Repair usually makes sense when
- The problems are heads, nozzles, or a valve or two.
- The pipe holds pressure and leaks are occasional.
- Coverage is good once broken heads are fixed.
- The controller is the only old part, and a new one would solve it.
Replacing may be the better buy when
- Lines break again and again, or old pipe is brittle or corroded, like the galvanized pipe we often replace in Old Fig Garden.
- The layout never covered well, even with every head working.
- The yard has changed, and the zones don’t match the planting anymore.
- Several valves on an old manifold are failing together.
Partial upgrades
There’s middle ground: replacing the valve manifold, converting beds to drip, rezoning one area, or adding a smart controller. These can fix the worst problems without starting over.
Our free 21-point inspection lists every issue by valve with the cost of each fix, so you can compare repairs against a new system with real numbers.
Safety first: if you can’t stop the water, close the shutoff valve for the irrigation system, or the main shutoff to the house. Before you dig anywhere, call 811 to have buried utility lines marked.
Written by ACRE Landscape Co., Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 26, 2026.