Does your grass seem to be drying out or dying even though you water regularly? If so, then pay attention during a normal watering cycle. If the sprinkler head is sputtering or otherwise spraying water abnormally, then you may have a problem with a coughing sprinkler head.

What Is It?

Your sprinkler heads, or emitters, are designed to spray water a certain distance and in a specific pattern. If the flow is uneven and sputtering, then the sprinkler head is "coughing." All types of sprinkler heads can be affected, from popup styles to rotary heads, although popup sprinklers are more prone to coughing. 

The main issue with coughing sprinkler heads is that they won't deliver sufficient water over the specified area. Some are able to spray out to the required distance, but the sputtering reduces water flow so not enough water is delivered. In other cases, water flow and distance are affected. The grass in the damaged sprinkler's zone will begin to brown and dry out. 

Common Culprits

The most likely reason for a coughing popup head is dirt and debris lodged into the emitter spray holes. Popup heads are also more prone to cracking and breaking, although rotary heads can also be affected by breakage. Lawnmowers and other equipment can break the sprinkler heads and lead to coughing.

Another common issue is weak water pressure. When water isn't flowing through the line at a high enough pressure or if the pressure isn't steady, the water will come sometimes come out in spurts and sputters. 

Repair Solutions

Cracked and otherwise damaged emitters must be replaced. Fortunately, emitters are relatively inexpensive, and replacing them only takes a few minutes. This is a repair a sprinkler tech can handle, but it is also simple enough to do yourself.

For pressure issues, the cause must first be determined. Your repair tech will first check the various pressure valves along the sprinkler line system. Any that are malfunctioning will need to be repaired or replaced. If the valves are working properly and the water pressure from the water main is at the right level, then there may be a leak in the line that will need to be fixed. 

There may also be too many emitters along a single line, which can lead to the last one coughing as water flow peters out before arriving. In this case, reducing the number of emitters in the watering zone may solve it. 

Contact a sprinkler repair service if your sprinklers aren't operating as they should.