How To Repair Sprinkler Line

Download Article

Download Commodity

A broken sprinkler line can seem like a difficult and expensive repair, but it'south really pretty simple to do. First, detect the leak by looking for escaping h2o or sprinkler heads with footling to no flow. Then, dig up and expose the damaged pipe and then you can remove information technology. Use a slip coupling to supercede the damaged section of pipe, make full in the clay around information technology, and you're done!

Things You lot Should Know

Turn on the sprinkler to locate the leak. Once you find it, turn the water off.
Dig up the area in a higher place the leak to expose the damaged sprinkler line. Clean off the exposed section with a moisture cloth.
Saw off a four in (10 cm) section of pipe to remove the leak. Clamp the pipe ends and insert a slip coupling between them to repair the line.

1
Plow on the sprinkler system. In club to locate the intermission or leak in the sprinkler organisation, you demand to run water through it. Turn on the sprinkler arrangement to activate the flow of water.^[i]
- Allow the water to run for about two minutes before you check the lines.
- Practise this in the daytime, where y'all'll have an easier time spotting the leak.
Tip: If your sprinkler system is separated into zones, activate the zones 1 at a time so y'all tin can identify the break or leak more hands.
2
Listen for the audio of running water. Later you turn on the sprinkler system, walk through the area where the sprinkler organization is installed. Listen for running h2o and walk towards where you hear the sound to locate the leak in your sprinkler line.^[two]
- You may non exist able to observe the leak just by listening, but information technology tin help you narrow down your search.
Advertisement
3
Meet if there's water spouting out of a section of the line. If you see water spraying out of the line instead of the sprinkler head, then there's a crack or leak in the line. Once you've identified where the leak is, mark the location then y'all can find it when the h2o is turned off.^[three]
- If the sprinkler line is exposed enough for yous to see water spraying out of a break or crack, check the line for a visible crack, and use a marker to marking the location of the leak.
4
Check for water bubbling up from the soil. If yous meet a pool of water or h2o coming from the soil, and so in that location's a leak in the sprinkler line buried underneath. Mark the full general location of the leak or break then y'all can identify it when the water is turned off.^[4]
- Place an item like a shovel or a rock on the ground near the leak.
v
Look for a series of sprinkler heads that aren't working properly. If you're having trouble finding water leaking out into the footing, check the sprinkler heads. If you lot notice a row of them aren't spraying water or are spraying much less water than other sprinkler heads, then the line is broken and the h2o isn't reaching them.^[5]
- The break or leak in the water line volition be located between the last working sprinkler caput and the kickoff nonworking one.
half dozen
Turn off the sprinkler system later you've found the leak. If you've found the signs of a leak and located the region where the line is leaking or broken, turn off the water so you can repair the line. Use the close off valve in the control box to stop the flow of water through the system.^[6]
- Wait 1-two minutes to allow the water to finish flowing through the system.
- Be sure to shut the valve completely so there isn't water flowing through the line when yous make your repairs.

1
Use a hand trowel to dig upward the area higher up the sprinkler line. A shovel tin can interruption the sprinkler system even further. Use a smaller mitt trowel when y'all dig around the damaged department of the line and make your repairs without dissentious more than of it.^[seven]
- A larger pause in the organization could mean a plush repair.
2
Cutting a square patch with a shovel over the break if the line is buried. Use your paw trowel to cut the outline of a large square in the grass to a higher place the area of the line that is leaking or broken. Brand sure the cuts are consistent so you can supercede the patch when you're done repairing the line.^[8]
- Cutting a square or rectangular shape and so it's easier to fit back into identify when you lot're finished.
3
Remove the patch with two–three inches (v.1–7.six cm) of dirt on the roots. If y'all've cut a foursquare outline of grass, dig down enough to remove the roots with enough dirt to keep them intact and then they can regenerate when y'all replace the patch. Use 2 hands to grip the grass and pull the patch off of the ground.^[ix]
- Cut the roots with the hand trowel if they cling to the basis, simply be sure to exit enough so they tin regrow.
Tip: It tin can help to have another person slice longer roots while you pull the patch of grass off.
4
Dig carefully around the sprinkler line to expose it. Once you've remove the patch of grass, you volition be left with a clean square of globe to a higher place the break or crack in the sprinkler line. Have your time and dig down and around the line to betrayal it.^[10]
- Make the whole wide enough and then the pipe is exposed for vi inches (fifteen cm) on each side.
- Dig about 3 inches (7.6 cm) below the line so information technology's easier to remove.
- Pile the dirt yous remove adjacent to the pigsty so you tin can supervene upon it when you're finished.
five

Make clean off the section of exposed pipe with a wet cloth. To avoid getting dirt and debris in the sprinkler line when you make your repairs, wash off the department of exposed pipe. Use a make clean material and water to scrub the clay from it.^[11]

