How to Find and Fix a Broken Sprinkler Line

Broken sprinkler lines are probably the most common repair I deal with. Tree roots, frost heave, sharp rocks, and good old-fashioned lawn mower damage — I've seen it all.

Signs You Have a Broken Line

• A zone that runs but has low pressure at the heads
• Soggy or muddy areas that never dry out
• A spot that's much greener than the rest of the lawn
• Your water meter spins when all fixtures are off and you turn on a zone
• Heads that used to pop up strong but now barely trickle

Finding the Break

1. Turn on the suspected zone and walk the area slowly. Look for water bubbling up, soggy spots, or areas where water is pooling.
2. Check near trees and large shrubs. Roots are the #1 cause of broken lines.
3. Check around head locations. Often the break is right at a fitting or connection point.
4. If you can't find it visually, you may need to probe with a screwdriver or dig exploratory trenches along the pipe run.

The Fix (PVC Pipe)

What You'll Need

• PVC pipe (same size as existing — usually 3/4" or 1")
• Two slip couplings (or one telescoping repair coupling)
• PVC primer and cement
• A hacksaw or PVC cutter
• A shovel

Steps

1. Dig out the broken area. Give yourself room to work — dig at least 6 inches on each side of the break.
2. Cut out the damaged section. Use a hacksaw. Cut straight and clean.
3. Let the pipe drain. Water in the pipe will prevent your glue from setting.
4. Dry-fit your repair piece. Cut a piece of pipe to bridge the gap, with couplings on each end.
5. Prime and glue. Apply primer to all surfaces, then cement. Push firmly and hold for 10 seconds.
6. Wait at least 2 hours before turning the water back on. Overnight is better.
7. Test before backfilling. Run the zone and watch for leaks at your repair joints.

Pro Tip

Always keep a repair coupling and a few feet of pipe in your garage. When a line breaks — and eventually one will — you won't need to make a hardware store run before you can stop wasting water.