How to fix a broken sprinkler head
Most broken pop-up heads are a 10-minute DIY repair if you know what to pick and how to match the pattern.
What you'll learn
- When to replace just the nozzle vs. the whole pop-up body
- How to match precipitation rate to the rest of the zone
- Why matched precipitation matters for even coverage
- Which tools you actually need (a valve key and a flat screwdriver get you 90% of the way)
Step by step
- Turn the zone off at the controller.
- Unscrew the broken pop-up body counter-clockwise from the riser.
- Match the new body and nozzle to the others in the zone, same brand, same pattern, same rate.
- Thread the new body onto the riser hand-tight, then quarter-turn with a wrench.
- Turn the zone on briefly to flush, then adjust the spray pattern.
Safety note
If more than one head in a zone has failed, the problem is probably pressure, not the heads. A pressure check catches this before you replace three heads to no effect.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Serving all 67 cities in San Diego County. We match you with a licensed local pro.
More guides
Keep learning.
Basics · 4 min watch
How to water your SD lawn the right way
Deep, infrequent watering builds deep roots. Light daily watering does the opposite. Here's the right cadence for San Diego.
Basics · 6 min watch
How to plant a drought-tolerant bed
A simple front-yard drought-tolerant bed is a weekend project if you know what to plant and how to prep the soil.
Maintenance · 3 min watch
How to set the right mowing height
The difference between a lawn that looks sharp and one that always looks stressed is usually half an inch of mowing height.