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Repair Broken PVC Sprinkler Lines

At some point you will have a lawn sprinkler line get broken.  It could be your drip irrigation line gets stepped on or while digging your underground sprinkler line gets punctured.    What ever the reason, stuff happens.   The good news is that it is easy to repair.   The bad news is you will want to complete the repairs as soon as possible (ASAP) in order to keep from having un-wanted water damage.  The damage could be your landscaping or even water coming inside your home if the broken line is close enough to the house.

The easiest way to fix you sprinkler line is by using couplers.   Cut out the bad spot and add in a new section, using the couplers.   For a 1 inch line, most home improvement stores will sell it by the foot.  The drip irrigation line will be much easier to repair and you should not need any extra line.

First you need to determine exactly where the broken line is punctured or in need of repair.  This section is almost always close to where the unwanted water is coming from.   Second expose the broken section at least a foot on each side.  For a buried line, you may need a couple feet exposed at least on one side.

The punctured area is usually only a small section.   For a drip ½ inch irrigation line, just cut out the ½ to 1 inch or so area and install a coupler.   The coupler most often used has no clamps but uses a compression fit, so simply just push the two exposed line ends into the coupler and that’s it, your are done.

For the buried line, it’s a little more difficult.  You will need to dig down and around the punctured area.   Since the 1 inch PVC line is much less flexible than the1/2 inch line, you will

need to remove at least 12 to 18 inches of the existing line.   Cut a new line the same length of the cut out section minus ½ inch.   Install a barbed coupler into each end of the new section.

Now insert the new section with attached coupler into the broken line, one end at a time.  For the second end, you will need to push, pull and pound a little to get the second end in place.   Now attach the four clamps around the hose and couplers.   Always test your new connections before covering the hole.   Now you are done.

Keep in mind there are two types of PVC commonly used; schedule 40 and schedule 80.   The schedule 80 will have thicker walls and a smaller opening.   Thus installing the barbed couplers into a schedule 80 PVC line will be a little more difficult.   Most contractors will use the schedule 40, somewhat depending upon your location.   Schedule 80 is more durable, less likely to puncture and break due to freezing temperatures.

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