A broken pop-up sprinkler leaves a dry patch fast, and in a Perth summer that patch can spread. Replacing one is a straightforward job if you take your time and keep dirt out of the system.
1. Dig around the sprinkler
Cut a neat square of turf around the sprinkler and lift it out in one piece so it can go back later. Dig down until the white pipe below the sprinkler is fully exposed. Going right down to the pipe stops soil falling into the line when you unscrew the old sprinkler.
2. Swap the sprinkler body
Unscrew the broken sprinkler and screw on the new one. Most new sprinklers come with a coloured flush cap fitted instead of a nozzle. Leave it on for now.
3. Flush the line
Run the station from your controller. The flush cap lets water push any dirt out of the line before the nozzle goes on. Turn the station off once the water runs clear.
4. Fit the right nozzle
Measure the distance to the neighbouring sprinklers and choose a nozzle that throws that distance, with the same spray pattern as the one you replaced. Unscrew the flush cap and fit the nozzle.
5. Test and backfill
Run the station again and check the spray reaches the next sprinkler without hitting paths or walls. Then backfill the hole, press the square of turf back in place and water it in.
If several sprinklers are failing, or the problem is a leak, a valve or the controller, it's worth getting the system checked properly. We look after existing reticulation for our regular maintenance clients.