How to Fix a Pop-Up Sprinkler with Sprinkler Master Repair (Salt Lake City, UT)
About the Pop-Up Sprinkler Head:
A pop-up sprinkler head is a sprinkler head that pops up out of the ground. It connects to the pipe by a nipple, or a 90 degree funny pipe that connects under the sprinkler head. The sprinkler head uses the water pressure to push up the center shaft, which then connects to the nozzle that sprays water. A Pop-up sprinkler head also has a rubber seal and a spring that helps slide the center shaft up and down. The nozzle on top can spray a radius from 0° to 360°, depending on the type of nozzle. Nozzles can either constantly spray a fan of water, or spray in small streams that slowly rotate. A pop-up sprinkler head is usually attached to a lateral line and can connect on the side if it’s a longer head.
Watch this video to learn more about the Pop-Up Sprinkler components, and this video for an overview of the Pop-Up Sprinkler.
Parts that make up the Pop-Up Sprinkler:
Quality parts go into most Pop-up Sprinklers, including:
- Rainbird
- Hunter
- Orbit
- Toro
- Nozzles
- Rubber seals
- Springs
- Top screw covers
- Extensions
- 90 degree funny pipe
- Dual orifice/Dual Spray
- MP Rotator
- MP 1000-3000
- Adjustable nozzle
- Rotary R-Vans
- He-Van(finger Streams)
- Van-Adjustable
- Side strip nozzles
- Center strip nozzle
- End strip
- Quarter, Half, Full, High Efficiency
- Arc
- Bubbler
- 4,6,8,10,12,15,18,20 and 30 feet filters
Pro and Cons of the Pop-Up Sprinkler:
Pop-up sprinkler heads can be raised or lowered easily and are also relatively cheap. They are versatile and can connect to most pipe fixtures. The nozzles can also be turned on and off if they have a filter, and the sprinkler heads themselves are installed underground. The heads require semi-frequent adjustment, only occasionally needing to be tended to.
Common Problems:
Pop-up sprinklers get broken easily from being stepped on, ran over, or worn down due to weathering. They can also clog anywhere from the line that feeds them up to the nozzle they spray out of. If a sprinkler constantly leaks it is the sprinkler valve that feeds the head that is the issue. The nipple or 90 degree funny pipe that connects the sprinkler head to the pipe can easily break or crack. Pressure can also be low from too many heads on one line, or valve.
How to Diagnosis Problems:
A call and visit from Sprinkler Master Repair (Salt Lake City, UT) would mitigate the problems you have with your pop-up sprinkler. Call us today at (385) 226-5764 to see if we can help you with any of the following problems, or if you need more help to find solutions:
- The nozzle is either broken or clogged if a sprinkler head is not spraying correctly.
- The sprinkler head stays up after watering; this means the rubber seal on the top of the sprinkler is going out.
- If water is coming up from underneath the sprinkler, the connection is probably broken. When no or little water is coming out, there is a clog anywhere from the feed line to the head.
- If a sprinkler is above the grass/dirt line before turning on, it is too high and must be lowered. Consequently, if the sprinkler head is too low while turning on, it needs to be raised higher.
- If pressure across all heads are low check the flow control on the valve. If they are still low, consider replacing nozzles with low pressure nozzles, taking heads off, then adding them to another line, or adding a new valve.
How to Install or Repair:
There are certainly a lot of things that can go wrong with your sprinklers. Here are a few suggestions to potential problems:
- Your nozzle and filter underneath may need to be replaced if a nozzle is broken or clogged. Simply unscrew the nozzle/filter, and screw a new one in.
- If the sprinkler head is staying up after watering, the top of the head, or the entire head may need to be replaced, as they are usually the same price. If water is coming up from under the head, dig a circle of dirt out from around the head, use a nipple extractor to unscrew the broken nipple if possible. However, when that may not a possibility, cut the fitting out of the pipe and put a new one in. Blow out any debris by turning the valve on and then screw a new nipple and head on.
- Your sprinkler head may be clogged. As that happens, try unscrewing the nozzle first to see if debris comes out. If debris does come out, unscrew the whole head, but if no debris comes out, the pipe controlling the head may be clogged and needs to be blown out. If you are having trouble unclogging a system, try hooking a hose to the head, undoing the fitting right before the valve, and back-blowing it out.
- A sprinkler head may be too low. Simply unscrew the head and either unscrew the nipple its attached to. If the head is connected to a funny pipe, add a nipple extender or lift the pipe. Your sprinkler head may be too high and you’ll need to unscrew the head and either unscrew the nipple its attached to, reattach a lower one, or connect the head to a funny pipe and move it so it can go lower than the feed pipe (if not already attach to funny pipe).
- If pressure across all heads are low, check the flow control on the valve. If they are still low, replace nozzles with low pressure nozzles, taking heads off, then adding them to another line, or adding a new valve.
Additional Tips and Tricks:
Try unscrewing a clogged nozzle and blowing out the debris using a small screwdriver. If you have a filter underneath the head or nozzle, screw the center of the nozzle and you can turn it on or off. Some repairs will require special tools.
With any other issues, know that you can call Sprinkler Master Repair (Salt Lake City, UT) to install or repair any sprinkler need you may have. One call at (385) 226-5764 is all you’ll need to understand the Sprinkler Master difference. We offer exceptional service, all while using quality parts at an affordable price. Don’t delay, call us today!
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