How to Cap a Broken Sprinkler

In most cases, you can simply unscrew a broken sprinkler and cap the pipe.


When a sprinkler breaks, you may lose use of the entire sprinkler system and with it, the ability to water your yard on a schedule. If replacements are hard to find or you can't afford to wait until you get one, you may have to cap it off instead. Sometimes sprinklers break below the ground and when one does, you sometimes have to extract part of it from the buried supply pipe.


Make a clean cut around the sprinkler with a garden spade and remove the turf. Set it aside so you can put it back when you're done. Dig a hole deep enough to access the joint between the sprinkler riser and the buried supply pipe.


Grip the damaged riser with a pair of adjustable pliers and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew it. If it's still relatively intact, it should come out in one piece. If it broke near the fitting, however, some of it may remain inside and you can't cap the pipe until you remove it.


Tap a 3/8- or 1/2-inch spade bit into the fitting with a hammer. The sides of the bit should dig into the part of the sprinkler that remains inside. Grip the end of the bit with locking pliers and turn it counterclockwise to extract what's left of the riser from the fitting.


Screw a plastic nipple into the fitting and tighten it with adjustable pliers. If you want to remember where the fitting is so you can use it again in the future, use a nipple long enough to reach ground level. Screw a cap onto the nipple and tighten it with the pliers.


Turn on the sprinkler system and make sure the cap doesn't leak. Fill the hole with the soil you removed and spread the turf neatly around the capped nipple.

Things You Will Need

  • Garden spade
  • Adjustable pliers
  • 3/8-inch spade bit
  • Hammer
  • Locking pliers
  • Plastic nipple


  • If the sprinkler riser has a female threaded end, you need only screw a cap onto the male fitting in the ground. If you want to raise the cap to the surface, screw on a coupler and an appropriate nipple, and then cap the nipple.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/ Images
Suggest a Correction