How Much Does Sprinkler Repair Cost?

Sprinkler Repair Costs per Hour

Plumbers usually charge about $50 to $100 per hour plus the cost of parts to repair your sprinkler system. Many pros have a minimum charge of one hour of work and bill by the quarter- or half-hour once the minimum is met. 

Therefore, if a job only takes 15 minutes, you'll still pay the full hourly cost, which is an average of $75, plus the cost of any parts. So, if you've got a simple issue for the pro to fix, it can be more economical to get them to perform sprinkler system maintenance while they're on-site, as you're paying for a full hour of labor anyway.

Irrigation Repair Price List

The cost of irrigation repair often depends on the part. Repair for a broken piece usually requires replacement, especially for less-expensive components. Plumbers typically mark up the price to cover the cost of the parts by 25% to 50%, in addition to their labor rates.

Sprinkler Head Replacement 

Replacing a sprinkler head costs $2.50 to $30 per item, in addition to $50 to $100 per hour to hire a pro.

Sprinkler Valve Replacement 

The cost to replace a sprinkler valve runs about $12.50 to $40 each for most models, plus labor expenses. The valve controls the release of water to the various zones in the yard. Before removing this part, ask a pro to confirm whether the problem results from broken equipment, faulty wiring, or both. Sometimes, wiring gets disconnected or damaged, causing valve malfunction. In this case, you may need to pay to fix the wiring, but not necessarily the valve.

Backflow Preventer Replacement

Installing a new backflow preventer costs $125 to $900 for the part, plus $25 to $250 for professional installation. This tool keeps water from flowing back toward the supply source. Annual testing ranges from $50 to $100 and can help ensure that the preventer continues to perform.

Broken Pipe

The price to replace a punctured sprinkler line runs from $1 to $3 per foot of PVC pipe and $1 to $7.50 per connecting piece, such as elbows, not including labor.

In colder temperatures, an improperly-winterized system can cause a pipe to freeze or break. The cost to repair a burst pipe ranges from $150 to $350, not including the expense of fixing water damage. This system consists of interconnected pipes both above and below ground, so the location of the burst pipe will impact the price. You'll need to find a plumber who can locate the problem and complete the repair.

Zone and Timer Rewiring

Replacing a sprinkler system timer costs $40 to $450, plus labor. Your pro may only need to reprogram or rewire this component instead of replacing it at an average rate of $50 to $100 per hour. Putting in new wiring for the sprinkler system ranges from $0.50 to $1.50 per foot, in addition to labor charges.

In most cases, your plumber should be able to repair or replace this for you. Sometimes, you may need an electrician. The cost to hire an electrician runs $50 to $100 per hour.

Before making the call, confirm that the timer program is set correctly for each zone. If you feel comfortable doing so, turn off power to the circuit and check the wiring on the controller. Loose or dangling wires may work properly once reconnected. If manual operation of the valves works but the timer does not trigger correct function, you might have a problem with the wiring.

Valve Box Replacement

Sprinkler valve repair costs $50 to $85, on average. This box protects your sprinkler system's valves from the elements and gives you easy access when you need to adjust the settings. 

The boxes can get brittle and crack or smash over time or if they receive any accidental impact damage. To keep the valves in good condition, you must patch or replace a damaged valve box as soon as possible.

Manifold Replacement

Manifold replacement costs $75 to $200. The manifold is the pipe that lets water from the main line branch off to different lines. Usually made of plastic, it can crack or turn brittle with exposure over time. Pros can patch minor damage, but if the problem is old age or excessive damage, it needs replacement instead of repair. 

Pump Repair

The price to repair a sprinkler pump is $100 to $200. Because the pump controls water pressure, it needs prompt attention if it fails. Common problems include blown fuses and loose wires, or the pump's motor may simply have excessive wear. 

Sprinkler Repair Cost Factors

How much you'll pay for sprinkler repair depends on the problem, whether you need repair or replacement, the season, and more. Take a look at the most common cost factors determining the price to repair your sprinkler system.