1
Saw off a 4 in (ten cm) section of pipe at the leak. You demand to remove a large plenty section to fit your slip coupling into the pipe. Once you lot've exposed the piping where the leak or pause is, use a hacksaw to remove the section that contains the leak or break. Apply shine, consistent sawing motions to cut the pipe and then the edge is even.^[12]
- Remove the damaged piece of pipe after you cut information technology.
two
Place a band clamp on each end of the pipage. A band clamp is a strap of metallic that forms a loop that you can tighten. After y'all've removed the damage section of piping, slide a ring clench on to each end of the pipage. Don't tighten the clamps withal so you lot tin can fit your slip coupling into the gap.^[13]
- You tin observe band clamps at your local hardware store, department stores, or online.
3
Insert a slip coupling into the piping. A slip coupling is a plastic piping that is flexible and allows y'all to extend it to the length that you lot need it to be. Slide the end of the coupling into i end of the exposed pipage. Then, extend the coupling then it fits into the other end of the pipe.^[14]
- Bring the damaged section of piping to the hardware store so you can become a sideslip coupling with a diameter that fits into it.
- Use a slip coupling with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) skid.
- Y'all can detect a slip coupling at a hardware store or online.
- Extend the coupling as far as it will go into the pipe.
4
Tighten both clamps to seal the line. Use the mechanism on the ring clamps to screw them tight then the slip coupling is held firmly in place. The clamps must be secure in order to forbid any leaks.^[15]
- Use a screwdriver to tighten the ring clamps.
v
Turn on the sprinkler system and cheque for a leak. After yous've made your repairs, you need to test it before you lot embrace the line dorsum upwardly. Turn on the system and inspect the slip coupling that y'all installed to make sure there isn't any water leaking out.^[xvi]
- Let the arrangement to run for v minutes so you lot can exist sure the coupling and clamps won't come up loose.
6

Fill the hole with dirt and replace the patch of grass. Once you've repaired the cleaved sprinkler line, you lot can use your mitt trowel to replace the dirt that you removed. Then place the patch back into place and water it so the roots beginning to grow back into the ground.^[17]

Tip: Make sure yous fill the surface area beneath the repaired pipe then the dirt on pinnacle doesn't bend or pause the pipe over time.

Add New Question

Question

How do you prepare a cleaved overhead spray irrigation line?

Mike Garcia is a Licensed Landscape Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a full-service landscape pattern and structure firm in Los Angeles, California. With over 30 years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture degree, C-27 Landscape Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Pattern, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional Pond Contractor, and Pond Edifice certifications. He is one of 8 Internationally Certified Swimming Builders in the world. Enviroscape LA has won mural and h2o characteristic awards from the International Professional person Pond Contractors Association (IPPCA), National Association of Pond Professionals (NAPP), and the California Mural Contractors Association (CLCA). Mike is a by president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Board of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS USA Mag, Swimming and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Farthermost Domicile Makeover, HGTV's Landscapers Claiming, and A & E'due south serial Gear up That Yard.

Licensed Landscape Contractor

Expert Answer

Focus on figuring out where the leak is. If the nozzle is broken, simply unscrew it and attach a new one. If the main body that the nozzle screws into is damaged, remove the entire head and install a replacement.
Question

How do you gear up a broken drip irrigation line?

Mike Garcia is a Licensed Landscape Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a total-service landscape design and construction firm in Los Angeles, California. With over 30 years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture degree, C-27 Landscape Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Design, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional Swimming Contractor, and Pond Building certifications. He is one of 8 Internationally Certified Swimming Builders in the world. Enviroscape LA has won landscape and water characteristic awards from the International Professional person Pond Contractors Association (IPPCA), National Association of Pond Professionals (NAPP), and the California Mural Contractors Clan (CLCA). Mike is a past president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Lath of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS USA Mag, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, HGTV's Landscapers Challenge, and A & E's series Gear up That Yard.

Licensed Landscape Contractor

Expert Reply

Cut through the cleaved section of drip irrigation line if isn't severed all the way through. And so, install a pressure coupling on both ends.
Question

How do I supplant a damaged corner of a PVC sprinkler line?

Y'all may have to supercede two pipes instead of one, likewise equally a corner coupling. Repair couplings (every bit shown above) tin make the procedure relatively easy.
Question

Tin can a backyard mower cause a broken pipe?

Yeah, if the pipage is sticking upward from the ground.
Question

How can I turn off my sprinkler system?

The system itself may take a shutoff valve. If not, trace the supply line dorsum to the nearest shutoff, and employ that.
Question

What can I do if the water will not drain around the leak?

Wait longer. It volition eventually drain. Or take reward of the water while the hole is full of h2o. Bold you lot found the leak, yous accept to articulate some room around it to deal with information technology. If the water is taking longer than you similar to bleed, dig effectually and under the problem area with a hand trowel and scoop out mud, sand, whatever the consistency of your soil is. If y'all're working in an area you lot want kept free of dirt, like a sidewalk by a home entrance, you lot might desire to scoop the removed fabric into something else to salvage information technology for refilling the hole afterward the repair. A beach bucket or old towel works.
Question

How do I repair a cracked riser?

Use the same procedure shown above for a horizontal line. Note the utilize of a repair coupling. That makes the procedure quick and like shooting fish in a barrel.
Question

Are there different sizes of PVC for a sprinkler line?

PVC comes in many sizes. The right size to use depends on the size of the sprinkler system. A typical size would be ¾" or ane" in diameter. Inquire for advice from a plumbing-supply, hardware, or home-improvement shop.