Sprinkler Head Not Popping Up? Let’s Fix It.

This is a common issue with sprinkler systems. Maybe none of your heads are popping up, or maybe only one is not working correctly. When you have sprinkler heads that don’t pop up, there could be several causes. It could be a faulty sprinkler head, a faulty valve, or a problem with your water pressure. Let’s review the most likely causes and how to fix them.

How to Fix All Sprinkler Heads Not Popping Up

When all your sprinkler heads aren’t coming up, it could mean your valve isn’t completely opening, they’re not receiving enough water pressure, or problems with your sprinkler pump. Let’s dive deeper and identify the culprit.

Valve Not Fully Open

Check all of the valves to make sure they are fully open, especially the main system shut-off valve and the valves on your backflow preventer.  A partially closed valve will reduce the water to the sprinklers, causing them to not fully pop up.  This could affect some or all of your zones. 

Low Water Pressure

Has your water pressure dropped? When new construction occurs nearby, the water pressure is prone to drop due to the water system supplying more water to more homes. Call your water provider and inquire to see if the water pressure in the neighborhood has recently dropped. If it has, ask whether it is a temporary or permanent problem.

Should you discover that your water pressure has permanently dropped, then you have a serious problem. Your system was probably designed for a higher water pressure that is not available any longer. You can either install a booster pump to create more water pressure for the system or modify the system to use less pressure.

Pump Issues

If a sprinkler pump is used in supplying your irrigation water, the water pressure and flow may drop as the pump ages. Call your pump service company and have them check out your pump.

Sprinkler Heads Not Popping up in One Zone

When the problem only affects the heads in one zone only, that means that there’s not enough water pressure for the heads in that zone. Let’s review some possibilities.

Flow Control Partially Closed

There may be a flow control on the zone valve that is partially closed. Fix this by opening the flow control counterclockwise.

Many electric solenoid valves used to operate the sprinkler zones have a flow control handle/knob/screw on them that allows the valve to be manually closed or opened. If your valves have flow control, check that they are completely open. Turn the handle counter-clockwise to open it. If water starts coming out, stop turning it and tighten it again!

Faulty Valve

Try manually opening the electric solenoid valve. There should be a lever or small bleed screw on the valve that allows you to bypass the solenoid and open the valve. (Additional information can be found in your owner’s manual). If there is a bleed screw, open the screw until a small stream of water comes out, but do not remove the screw completely, it is very hard to get back on if you do. If the heads pop up fully when the valve is manually opened then the problem is inside the valve.

Too Many Sprinkler Heads in One Zone

It could be that there isn’t enough water pressure to run the zone. A possible solution is to split the zone into two zones.

Single Sprinkler Head Not Popping Up

When one sprinkler head won’t rise to the occasion, that could indicate a slew of reasons, including clogs from debris, excessive blow-by from the sprinkler riser, or even a bad sprinkler head.

Sand or Debris

Sometimes a grain of sand will wedge in the gap between the riser and the cap of the sprinkler, causing the riser to jam. With the zone running, press the pop-up riser down firmly with your foot until it is completely retracted into the body. Then release it so it pops up again. Repeat this step about 4-5 times to loosen and flush out any sand grains.

Blow-by

Check for excessive blow-by of the sprinkler riser. When the riser comes up, small amounts of water squirt out of the gap between the riser and the cap. This is called Blow-by. A small amount is normal.

To check the blow-by, have someone turn on the sprinkler valve while you watch the riser on the sprinkler as it pops up. To determine what is normal, compare several sprinklers. Check to see which one(s) squirt more water than the others. If the sprinkler that isn’t popping up has excessive blow-by, it should be replaced. Whenever possible, use the same brand and model sprinkler for replacements.

Bad Sprinkler Head

There should not be any water leakage between the cap and the riser when the riser is fully extended. Turn on the sprinklers and check for leakage on each one. The riser should be fully extended. If the riser does not come up all the way, pull it up with your hand. If you find leakage between the riser and cap when the riser is completely up, then either the riser seal is bad, the riser is scratched, or the cap is scratched. You will need to replace the sprinkler.

FAQs for Sprinkler Heads Not Popping Up

Why is my sprinkler head not popping up?

Multiple factors can prevent a sprinkler head from rising. The core issue is usually a lack of sufficient water pressure reaching the head itself. This can be caused by a system-wide problem, like low pressure from the source, or a localized issue affecting a single head. Common culprits include low system water pressure, a clogged filter or nozzle, a damaged or broken sprinkler head, a faulty zone valve, or leaks in the irrigation line.

How do I check if water pressure is causing my sprinkler head not to pop up?

Low water pressure often affects an entire sprinkler zone, not just one head. If multiple heads are failing to pop up or are spraying weakly, pressure is the likely suspect. First, ensure your main water shut-off valve for the irrigation system is completely open. Next, confirm the handles on your backflow device are open, indicated by the handles running parallel to the pipe. Lastly, run the problematic zone. If the heads pop up correctly when other zones are off, your overall water flow may not be sufficient to run multiple zones at once. Review your controller’s programming to avoid overlapping schedules.

How do I fix a sunken sprinkler head?

Over time, soil compaction and thatch buildup can cause a sprinkler head to sink. When a head is too low, it can be blocked by the surrounding grass, preventing it from popping up or spraying correctly. Use a trowel to carefully dig out the turf and soil around the sprinkler head. Next, unscrew the entire sprinkler body from the pipe fitting below it. After that, screw a small plastic riser extension onto the pipe fitting to raise the head of the proper height. Fourth, screw the sprinkler body onto the extension until the top of the head sits level with the soil. Finally, backfill the soil by packing it firmly back around the body to secure it in place.

If your sprinkler heads are still not coming up, it might be time for a part replacement. Call or email one of our customer service representatives and let’s get you growing. Happy watering, Irri-Gators!