How To Cap Off A Sprinkler Head

Having a wide landscape with a lush, green lawn might mean you also have a set of multiple sprinklers installed in different places. You may not want to exert too much effort in manually watering your lawn daily. Doing so could lead to over or underwatering some parts of your landscape, which can damage most foliage types. 

In order to do that, you will need to detach the previous sprinkler cap and replace it with a flat cap. This flat cap will block the water from spraying while the sprinkler system is running. An alternative to a flat cap is to completely remove the sprinkler head and replace it with a PVC pipe cap.  

In this article, we will show you how to cap off a sprinkler head using a flat, plastic cap. 

How To Install A Flat Sprinkler Cap 

1. Buy a sprinkler’s flat cap that matches your sprinkler system. Your existing sprinkler system originally has a flat, plastic caps or plugs that match exactly your sprinkler head. But if you can no longer find the cap, you can buy another one on any of your local hardware stores or the manufacturer’s website.

2. Turn off the water supply. Look for the valve that connects the water supply and your sprinkler system. Rotate the valve clockwise to turn it off. This will block the water from flowing out of the sprinkler while you are placing the new flat cap. 

3. Dig the soil surrounding the sprinkler head. Dig a hole around your sprinkler head using a gardening shovel, around 1 to 2 inches. Place the soil on the side so that you can refill the hole later. It is important to clear the dirt in your sprinkler head surrounding to make sure that it will not enter the system once you remove the cap. 

4. Remove the cap of your sprinkler head. Turn your sprinkler head’s cap in a counterclockwise direction to remove it. If you find it hard to remove the cap using your hands, you can use a pair of pliers. 

5. Place the new cap in the head. Your new flat cap must perfectly match your existing sprinkler. Screw it over the threads on the top of your sprinkler and rotate it in a clockwise motion. 

6. Return the soil on the hole and open your sprinkler system. From the water supply valve, turn the water back on by rotating it in a counterclockwise motion. Then open your sprinkler system and test your new sprinkler cap. If no water is coming out while the sprinkler system is on, it means your installation is successful. However, if you see some water leaking or flowing, you may want to repeat the process and make sure that the plastic cap is tightly attached to the sprinkler head. 

Place the new cap in the head. Capping off your sprinkler head sounds easy and simple, but you should be extra careful not to touch or dent the sprinkler system while you’re digging a hole around it. Also, the replacement cap must perfectly fit the sprinkler head to completely block the water from flowing.