How To Repair A Water Line

Download Article

A broken sprinkler line can seem similar a difficult and expensive repair, merely it's actually pretty unproblematic to do. First, find the leak past looking for escaping water or sprinkler heads with trivial to no menstruation. And then, dig up and betrayal the damaged pipage so you tin remove information technology. Use a slip coupling to replace the damaged department of pipe, fill up in the dirt effectually information technology, and y'all're washed!

Things You Should Know

Turn on the sprinkler to locate the leak. Once y'all find it, plough the water off.
Dig upward the surface area in a higher place the leak to expose the damaged sprinkler line. Clean off the exposed department with a wet cloth.
Saw off a iv in (ten cm) section of pipe to remove the leak. Clench the pipe ends and insert a slip coupling between them to repair the line.

1
Turn on the sprinkler organisation. In order to locate the break or leak in the sprinkler system, y'all need to run h2o through it. Plow on the sprinkler arrangement to activate the catamenia of h2o.^[1]
- Permit the h2o to run for nearly 2 minutes before you check the lines.
- Practice this in the daytime, where you'll have an easier time spotting the leak.
Tip: If your sprinkler system is separated into zones, actuate the zones 1 at a time so you can place the break or leak more hands.
ii
Listen for the sound of running h2o. Later on you turn on the sprinkler system, walk through the area where the sprinkler system is installed. Listen for running water and walk towards where yous hear the sound to locate the leak in your sprinkler line.^[2]
- You may not be able to notice the leak just past listening, but it can help you lot narrow down your search.
Advertisement
3
Run across if there's h2o spouting out of a section of the line. If you see water spraying out of the line instead of the sprinkler caput, and then there'south a crack or leak in the line. In one case you've identified where the leak is, marker the location so y'all can find it when the water is turned off.^[3]
- If the sprinkler line is exposed enough for yous to run into water spraying out of a break or crack, cheque the line for a visible crack, and use a marking to mark the location of the leak.
iv
Bank check for h2o bubbling upwards from the soil. If you see a pool of water or water coming from the soil, then there's a leak in the sprinkler line buried underneath. Marker the general location of the leak or break then yous can identify it when the water is turned off.^[4]
- Place an item similar a shovel or a stone on the ground virtually the leak.
5
Look for a series of sprinkler heads that aren't working properly. If y'all're having trouble finding h2o leaking out into the basis, check the sprinkler heads. If you detect a row of them aren't spraying h2o or are spraying much less water than other sprinkler heads, then the line is broken and the water isn't reaching them.^[5]
- The interruption or leak in the water line will be located between the last working sprinkler head and the first nonworking one.
6
Turn off the sprinkler arrangement after you've found the leak. If y'all've found the signs of a leak and located the region where the line is leaking or broken, plough off the h2o so y'all tin can repair the line. Use the shut off valve in the command box to stop the flow of water through the organization.^[6]
- Wait 1-two minutes to allow the water to finish flowing through the system.
- Be certain to shut the valve completely so in that location isn't water flowing through the line when you make your repairs.

Advertizing

1
Use a hand trowel to dig up the surface area to a higher place the sprinkler line. A shovel can break the sprinkler system even further. Use a smaller hand trowel when yous dig around the damaged section of the line and make your repairs without damaging more of information technology.^[7]
- A larger intermission in the system could mean a costly repair.
ii
Cut a square patch with a shovel over the pause if the line is buried. Apply your mitt trowel to cut the outline of a large square in the grass in a higher place the area of the line that is leaking or broken. Make sure the cuts are consistent so yous tin replace the patch when you're done repairing the line.^[8]
- Cutting a square or rectangular shape and so information technology'south easier to fit back into place when you're finished.
three
Remove the patch with 2–3 inches (v.1–7.6 cm) of dirt on the roots. If you've cut a square outline of grass, dig downwards enough to remove the roots with plenty dirt to keep them intact and then they can regenerate when y'all supercede the patch. Use 2 hands to grip the grass and pull the patch off of the ground.^[9]
- Cut the roots with the hand trowel if they cling to the footing, but be sure to get out enough so they can regrow.
Tip: It tin can aid to have another person piece longer roots while you pull the patch of grass off.
iv
Dig carefully around the sprinkler line to betrayal it. In one case you've remove the patch of grass, you will exist left with a clean square of earth above the pause or crevice in the sprinkler line. Take your fourth dimension and dig down and around the line to expose it.^[10]
- Make the whole broad enough and so the piping is exposed for 6 inches (15 cm) on each side.
- Dig about 3 inches (7.6 cm) below the line so it's easier to remove.
- Pile the dirt yous remove next to the hole then yous can replace it when you're finished.
5

Clean off the section of exposed pipe with a wet cloth. To avoid getting dirt and debris in the sprinkler line when you make your repairs, wash off the section of exposed pipage. Use a clean textile and water to scrub the dirt from it.^[11]

