People reasonably want to know what a sprinkler repair costs before they call. The honest answer is that it depends on what is actually broken, and that is often not what it looks like at first. This article explains what drives the time and parts on a repair, so you know what to expect and how to keep it simple. We always give a price before starting work.
Diagnosis is part of the job
The symptom and the cause are often different. A wet spot could be a cracked pipe, a leaking valve or a broken head. A dry zone could be a clogged nozzle, a cut wire or a dead solenoid. A good repair starts with figuring out which. That is why a visit starts with running the zones and testing, not with replacing parts.
Information from you helps a lot. Tell us what you see, when it started, whether anything was dug or installed recently, and what the water meter does. That can shorten diagnosis.
What makes a repair quick
- A single broken head that is easy to reach
- A clogged nozzle or a head that just needs cleaning and raising
- A manual bleed left open on a valve
- A sensor bypassed at the controller
- A program error
These are often fixed in minutes.
What makes a repair take longer
Finding the problem. A leak hidden under clay, or a cut wire somewhere along a long run, takes time to locate.
Access. A valve box buried under sod and mulch, a leak under a sidewalk or driveway, a line under a mature tree or a deck all take longer to reach.
Depth and soil. Pipe buried deeper than usual, or clay that is dry and hard, takes longer to dig carefully.
Multiple problems. On an older system that has not been maintained, it is common to find several issues on one visit: a few broken heads, a weeping valve, a cut wire, and a sensor that does not work.
Parts availability. Common heads and valves are standard stock. Very old or unusual parts may need replacing with a modern equivalent.
Rezoning or redesign. Splitting an overloaded zone, separating sun and shade, or converting beds to drip are bigger jobs than a repair.
Repair versus replace
Replacing a whole system is rarely the first answer. Most of the cost of a system is the pipe in the ground, and that pipe often has years of life left. Heads, nozzles, valves and controllers wear out and are much cheaper to replace individually. Replacement makes sense when leaks are everywhere, the layout no longer fits the yard, or the system was never designed well in the first place. We will tell you plainly which situation you are in.
How to keep repairs simple
- Know where your shut-off is. It saves water when something breaks.
- Keep valve boxes visible and clean.
- Mark the system before yard work. Fence, bed, cable and remodel crews cut lines and wires.
- Fix small problems early. A broken head left running washes out soil and can turn into a bigger repair.
- Do a spring walk-through. See the spring start-up checklist.
What we do on every visit
- Run each zone and walk it
- Check heads, valves, controller, sensor and backflow
- Explain what is wrong and the price before work
- Repair and retest
- Set the controller for the season and your city’s rules
Ask for the license
Texas requires irrigation work to be done by or under a licensed irrigator. It is always fair to ask a company for its license number.
Call us
Call 469-208-4222. Describe what you are seeing and we will tell you the visit charge up front and the repair price once we find the problem.
Have a question this did not answer? Call 469-208-4222 and ask. More articles on the blog.
