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Sticking popup
Inherited a sprinker system in my new home. Have a sprinkler head that will not pop up and spray. But don't have much experience with sprinkler systems. Can someone please give me a few instructions on how to go about fixing/replacing sprinkler heads? Or point me to a website that can help?
Do I need any special tools?
The heads seem to be a mixture of Rain-Bird and Hunter.
Also have some sprinker heads that will not rotate. Will use the same instructions from above to fix those as well.
Thanks.
It would probably be best to just replace the heads, if it is an older system. Most likely the gears in the rotor heads are worn out and should be replaced anyways. The spray heads are probably either clogged or need a new nozzle. All you should need is a spade, or a shovel of some sort. The heads you should be able to turn by hand. You will most likely need an adjustment tool for your gear driven heads to adjust them.
Just checked it again. It is a Hunter PGP sprinkler head. I can manually pull it up from its casing using a pair of pliers, and it rotates, but does not spray with the normal force, and while it retracts into its housing just fine, it will not pop up unassisted.
Does this still sound like a candidate to be replaced? The entire head? Or just the nozzle?
How exactly do I go about replacing it? What does the housing assembly look like? If I dig it up, how far down do I go? How do I unscrew it from its casing? How much of it is a single piece to be replaced? Is there a website that shows me a better picture of what the repair/replacement would entail?
Thanks.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but your saying it doesn't have enough pressure to pop up? Is there a nozzle in the head? How to all the other heads run? The same way? Are there nozzles in each of those heads on that zone?
Not sure about the pressure inhibiting popup. There is a nozzle in the head (I can see it-red). The other heads prior to the faulty one run just fine. Strong sprays, consistent turning radius. When I manually pulled out the riser on the faulty head, I just noticed that the spray was not as strong or as far a throw as the others. Any thoughts?
How would I go about replacing the head? I don't have a Hunter tool. Do I need one to remove the head? Do the heads simply screw off the riser?
Thanks.
I would start by swapping the head with another one that is working. You dont have to dig out the whole head if its a Hunter PGP. Just remove some diret around the head until you get to where it connects to the main housing. Twist off the entire head while holding the housing secure. Be sure not to let any dirt drop in the housing.
You can also check the manufacturing date on the top edge on the rim to see how old they are. This will also help determine whether you should just drop in a new head.
Exactly what aqua said. No need to replace the case if the head's only a couple years old.
Thanks for the tips--Aqua and RVLI. How do I determine whether I should replace the head? Once I unscrew it off and swap with another--if it works now--does that mean that the nozzle is bad and can be replaced? Would a bad nozzle inhibit popups? RVLI--what if the head is only a couple of years old? Does it mean it can be fixed easily with parts? What are the things that could break on a head?
Thanks guys--I appreciate your patience with my questions...
If after exchanging it with another head and the new head works in the old location then I would try replacing the nozzle and if that does not work then I would replace the head.
If after exchanging it with another head and the new head does not work in the old location then you may have a plugged line. Am I stating this clearly?
Thanks,
Pete
Perfectly clear, Pete. Thanks. Any thoughts on how to get the popup to pop up without a Hunter tool? I hesitate to use a pair of pliers for fear of damaging the head itself.
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