How to raise sprinkler heads + how to find them??

[cuoffroad]

Hello, I'm not really sure of the correct terms to use for my problem other than what I have in the title. I've searched on the net and here and find nothing. I'm sure I'm not using the correct terms 'cause I can't be the only one with this little gem of a problem. :laughing:

Situation I have is we had our sprinkler system installed 5 years ago before our lawn was put in (hydroseeded). At that time the sprinkler heads were at ground level and all was good.

Now, years later, as the lawn has developed the sprinkler heads, when they are down (or not in use) are a good 2.5 inches below the surface of the grass. They barley clear the top of the grass when in use. I can see in the next year or so where they will not "pop up" far enough to clear the grass at all.

Question is, is there a way to "raise" the heads (without digging up the entire lawn ) so they are level again with the grass? I hope that makes sense. The wife has the camera right now but when she gets home I'll try to take a picture of a head or two to maybe give a better idea. I would have 78 heads to do.


The other question in the title is regarding how to find heads that no longer "pop up". I have one complete zone that no heads pop up when the timer gets to them. I assume the lawn has overgrown the heads because I can not see a one of the heads in the zone. I've tried walking the zone and sticking a metal rod down in the ground to try and "hit" a head but it's like finding a needle in a hay stack and I have yet to find even one. :mur: Any ideas on how to find a burried sprinkler head?

Thank you.

 

[cuoffroad]

Here we go, a couple pictures of what I'm asking about.

Yep, that's the top of a sprinkler head down there.

 

[ragkar]

You might try using a metal/treasure finder. they aren't too expensive and I'll bet you've always wanted one.
Earlier this year I dumped earth around my septic tank clean-outs (polyethylene piping six of them) so that I wouldn't hit them when I mow. I also buried about a pound of iron metal in those locations so that when the grass grows and the earth covers them, I could find them once more.

 

[alchemysa]

Yes you can buy short plastic 'risers' that screw between the spinkler head and the T junction. Some are in fixed lenghts with a thread at each end, others have a type of continuous thread that can be cut to the required length.

If a complete zone is 'missing' i'd suggest its a timer problem or a faulty solenoid thats not opening properly. The solenoids usually have an adjusting screw on top that will manually open the solenoid and turn on the sprinklers regardless of the timer. Try that and see if you can find the sprinklers. Also make sure you have as much water pressure behind the zone as possible.

 

[cuoffroad]

Thank you for the suggestions. I will do a search on risers and see what I come up with. I'll also check the solenoid.

The thought had crossed my mind to cut up some quarter inch steel rod I have and tap a short section down next to each head....just incase. I don't have a metal detector currently but if we ever did need to get one I'm sure the kids would get a kick out of it as well.

 

[aczlan]

The thought had crossed my mind to cut up some quarter inch steel rod I have and tap a short section down next to each head....just incase. I don't have a metal detector currently but if we ever did need to get one I'm sure the kids would get a kick out of it as well.

Not really needed with a good metal detector, there are metal springs inside the head which will register on a metal detector.

Aaron Z

 

[cuoffroad]

Not really needed with a good metal detector, there are metal springs inside the head which will register on a metal detector.

Aaron Z

Thanks Aaron, that will save me some work.

Looks like this is what I need.

With 78 to do (I'm sure not all of them need it) this will be a long project.

 

[MossRoad]

You may also want to look at the flexible risers. They are a long piece of very flexible tubing with a fitting on each end. One goes on the pipe, the other goes on the sprinkler. It you hit the sprinkler with, say, a tractor, the head just gets pushed into the ground and it does not snap the rigid type risers.

Also, as someone else suggested, for that entire zone that is missing, you are probably not getting any water to the zone. Check that zone's solenoid first.

 

[cuoffroad]

Ouch! :shocked: The flexible risers are 4x+ the price of the rigid (on-line anyway). I'll have to think about his one. A good suggestion though and I thank you.

I found a landscape supply company pretty close to us that mostly sells to contractors or other businesses but said they will do walk in business also. I think I'll try to stop in there in the next week or so and see what they have. Can't hurt.

Now that I've gotten the correct termonology from you guys I'm able to find a lot more info on the net too. :thumbsup:

 

[atschirner]

While you are at the supply house look into a roll of 1/2" "silly" pipe. It's the flexible black pipe to go from the rigid piping to the heads. A 100' roll and a couple bags of fittings should cover your job. It will give you the advantages of the flexible risers without the expense.