Call Out and Travel Fees

In general, expect to pay an average of $75 per hour for sprinkler repair, with a one-hour minimum callout fee. You can pay as little as $50 or as much as $100 per hour, depending on the pro you choose, the season the repair occurs, and where you live.

Many pros also charge a travel fee, so it makes good financial sense to hire a local sprinkler repair company to minimize those fees.

If you have a sprinkler emergency, such as a leaking pipe causing pooling water on the lawn, or if your sprinkler heads won't retract or turn off, you'll pay more. An emergency callout fee is generally $100 to $200 on top of the regular minimum cost, hourly rate, travel fees, and parts. You may pay more for an emergency callout on certain holidays, too.

Season

For non-urgent repairs and system maintenance, you may get a better deal if you wait until late fall or winter to call in a pro. Many companies increase their prices during spring and summer because that's when they're busiest and there's the greatest demand for their services.

Extent of Damage

The extent of the damage impacts cost. If you have more than one sprinkler head to replace, for example, you may get a discount. Instead of paying a flat fee per sprinkler head, you'll pay based on the cost of parts and the time it takes to repair all of the heads. 

Having multiple parts taken care of at once can save you money; you'll only pay one callout fee and one lot of travel expenses. 

Additionally, it’s not always economical to repair a particular part. Cracked or sun-damaged plastic parts, for example, will still wear out rapidly, even if you patch or repair them. In these cases, replacing those parts makes more sense than attempting a repair.

Sprinkler Repair vs. Replacement

Repair isn’t always an option, in which case you'll need replacement parts instead of patching or repairs. Often, the cost of installing a new part isn't that much more expensive than the repair to begin with. 

However, if the sprinkler system is excessively old or continues to need regular costly repairs in spite of regular cleaning and regular sprinkler servicing, you may need to replace the whole system. Replacing a sprinkler system costs $1,700 to $3,500 for installation of the new system and $50 to $100 per hour in labor to remove the old system.

Take a look at the difference in cost for repairing versus replacing sprinkler parts that commonly need attention.

Sprinkler System Removal Costs and Considerations

If you want to remove your current lawn irrigation system, you will probably pay the average $50 to $100 per hour to have a pro do it. The total price depends on these factors:

• Property size

• Linear feet of existing setup

• Depth and position of pipes

• How much you intend to change the design

• If you're going to put in a new one at the same time

Some pros recommend leaving the old plumbing in the ground if it doesn't interfere with other landscaping plans. Talk to a plumber to get an accurate estimate.

FAQs

How can I maintain my sprinkler system to avoid damage?

You may be able to avoid hundreds of dollars in repairs with regular sprinkler maintenance. The cost to maintain a sprinkler system runs about $50 to $120 per service call. Proper care includes:

• activation in spring

• winterization in fall

• regular lawn and landscape trimming

• cleaning sprinkler heads as needed

Can I DIY repair my sprinkler?

Hiring a plumber or landscaping pro to perform the sprinkler repair is usually best. It can be difficult to locate the source of the problem and the proper course of action. DIYing may take more time and trial and error to figure out what's going on and what needs replacing.

How can you tell if a sprinkler system is leaking?

You can tell if a sprinkler system is leaking by watching for these key signs:

• Excessively dry areas

• Higher water bill

• Pooling water

• Low pressure

• Obvious damage

Why is one sprinkler zone not working?

Most commonly, if a single sprinkler zone is not working, it's likely due to an electrical fault, a defective controller, or a damaged solenoid. It could also be due to a faulty valve, a damaged line, or a clogged or broken head.

Are sprinkler systems worth the cost?

Yes, sprinkler systems are worth the cost if you live in an area with hot or dry summers, as they help keep your lawn healthy and green. They also cut down on the time you have to spend watering the lawn and they use water more efficiently than watering with a hose.