You're a life saver man. Just yesterday I had a client ask me to replace some sprinklers and deep down inside if me I had that deer in headlights look. That's awesome that you just covered this. Keep up the amazing work brother!!!!!
Not only was this the super helpful video I was hoping to find on the subject, it is also narrated by a man of equal charisma and intelligence. I really enjoyed watching and listening...it was like having a friend of mine tell me how to fix my sprinkler. Well done!! Thank you!
Well, that's the hard way to do it, but it is an alternate if nothing else works. I have done many by just unscrewing the head from the nipple and lifting the head out of the hole. Placing the new head back in the hole and it is lined up onto the nipple. Screw it down and then set the sweep and the radius.
Nice work. The more ya do the better you get. Could also do another one and show how to adjust the left edge with the screw driver. took me a bit to figure it out but customers always liked that I showed them.
Also, we use cork plugs as soon as we un screw. never know when gravity may drop a piece of dirt no matter how careful we are. used wine corks work well.
Just turn the water on before you put on the new head, it’ll blow out any debris you have in the lines. Or you can also make a nifty screw in pvc pipe connecting to your threaded female elbow or tee.
Cut into the sod approx 6" from the head, all around. Good sod can often be lifted out, donut-shaped, and set aside. When digging out the soil around the head, place the dirt right next to the hole. The more compact your pile, the easier it will be to replace the dirt and fill your hole up. IF it's a major hole or trench I often use an old tarp to put dirt on. You can use a bucket, towel or piece of cardboard. (Don't allow your pile(s) to set out in rain of any consequence or else it can wash away the dirt) If there's roots, you can use reciprocating saw to cut away at them, or a handsaw, hacksaw or sharpshooter of your choice. CAUTION yourself not to cut into pipe or wiring that might be down there, can be tricky if your hacking away at roots, and collateral damage could occur. CAUTION yourself not to leverage the head w/ riser(s) so that you break the riser/nipple. Note that it could already have been broken, which is why there was too much water around the head or the pressure was reduced causing the head to underperform. IF a threaded nipple breaks off in the fitting or head, you can use a utility knife or slot screwdriver to dig into the broken remnant and push it or tap it to unscrew the piece out. You might need a torch to heat up the broken piece so you can make it cooperative. You might also be able to push one lever of pliers into the broken nipple and twist it out. Don't overheat, and don't tear up your fingers (wear gloves). IS HEAD TOO LOW? Add a cut-off riser to bring the top of head to the dirt level, stay a smidgeon (or more, whatever) above the dirt w/o getting into the mower blade realm. Pack down around the head and under the bottom of the head to prevent future sinking and tilting using gloved hands or 2 pound hammer, whatever. REPLACING: Line up the spray pattern before filling it in, MUCH EASIER. Keep everything as tight as reasonably possible. If you've got all day you can use teflon tape on the male threads, OR you might really need it. If you're tired of getting your hand pinched, you can unscrew the sprinkler from the body/ casing and push it down to install nozzle, etc. It's easier to control in your lap and less likely to pinch again. Also, by re-inserting sprinkler with the "body stop" in the right slot in the casing you can tighten it all the way and get your right(Hunter) or left(Rainbird) body stop where you want it. Can you dig it? I knew that you could.
Thank You! My daughter's boyfriend parked his big gnarly truck on my lawn and I might have been a little Clint Eastwood over it. It busted two sprinkler heads. Luckily, her new boyfriend drives a tiny Honda and he seems to intuitively know to park in the driveway like a grown man.
You can also wiggle the sprinkler head to compact the soil around it. Then use a pair of channel locks to unscrew it. Then just replace it without digging. If the connection is broken, there's a tool I carry in my truck to take that out as well. Very seldom do I have to dig to replace a broken sprinkler head.
I agree - just wiggling the body around and around will compact the dirt enough where the head can be removed and replace with new one. if dirt does get in the supply line, simply purge it. Most also have small plastic filter/particle catcher in the head/body Leave that off, purge then replace. All that can be done in under 5 min. I'd be furious if somebody dug a 2 foot diameter hole around it..... When I got new sod laid, I replaced ALL the sprinkler heads (over 30). Not one failed after reinstalling with very little mess and NO Dirt pile.
