Old Faithful? You’ve got sprinkler problems…our Sprinkler Symptom Solver can help! Select your sprinkler issue below and then check for potential solutions and ways to learn more about making repairs.
- “Geysers” (water shooting out of sprinkler heads)
Possible Problem: Broken or cracked sprinkler heads or missing or broken nozzle
Potential Solution: Replace broken sprinklers and nozzles with the same brand and model as the other sprinklers and nozzles on the same valve. If some sprinklers or nozzles are already mismatched, replace them so all are the same.
Learn More: How to Replace a Sprinkler Nozzle–Orbit Irrigation Products - Water squirting out around the sprinkler head
Possible Problem: Broken sprinkler or riser (the threaded pipe that connects the sprinkler to the pipe fitting below)
Potential Solution: Check to see which part is broken– the sprinkler or the riser. On most residential systems, the riser is a 6” polycut riser or a swing joint. Replace the broken part.
Learn More: How to Repair a Broken Sprinkler Riser — Ninja Green - Little or no water is exiting the spray head while the system is running
Possible Problem: Clogged spray nozzles
Potential Solution: Clean nozzles, screens and filters by soaking and scrubbing with a toothbrush. If many are clogged, it may be necessary to flush the entire zone. Install filters or screens to minimize clogging. Small rocks can plug the tiny orifices in which case, the nozzle may need to be replaced.
Learn More: Water Wise — Fix a Clogged Sprinkler Head — City of Round Rock, TX - System has stopped watering in all zones at scheduled times
Possible Problem: The sprinkler controller time clock is not working or the common wire is disconnected, broken or shortened
Potential Solution: Make sure controller is plugged into a working outlet and switched to “on” or “automatic.”
Check to see if rain sensor is interrupting clock, which is normal until the rain sensor disc dries out.
Check wire connections for corrosion.
Check wires for continuity with a voltmeter. There is no continuity if the common wire is disconnected or broken.
Learn More: Troubleshooting: Controllers/Timers - Misting or overspray
Possible Problem: Excessive pressure
Potential Solution: Turn down the flow control at the valve or use pressure-regulating heads. If all zones have excessive pressure, a pressure-regulating valve can be installed at the point of connection.
Learn More: Irrigationrepair.com - Water dribbles out of the top of sprinklers instead of in a nice strong spray
Possible Problem: Pressure too low
Potential Solution: Low pressure reduces sprinkler efficiency drastically and increases runoff. Use lower precipitation rate nozzles or divide the system into smaller zones. Also, look for leaks or broken pipe and be sure valves are fully open.
Learn More: Irrigationrepair.com - Spray falls short, creating brown spots and/or soaks the area around the sprinkler head
Possible Problem: Heads that are too low in the turf or blocked by grass or
Too many sprinklers on one valve or
Worn out nozzles
Potential Solution: Raise any head that is too low by digging it up and replacing the riser under the head with a taller riser, or install a larger pop-up.
Consider splitting the system and installing another valve or install lower volume nozzles.
Over time, water can wear down the materials that nozzles are made out of, thus, making them perform inefficiently and requiring them to be replaced.
Learn More: Brown Spots, Broken Heads & Sprinkler Coverage Problems - Dry or brown spots on lawn
Possible Problem: Sprinklers placed too far apart or low water pressure or blocked sprinklers or
Tilted/ leaning sprinkler heads or
Clogged sprinklers or
Potential Solution: Check for “head-to-head” coverage to make sure your lawn is getting equal amounts of water. Move or ali sprinklers as needed
Place upright. Stake to protect, if this occurs often, or consider moving the sprinkler. On slopes, heads should be aligned perpendicular to the slope.
Clean or replace the nozzle
Learn More: Head-to-Head coverage explained — Sprinkler Daliy
Irrigationtutorials.com - Heads always seem to be wet, even when the system hasn’t run in a while, or runs all of thetime, even when the timer is off
Possible Problem: Leaking/stuck irrigation valves or debris is preventing the valve from shutting off correctly (diaphragms wear out over time or can’t close due to debris in the valve)
Potential Solution: Dismantle and flush valves to clear debris or replace valve.