1
Saw off a 4 in (ten cm) section of pipe at the leak. You need to remove a large enough section to fit your skid coupling into the pipe. Once y'all've exposed the pipe where the leak or break is, use a hacksaw to remove the department that contains the leak or break. Use shine, consistent sawing motions to cut the piping so the border is fifty-fifty.^[12]
- Remove the damaged piece of pipage after you lot cutting it.
2
Identify a band clamp on each terminate of the pipage. A band clamp is a strap of metallic that forms a loop that you tin tighten. Afterward you've removed the harm section of piping, slide a band clench on to each end of the pipage. Don't tighten the clamps yet so you can fit your slip coupling into the gap.^[thirteen]
- You can find ring clamps at your local hardware store, section stores, or online.
iii
Insert a slip coupling into the pipe. A slip coupling is a plastic pipage that is flexible and allows you to extend it to the length that you need it to be. Slide the end of the coupling into 1 end of the exposed pipe. And so, extend the coupling then it fits into the other end of the piping.^[14]
- Bring the damaged section of pipe to the hardware shop and then yous can get a sideslip coupling with a diameter that fits into it.
- Use a slip coupling with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) sideslip.
- Yous can find a slip coupling at a hardware store or online.
- Extend the coupling as far as information technology will get into the piping.
four
Tighten both clamps to seal the line. Use the mechanism on the band clamps to screw them tight and so the sideslip coupling is held firmly in identify. The clamps must be secure in order to prevent whatsoever leaks.^[fifteen]
- Utilise a screwdriver to tighten the ring clamps.
5
Turn on the sprinkler system and check for a leak. After you've made your repairs, y'all need to test information technology earlier you embrace the line dorsum upward. Turn on the system and inspect the sideslip coupling that you lot installed to make certain there isn't any h2o leaking out.^[16]
- Allow the system to run for five minutes so you can be sure the coupling and clamps won't come up loose.
6

Fill the hole with clay and replace the patch of grass. Once you've repaired the broken sprinkler line, yous can employ your hand trowel to replace the dirt that you removed. And so place the patch back into identify and water it so the roots start to grow back into the basis.^[17]

Tip: Make sure you make full the area below the repaired pipage so the clay on height doesn't bend or break the pipe over fourth dimension.

Advertizement

Add New Question

Question

How do you fix a broken overhead spray irrigation line?

Mike Garcia is a Licensed Mural Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a total-service landscape design and construction firm in Los Angeles, California. With over 30 years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable mural practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture degree, C-27 Mural Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Design, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional Pond Contractor, and Pond Edifice certifications. He is one of eight Internationally Certified Swimming Builders in the earth. Enviroscape LA has won landscape and water feature awards from the International Professional Pond Contractors Clan (IPPCA), National Association of Swimming Professionals (NAPP), and the California Landscape Contractors Clan (CLCA). Mike is a past president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Lath of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS USA Magazine, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, HGTV's Landscapers Challenge, and A & E's series Prepare That Yard.

Licensed Landscape Contractor

Skilful Respond

Focus on figuring out where the leak is. If the nozzle is broken, only unscrew it and adhere a new one. If the main body that the nozzle screws into is damaged, remove the entire caput and install a replacement.
Question

How do yous set up a broken baste irrigation line?

Mike Garcia is a Licensed Mural Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a full-service landscape design and construction firm in Los Angeles, California. With over xxx years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture caste, C-27 Landscape Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Design, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional person Pond Contractor, and Pond Building certifications. He is one of eight Internationally Certified Swimming Builders in the world. Enviroscape LA has won mural and h2o characteristic awards from the International Professional Pond Contractors Clan (IPPCA), National Clan of Pond Professionals (NAPP), and the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). Mike is a by president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Board of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS USA Mag, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Domicile Makeover, HGTV'southward Landscapers Challenge, and A & E's series Fix That Yard.

Licensed Landscape Contractor

Expert Answer

Cut through the broken department of drip irrigation line if isn't severed all the way through. Then, install a force per unit area coupling on both ends.
Question

How do I replace a damaged corner of a PVC sprinkler line?

You may take to supersede two pipes instead of ane, every bit well equally a corner coupling. Repair couplings (as shown above) can brand the procedure relatively like shooting fish in a barrel.
Question

Can a backyard mower cause a broken pipe?

Yes, if the piping is sticking upward from the ground.
Question

How can I plow off my sprinkler system?

The system itself may have a shutoff valve. If not, trace the supply line back to the nearest shutoff, and use that.
Question

What can I practice if the water will not drain around the leak?

Wait longer. It volition eventually drain. Or accept advantage of the water while the pigsty is total of water. Assuming you found the leak, you have to clear some room around it to deal with it. If the water is taking longer than y'all similar to drain, dig around and nether the problem area with a hand trowel and scoop out mud, sand, whatever the consistency of your soil is. If you're working in an surface area yous desire kept free of clay, similar a sidewalk by a home entrance, you lot might want to scoop the removed material into something else to save information technology for refilling the hole subsequently the repair. A beach saucepan or sometime towel works.
Question

How practise I repair a croaky riser?

Apply the same procedure shown to a higher place for a horizontal line. Note the use of a repair coupling. That makes the procedure quick and like shooting fish in a barrel.
Question

Are at that place different sizes of PVC for a sprinkler line?

PVC comes in many sizes. The right size to use depends on the size of the sprinkler system. A typical size would be ¾" or 1" in diameter. Ask for advice from a plumbing-supply, hardware, or dwelling house-comeback store.