What drives the price
Most of the bill is diagnosis and digging. Heads snap off mowers and edgers constantly and cost almost nothing; the labour is finding a buried leak or a valve that will not open, and Florida's shallow-buried poly pipe is easily nicked by anything with a shovel.
- What failed - head, nozzle, valve, controller, or buried line
- Whether the leak location is known or has to be traced
- Valve boxes flooded or buried beyond finding
- Controller and wiring faults vs hydraulic ones
- Reclaimed-water systems with backflow requirements
Should you DIY this or call a professional?
Genuinely DIY for the common cases: a broken head unscrews and a matched replacement screws in; nozzles clear with a paperclip and a rinse. A zone that will not run is usually the valve solenoid or diaphragm - both replaceable with a screwdriver. Call a pro for buried line breaks you cannot find, controller rewiring, or anything touching the backflow preventer, which is code-regulated.
Signs you need this repair
- Geyser or bubbling at one head
- One zone dead while others run
- Soggy patch that never dries - buried leak
- Water pressure visibly weaker across a zone
- Controller runs but nothing happens
How to not get overcharged
Ask for a per-head price and a per-valve price up front - this trade is quoted by parts plus trip, and knowing a head is $15-25 installed keeps the total honest. If several heads are damaged, batch them into one visit. For a suspected buried leak, ask whether they charge for locating separately from repairing, and what happens to the locating fee if they find nothing.
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Red flags to watch for
- A full system replacement pitched for one dead zone
- Per-head prices north of $50 for standard spray heads
- Vague 'system tune-up' bundles replacing a specific diagnosis
- No license when the backflow preventer is being touched
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to repair a sprinkler system?+
Sprinkler repairs typically run $75-$400, averaging near $200. A broken head is a $5 part; a cut main line, failed valve or controller runs more.
Can I repair a sprinkler system myself, or should I hire a professional?+
Genuinely DIY for the common cases: a broken head unscrews and a matched replacement screws in; nozzles clear with a paperclip and a rinse. A zone that will not run is usually the valve solenoid or diaphragm - both replaceable with a screwdriver. Call a pro for buried line breaks you cannot find, controller rewiring, or anything touching the backflow preventer, which is code-regulated.
How long does it take to repair a sprinkler system?+
30 Minutes to Half a Day Depending on the Fault. Scheduling and parts availability can extend the overall timeline beyond the hands-on work itself.
What makes the price of this job go up or down?+
What failed - head, nozzle, valve, controller, or buried line. Whether the leak location is known or has to be traced. Valve boxes flooded or buried beyond finding. Controller and wiring faults vs hydraulic ones. Reclaimed-water systems with backflow requirements.
How do I avoid being overcharged?+
Ask for a per-head price and a per-valve price up front - this trade is quoted by parts plus trip, and knowing a head is $15-25 installed keeps the total honest. If several heads are damaged, batch them into one visit. For a suspected buried leak, ask whether they charge for locating separately from repairing, and what happens to the locating fee if they find nothing.