Repair a Pulsating Sprinkler in 6 Steps

A pulsating sprinkler is a lawn sprinkler that delivers a low stream of water in a large area. They are water efficient because they do not deliver a continuous stream of water; instead they pulsate water out of the sprinklers and work on a system of pulses. They intermittently send a low pressure stream of water of long distances which helps to deliver the water where you need it instead of over the entire area. There are times when the pulsating lawn sprinkler will need to be repaired. This is not something that you should worry about. This type of lawn sprinkler repair can be done yourself.

Step One - Determine the Problem

It is a good thing to find out what you need to do in order to repair the pulsating sprinkler. Knowing this first will help you determine the tools, and the parts that might be necessary. It might be that the nozzle is clogged, the head is stuck or it might be leaking. Each problem has a different solution to repair it.

Step Two - Remove Nozzle

You can lift the nozzle up by hand. Once you have it lifted up, use a Philips screwdriver to unscrew the seating screws to remove the nozzle. Keep the screws in a small cup next to the pulsating sprinkler head that it came out of, that way you will know where it goes and do not end up misplacing it.

Step Three - Clean Nozzle

There can be two problems with the nozzle. It can be clogged and not send a solid stream of water, or it can be leaking. Both of these problems can be caused by dirt or other debris. Drop the nozzle into a bucket of warm soapy water and let it set there. Take the nozzle out of the water after 15 minutes. Use a small, pointed tool and scrape out the dirt clogging the nozzle.

Step Four - Repair Leaks

Another reason the sprinkler head may be leaking is because of worn seals or gears. Look at the numbers on the top of the sprinkler head. These give you the model number and sizes you need to know to buy new ones. Remove the seal around the sprinkler head and unscrew the gear assembly. They will lift right out. Clean out any debris that is in the area and replace with the new gears. Screw it back into the seating. Carefully replace the new seal back around the sprinkler head.

Step Five - Replace Nozzle

Once the new parts have been put into the pulsating sprinkler, you can set the nozzle back onto its original sprinkler head. Screw the nozzle back into the casing and turn on the system to check and make sure it is working properly.

Step Six - Look for Leaks in Line

If you are still having low water pressure, it may be a problem within the line itself. Locate the area by looking for a wet area on the lawn. Dig up the line and replace the section that is cracked or broken.