Clogged sprinklers or leaking pipes? Fix common home sprinkler problems yourself!

Clogged sprinklers or leaking pipes? Fix common home sprinkler problems yourself!

It's normal for home sprinkler systems to occasionally have minor issues, such as sprinklers not turning, reduced water flow, or leaking pipe joints. Don't rush to call a professional; many problems can be quickly solved yourself with simple tools, saving you money and giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Troubleshooting clogged sprinklers or no water flow:

This is the most common problem. First, turn off the water supply. Then, use your hand or a small tool to unscrew the sprinkler head from the ground. Check the top or inside of the sprinkler head for dirt, grass clippings, or limescale clogging the nozzles or affecting rotation. Carefully clean it with a fine needle or small brush. If it has a removable filter, remove and clean it as well. After cleaning, reinstall the sprinkler head and turn on the water supply to test. If the sprinkler head is old or the casing is cracked, simply buy a new sprinkler head of the same model from a hardware store; it's not expensive.

Troubleshooting leaking pipe joints:

If you find a continuous leak at the threaded joint, first turn off the water supply. Then, tighten the connector one turn with a pipe wrench or pipe wrench; this often solves the problem. If it still leaks after tightening, the sealing tape (Teflon tape) inside may be old or insufficiently wrapped. In this case, you need to completely disassemble the connector, clean off the old tape, and then tightly wrap new sealing tape clockwise around the threads a dozen times, before retightening the connector.

Troubleshooting broken underground water pipes: If a section of water pipe (usually a flexible hose) breaks and sprays water, you need to find the break point. After shutting off the water supply, dig out the broken section. For PE hoses, a special "quick-connect repair fitting" can be used: cut the broken section with scissors, insert the two ends of the fitting into the cut pipe, and tighten the clips. No glue is needed; it's very convenient. If the damage is severe, replace the entire section of water pipe.

Remember a general principle: Before dealing with any problem, shut off the upstream water supply or valve. Keep a commonly used adjustable wrench, sealing tape, and several quick-connect fittings on hand, and you can handle most everyday minor malfunctions and quickly restore your sprinkler system to operation.