The Fix-It Playbook — Sprinkler Head Flowchart | Free 1-Page PDF | 2026 Edition

Head cracked, crooked, or spraying wild? Before you buy anything, work the tree.

Two questions sort it. Do the other heads in the zone run fine — if not, it's the valve, pipe or wiring, not the head. Then: is the head visibly cracked, leaking at the base, or throwing a geyser? That sends you to replace it or clean it first, three steps each.

The sheet also carries a nozzle-arc quick-pick (corner and strip vs open lawn) and a plain line on when to stop and call a pro.

One page. Print it or keep it on your phone. Free instant PDF download, yours to keep.

If the tree sends you deeper: How to Replace a Sprinkler Head ($6) adds the nozzle-selection chart by area shape, the complete troubleshooting table, and the spring start-up / fall shut-down checklist. All four irrigation guides come together as the Irrigation Repair Kit ($11), and all 24 year-round guides are in the Core Library ($49).