Learn More: Sprinkler Valve Leak Repair — City of Roseville
Sprinkler Valve Replacement — City of Roseville - Heads leak after the zone has completed its cycle
Possible Problem: Low head drainage
Potential Solution: Install a check valve or replace sprinkler with one containing a built-in check valve to help prevent the water from draining from the pipe
Learn More: Irrigationtutorials.com - Sidewalks, streets, and fences that are wet or show signs of water damage
Possible Problem: Misdirected sprinklers or sprinklers that spray too far
Potential Solution: Reposition sprinklers so they no longer spray the sidewalk or fence by removing soil away from the side of the sprinkler, straighten the sprinkler and then replacing and packing the soil around the sprinkler body.
Adjust spray-type sprinklers by turning the adjustment screw at the top of the sprinkler so that it doesn’t spray onto the sidewalk or fence. If mist is a problem, turn the screw clockwise.
Adjust rotor-type sprinklers by turning the diverter screw (located on top of the sprinkler just in front of the nozzle) clockwise just until it touches the water stream, followed by turning the screw counter-clockwise just until it is not touching the stream.
Learn More: IrrigationTutorials.com
How to Adjust a Sprinkler Spray Nozzle — Orbit Irrigation Products/a> - Water running off irrigated areas and down the pavement
Possible Problem: Overwatering or watering too much at one time, causing it to runoff before it can penetrate the soil
Potential Solution: Cut watering times in half or use the “cycle and soak” method of watering: Turn on your system and keep track of how much time it takes for the water to begin running off. (For example: If you need to water for nine minutes total, but water starts to run off after only three minutes, divide the watering time into three segments of three minutes each.) Leave a one-hour interval between watering times to allow the water to soak into the soil.
Learn More: Cycle-Soak Method of Watering Lawns — Texas A&M - Water spraying from sprinkler is uneven
Possible Problem: Sprinkler clogged or blocked by plants, grass or other object
Potential Solution: Clean nozzles, screens and filters by soaking and scrubbing with a toothbrush. If many are clogged, it may be necessary to flush the entire zone. Install filters or screens to minimize clogging. Small rocks can plug the tiny orifices in which case, the nozzle may need to be replaced or
Trim plants to prevent blockage or
Replace sprinkler with a model that pops up higher or
Ali an extension between the PVC pipe and the sprinkler or
Relocate the sprinkler in front of the obstruction or
Replace sprinklers with drip or inline irrigation if in a planting bed or
Determine whether the plant can survive without irrigation.
Learn More: Water Wise — Fix a Clogged Sprinkler Head — City of Round Rock, TX - Visibily eroded areas or visible holes in the ground that often look like a little sandy volcano
Possible Problem: Underground leak
Potential Solution: Repair or replace the pipe then fill area and cover with mulch, sod or groundcover plants.
Learn More: How to Repair a Broken Irrigation Line — Ninja Green - Suspicious spots that are much greener than the rest of the area
Possible Problem: Underground leak
Potential Solution: Repair or replace the pipe then fill area and cover with mulch, sod or groundcover plants.
Learn More:How to Repair a Broken Irrigation Line — Ninja Green - Spots that are constantly wet and muddy
Possible Problem: Underground leak
Weeping valve (a slight amount of water continues to pass through a valve when it should be closed)
Potential Solution: Repair or replace the pipe then fill area and cover with mulch, sod or groundcover plants.
Flush or replace
Learn More:How to Repair a Broken Irrigation Line — Ninja Green
Sprinkler Valve Leak Repair — City of Roseville - Bubbling water from the soil
Possible Problem: Underground leak
Potential Solution: Repair or replace the pipe then fill area and cover with mulch, sod or groundcover plants.
Learn More:How to Repair a Broken Irrigation Line — Ninja Green
