x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
4 reasons your sprinkler system isn’t working, and how to fix it
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
      • Emergency 9
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • Emergency 9
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
Lifestyle

4 reasons your sprinkler system isn’t working, and how to fix it

By: Josh Sens
  • Follow on Twitter
August 12, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
a sprinkler system on a golf course

When it comes to sprinkler systems, an ounce of prevention can spare you more costly repairs down the line.

getty images

We turn this week to mechanical issues, but not the kind related to your setup or your swing.

Our focus is sprinkler systems.

Fairways have them. Front lawns, too. And while these systems vary in their scale and sophistication, they often fall prey to similar problems.

Terry Buchen, a retired superintendent and a 54-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, remains active in the industry as a consultant.

We asked him about common irrigation glitches and hiccups, and what supers and homeowners can do about them.

1. Old age

Nothing lasts forever. The average lifespan for a golf-course irrigation system is 8 to 10 years in warm climates, and 10 to 12 years in colder climates and transition zones, Buchen says. Home systems, which tend to be less sophisticated, have slightly shorter lifespans.

Lifestyle
seed on lawn and sod on lawn
Should you seed your lawn, or sod it? We asked a golf-course superintendent
By: Josh Sens

While there’s no way to stop the indignities of aging, it’s worth keeping watch. Most courses have anywhere from 800 to 2,000 sprinkler heads. At clubs with healthy budgets, full-time irrigation techs inspect those sprinkler heads roughly once a week, Buchen says.

No homeowner in their right mind is apt to keep up that kind of inspection schedule. But it’s a good idea to pay attention to how your sprinkler heads are performing. An ounce of prevention can spare you more costly repairs down the line.

2. Arc out of whack

Watering a sidewalk or a cart path is a waste. When these things happen, a mechanical problem is often to blame. At courses, most sprinkler heads operate on gear-driven arcs that are adjustable up to 360 degrees. Home systems commonly rely on pop-up sprinkler heads with pre-set arcs. In either case, the arcs can go out of whack.

The problem might be old-fashioned wear and tear, in which case the sprinkler head will need to be replaced. But it’s also possible that something is clogged or jammed, and you might be able to fix the problem yourself.

“First things first, I’d see if you can make it a DIY job,” Buchen says. “You can learn how to fix almost anything on YouTube.”

If that fails, call a pro. You can find plenty of them online, too.

3. Heads won’t pop up

Lifestyle
best lawn-care tips 2021
4 genius lawn-care solutions that really work, according to golf-course superintendents
By: Josh Sens

Here, again, it might be that the sprinkler head has bit the dust and needs to be replaced. But it’s also possible the system has been jammed by grass, dirt or other debris.

This is easy enough to check, Buchen says. Simply unscrew the sprinkler head and check the nozzle. If it’s clogged, try cleaning it out with a paper clip. Just below the nozzle is a fine-mesh screen, designed to catch gunk. These screens can get clogged, too. But they’re a hassle to clean, Buchen says. And since they’re relatively inexpensive to replace, you’re often better off just buying new ones.

At home, Buchen replaces those screens every two years.

4. Freezer damage

In cold climates where temperatures drop low enough for water to freeze, irrigation systems need to be emptied before winter. Otherwise, all havoc can break loose in the form of burst pipes, busted sprinkler heads and more.

Superintendents use powerful compressors to flush their irrigation systems before winter. Homeowners in cold climates should do the same. If you’re handy and confident, you can do this on your own. But don’t feel obliged. Buchen, who lives in Boise, Idaho, outsources the job.

Latest In Lifestyle

3 days ago

Unusual ditches at U.S. Open have players seeking rules advice

4 days ago

These 7 Scotch whiskies make great gifts

6 days ago

Oakmont membership fee: What it costs to join U.S. Open host site

6 days ago

'As penal as possible': Why Oakmont's rough is more brutal than ever

Josh Sens

Golf.com Editor

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.

  • Author Twitter Account

Related Articles

Lifestyle
course care

7 maintenance mistakes that golfers make too often, according to superintendents

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
lawnmower

8 things you should do to prep your yard for fall weather, according to a superintendent

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
A golf flag.

Why flagsticks are way more interesting than you ever knew

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
many pins on a green

When does a tough hole location become tricked-up? A superintendent explains

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
reel mower

Are you using the wrong lawn mower for your grass? Here’s how to know

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
flooded yard

How to protect your grass after heavy rainfall, according to a golf-course superintendent

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
Drought sign displayed on dead grass next to road

Tired of lawn-maintenance? Try swapping out turf for these low-lift alternatives

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
brown lawn

How to revive your drought-ravaged lawn, according to a golf-course superintendent

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
ornamental grasses

4 eye-catching grass types that will make your yard really pop, according to a superintendent

By: Josh Sens
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version