Honestly no one has time to put a piece of tarp or plastic on the ground especially if you’re replacing a ton every day like I do, the soil will eventually working it’s way back into the ground and who wants to chase down a piece of plastic in the wind or remember where you put it for the next sprinkler head. It’s a dirty job, not a clean one. Customers will know this and if they don’t you kindly explain it to them.
You often don’t have to swap out the whole head unless the old head is ancient. Just unscrew the guts from the housing and replace the guts. Much much less digging... you dig just enough to have clean access to the screw cap. I also run a purge (15 secs) and then wet vac the housing before the gut transplant.
ive done a few like that unscrew leave bucket inground screw new unit in repack dirt but the one i just replaced i wanted to replace in one unit but hole was filling as i screwed in complete unit but it worked good so far
Hey brian i have reviewed this video and one tip from me is to not dig all the way down to the fitting and u shouldn't have to dig a large diameter around the head
Yeah, I just replaced one yesterday. I was like you don’t have to dig such a large crater. Just in inch around the head should give you the room to unscrew and replace.
Been doing irrigation for a while now and to avoid dirt in the elbow dig down just enough to have a good grip on the head pack the dirt around the head by rotating it have second head ready to go (hitting the side walls around the head) swap quickly pack new head dry set check zone all set should take 5 minutes
unscrew the old head then screw on a new one. take it apart leaving just the body and then turn on water to flush it out. reassemble the head. if your gonna dig it out at least put the dirt on a tarp or something
also, once the body is tight you can "clock" the head but unscrewing the top. you will see a bunch of splines that you can turn the head and drop it back into instead of using the tight vs loose method. Would hate for someone to bust a fitting when they are just trying to change a head.
Brian , don't do that just adjust the water flow when u turn on the zone , that looks like that hurt !!!! I don't find a need in pulling up the head !! Dangerous lol !!!!!!
Excellent video for us beginners. I saved the video. I have a pgj hunter to change, I know it comes in 4, 6, 12 inches. What does this measurement stand for?
When I dig these heads out instead of putting the dirt on the lawn I use either a small tarp or piece of cardboard to put the dirt on. Doing that leaves no mess on the lawn an it so much easier to put all that dirt back into the hole you dug. Just trying to be helpful.
great vid, thanks. you didn't show how to adjust the range (the 180 degrees part), but i guess i'll figure it out. if the head is stuck in one spot when system is running (doesn't oscillate), does that mean the head is shot and must be replaced? or can it be un-jammed somehow without digging it up? thanks again.
Is Teflon tape a requirement to prevent leaks? Sometimes I feel like its harder to get the Teflon tape around the male thread than it is to do everything else. Lol, TIA
No tape! It’s underneath the ground not your sink, who cares if it leaks a little, that’s all part of doing what’s it’s supposed to do, soak the ground.
So that is a messy hole. way to big. yes you know sprinklers mechanically, no doubt. but man. u need a much cleaner hole. way to wide. It should look like u were never there upon fix... it started right. but your sod flip should be to the base of the head not 3 or 4 inches from the top.. loose soil in a bucket or barrel....
Now you lost me -- You said the head rotates 180 degrees but then you pointed out an adjustment screw or something to adjust the "swath" as you called it to 360 degrees I think you said. I'm lost. I think I'd rather pay $40 - $80 To have you do it if I'm going to have that pressure thing come down and bite me like it did your finger.
Constructive criticism should be excepted by what I was saying is that putting the dirt on the ground without a cover over the grass ,it’s not acceptable
It is, absolutely. But your standard might be a little high strung here. We’re teaching some basics and I’m still learning too. No ones trying to challenge your level of perfection. Constructive criticism goes both ways. Even if you’re right about the fact that the hole was a little big. Thanks.
You did all of that digging for NOTHING. If you're replacing a sprinkler head with the same kind, just unscrew the Guts of the sprinkler and replace it with the new one. I hit the top of the sprinkler head with a mower and just had to do that. Takes less than a minute to swap the guts. No digging !
Unfortunately that’s not a good idea. If any dirt got in there, it can get in the line, and keep a valve stuck open, or many other issues. Take the time and do it right, excavate it and replace.