How to Find Sprinkler Lines

Having a sprinkler system is great. It helps everything grow better, and it’s extremely convenient. That’s why so many people have them installed. These systems do have a caveat though. When your system is buried underground, it can be hard to know exactly where the lines are located. If you need to do some digging in the yard, you certainly don’t want to put a shovel through your lines. Also, when the lines need service, it’s vital to locate them so you don’t have to dig up the whole lawn. For these and other scenarios, Andy’s utilizes a few tricks to find the buried lines.

Why Locating Sprinkler Lines Matters

Locating sprinkler lines before digging or performing maintenance is crucial because:
• Puncturing a line can cause flooding, leaks, wasted water, and costly repairs.
• Protecting your landscaping prevents unnecessary damage and keeps your system efficient.
• Proper detection ensures safety and saves money in the long run.

Mark the Heads

Your sprinkler heads have to stick out of the ground or they won’t work. This is great for us as it gives us something visible to identify. Once the heads are marked in a grid, we know that the water lines have to run between them. A small amount of probing or digging around each head allows us to verify the direction of the lines, giving us a solid picture of the layout of your system.

How to Find Buried or Missing Sprinkler Heads

Sometimes heads are buried under grass or soil. To locate them:
• Turn on the system and watch for weak spray areas or pooling water.
• Measure equal distances between working heads to estimate hidden ones.
• Use flags or spray paint to mark where heads should be.
• Look for depressions in the soil or unusual wet spots that may signal buried heads.

Trace From the Valves

The sprinkler heads are not the only important part of mapping out the lines. We also need to identify the valves and where the lines run between the valves and the sprinkler heads. Typically, the valves are going to be housed in a box with a round lid. It should be visible, but sometimes the box can get lightly buried over time. If that’s the case, we’ll have to find it by looking at where the lines seem to converge and run close together. That will point to the valve box.

This can get tricky when a system doesn’t have a valve box. It still has valves, and they still have to be in the right spot in order to function, but without a dedicated box, it’s harder to work with the valves and can be difficult to find them in the first place. We can ultimately trace the lines to the box, but when this is the case, we will recommend installing a valve box to prevent damage to the system and make future work easier.

Tips for Locating Valve Boxes

• Valve boxes often mark different irrigation zones.
  • Listen for water flow or clicking sounds when zones turn on to narrow their location.
  • They are typically buried just below the soil surface, so dig carefully when searching.
  • If a box is missing or buried too deep, installing a new accessible box will make future work easier.

Check Your Irrigation System Map or Blueprint

Before probing or digging, check for existing diagrams:
• Ask your installer or builder for installation maps.
• Contact your HOA or city utility department for possible schematics.
• Using an irrigation system blueprint saves time and avoids unnecessary excavation.

Probing

After we have traced the lines to a place that needs work, we’ll probe for components. Probing is relatively simple. We use a firm object that can push through the dirt far enough to strike the line buried underneath. We have tools that allow us to find the components while minimizing any risk of damaging the lines or damage to your landscape. DIY tutorials will tell you to use a spike or iron rake. While this can work, those tools also easily damage lines if you don’t have experience knowing what to feel for. Probing is invaluable in allowing us to see what is under the dirt without using a shovel.

Using Electronic Locators and Advanced Tools

Modern tools make the process faster and safer:
• Wire and line tracers help track buried irrigation lines.
• Valve locators and metal detectors (such as the Noyafa NF-826) improve accuracy.
• Professionals use these devices to reduce digging.
• Homeowners may rent these tools, but without training, results can vary—often making it more practical to call a pro.

Digging

Ultimately, most sprinkler work requires digging. If we need to access a line or other component beneath the ground, we have to dig it up; there really is no other way. Everything we’ve illustrated in this article allows us to dig as little as necessary to do the work, but digging is always the final step.

We also sometimes have to dig in order to be sure we have found the part that needs work. It’s common to do light digging around sprinkler heads to find a leak, or we might have to dig up valves in order to diagnose them (or install a box).

Tips to Avoid Damaging Sprinkler Lines While Digging

• Always probe first before using a shovel.
  • Mark sprinkler heads and projected line paths with flags.
  • Start with shallow, careful digging until lines are confirmed.
  • Use electronic locators if in doubt before excavation.

Seasonal & Maintenance Considerations

Locating lines isn’t just for emergencies. Regular seasonal care makes it easier:
• Winterize your system to avoid cracked lines during freezes.
• Perform seasonal checks to ensure lines haven’t shifted or been damaged.
• Re-mark sprinkler heads each spring before lawn growth hides them.
• Regular inspections prevent surprises when digging later.

If you need to know where your lines are, we can help you locate them. If you need any other work with sprinklers or drainage, we’re here for you. You can contact Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage and Lighting at any time. We’re always happy to help.

DIY vs Pro Help

Homeowners can often handle simple tasks such as marking heads, probing lightly, or reviewing blueprints. For complex systems, deep valve boxes, or the need for advanced locators, Andy’s team has the specialized tools and experience to make the process quick and safe.