Signs a sprinkler head needs replacing
The head is cracked, leaking at the base, stuck down, throwing a geyser, spraying the wrong pattern, or its nozzle is worn out. Mowers, cars and sand are hard on heads.
Spray heads, rotors and nozzles
Spray heads give a fixed fan, rotors sweep a stream, and MP-style rotators put out many thin streams. A zone works best when every head on it puts out the same amount of water, so we match the head type and nozzle to the zone instead of mixing them.
Risers, swing joints and pop-up height
A head can look broken when the riser underneath is the problem. We replace risers and swing joints, set the head height and adjust arc and distance so the spray overlaps correctly.
How often should sprinkler heads be replaced?
There is no fixed schedule. Replace a head when it fails, and consider replacing a whole zone when the heads are old and mismatched. A free 21-point inspection shows which heads are worn.
Fixing a sprinkler head without digging up the lawn
A head swap usually needs only a small hole around the head. A broken riser or line takes a bit more. See our pipe repair page if the line is the problem.
Written by ACRE Landscape Co., Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 26, 2026.