Keep your sprinkler heads clean and your lawn green
Keeping your sprinkler heads clean is an important step toward maintaining both your pristine landscaping and the irrigation system itself. If you need a little help, we can guide you through how to clean sprinkler heads in a flash.
First things first, you’ll want to make sure you have all your tools on hand and know where your sprinkler heads are located. (As you’ve likely gathered, we’re talking about lawn sprinklers—not home fire sprinklers. Just to make sure.)
For each sprinkler head, you’ll first pull it up out of its line in the ground. If you can’t get a grip on the sprinkler head to pull it up, use a flathead screwdriver. Just be careful not to damage any components.
Once you’ve pulled the sprinkler head up, you can place the adjustable vise-grip pliers at its base to ensure it won’t fall back into the ground if you let go of it.
You should be able to unscrew the heads by hand, but the vise grips can help if the sprinkler head is stuck. Remove both the sprinkler head and the screen beneath it using the needle-nose pliers for the screen if necessary.
Use the towel to keep dirt off your hands and remove any obvious debris from the components. Keep an eye out for any components that seem damaged or defunct—you may need to replace them.
You can achieve a deeper clean by soaking the sprinkler heads in a 1-to-1 mixture of water and white vinegar.
Create your mixture in a plastic bin. Swirl the sprinkler components through the water to remove additional debris, and then allow them to soak for half an hour. Give them one more swirl before removing them from the tub to dislodge any remaining grit.
While your sprinkler components are soaking, walk to your sprinkler control box and briefly flush out each sprinkler line individually to remove any remaining dirt or debris left behind. The stream of water that comes out could be quite powerful (and totally soak your landscaping), so be sure to only run the line for a few seconds.
Once your sprinkler heads and screens are clean and your lines have been flushed, go ahead and reassemble them in the opposite way from how you took them apart. Again, pliers may be useful (even if they’re not required).
Once the sprinkler heads are back together, check to ensure the spray pattern is correct and make sprinkler head adjustments accordingly. If you’re having further problems or simply want to keep your jeans clean this weekend, reach out to a sprinkler repair pro near you for help.
Cody did a great job!
ItzelpaintingWonderful. I am going to have them remove and replace my driveway in the spring.
All Star Paving and SealingWe had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesDid an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLCAlways been satisfied with the service work and how they have taken care of my pool.
Bill Gerhardt sold the company to his employees at the end of 2019, apparently without a workable succession plan and without notifying prospective customers of this fact. Most aspects of the maintenance contract have not been fulfilled: no installation of anual plantings per contract, no...
They show up and they did take us on as a client which seems to be a problem with other lawn care providers. We have multiple properties and this one was located close to downtown and no one really wants to mess with it.
I was very happy with the service provided by AK Irrigation. They responded quickly to my email, and the woman I spoke with was polite and professional. I was able to get an appointment that same week. <br /> The technician (Tyler) arrived on time. He was very knowledgeable, and worked...
AK IrrigationThe worker came out when he was supposed to come. He informed me he would honor the Angie's List deal, but would not do any more work for me since my son in law owns lawn care company as well, even though they do not do the same type of work. He said he did not feel comfortable giving me...
Bello Giardino LLCE & L Lawn Care was super. They were very responsive before and after service. They were efficient and were able to complete the job within 1 day. I have had concern about one section of sod - the owner was pro-active and did a visit to evaluate. I have no doubt they will stand behind...
E&L lawn careFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Is your sprinkler system on the fritz? Discover our troubleshooting tips and steps for how to fix a sprinkler system so your lawn can stay lush and healthy.
Learn how to adjust Rain Bird sprinkler heads, no matter the type. Fine-tuning your sprinklers ensures optimal water usage and reach.
Sprinkler systems offer lots of variety in sprinkler heads. Learn the differences between sprinkler head types to find the best one for your watering needs.
If your sprinkler head is popping up but not spraying, you could have a clog. Learn the main causes of this problem and how to fix them.
Sprinkler heads can go missing in your lawn or landscaping, leaving you with uneven watering. Learn how to find sprinkler heads covered by grass and plants.
When your sprinkler head is not rotating, the common culprits are debris, dirt, or low water pressure. Read on to learn how to solve a sprinkler head problem.
