How to Unclog a Water Line to a Sprinkler System

How to Unclog a Water Line to a Sprinkler System

• 1

  Clean out your sprinkler head first to make sure this is not causing the problem. Remove clogged dirt and any debris from filters and heads. Soak your sprinkler head in hot vinegar to remove any calcium buildup in the vents and nozzles. Once you've eliminated the sprinkler head as the problem, move on to the hoses.

• 2

  Turn on the water while the sprinkler head is still detached. If you have several hoses, see which hose is expending water the least. If one is only dribbling a bit of water, then detach from the hookup. Check along the line for a solid mass and massage the rubber hose to break up the plug. Then hook it up and run the water to flush out the plug. If all the hoses put out the same amount of water, then turn off the water and detach the hose system.

• 3

  Turn on your outdoor faucet to see how much water is expended first. Find the connecting pipe line to the outdoor faucet and find a clean-out trap. Place a bucket underneath the plug, then open the clean-out trap. If water gushes out, insert the auger and start extending it into the pipe. If no water gushes out when you open the trap, the blockage is further on up the pipe line.

• 4

  Check U-shaped house traps along the line and use the auger there to make sure the line is cleaned all the way through. If you are still having problems, it's time to call in a professional to take care of it for you.