DIY Lawn Sprinkler System Repair

Repair a Broken Pipe

• 1

  Run the sprinklers for about 10 minutes, and then look for signs of pooling water on the surface. Pooled water indicates a broken pipe underground.

• 2

  Shut off the sprinkler water supply by turning the ball valve on the main water line 90 degrees clockwise.

• 3

  Dig up the area around the pooled water until you reach the sprinkler supply line. Carefully remove dirt in both directions along the pipe until you find the crack in the pipe.

• 4

  Wipe off the dirt around the area of the break using a cotton rag or paper towels. Get the surface of the pipe as clean as possible.

• 5

  Place a pipe repair clamp around the area of the break, and make sure to point the rubber gasket against the crack.

• 6

  Tighten the two screws on the clamp to seal the leak.

• 7

  Replace the dirt around the pipe.

• 8

  Turn on the sprinkler water supply by turning the ball valve on the main supply line 90 degrees counterclockwise.

Replace a Broken Sprinkler

• 9

  Run the sprinklers to identify the broken head. A broken sprinkler head will spray water erratically, not spray at all or jet water straight into the air.

• 10

  Remove the dirt around the base of the sprinkler to expose the sprinkler body.

• 11

  Grab the body with your hand and turn it counterclockwise until it releases from the sprinkler riser. The riser attaches the sprinkler to the supply line.

• 12

  Discard the damaged sprinkler.

• 13

  Place a replacement sprinkler on the plastic riser underground where you removed the damaged unit. Turn the sprinkler clockwise until tight.

Repair a Broken Manifold

• 14

  Open the irrigation control box lid. The control box is usually located around the perimeter of the house or near other irrigation equipment.

• 15

  Run the sprinklers to identify the area on the manifold that is leaking. Shut off the water to the sprinklers by turning the ball valve clockwise along the main water line.

• 16

  Place a flexible pipe repair patch over the area of the leak. Repair wraps contain a chemical that will allow the wrap to bond with the plastic or metal on the manifold as it dries.

• 17

  Press the repair wrap firmly into the cracks and hold in place for 30 seconds while the wrap sets.

• 18

  Allow the repair wrap to sit for 24 hours before turning the water back on and using the sprinklers again.