The smallest part causes the biggest headaches
A sprinkler head is a $15 part that controls a $150 patch of lawn — and when it fails, the lawn tells everyone. The geyser shooting straight up. The head spraying the sidewalk while the grass beside it browns. The rotor stuck in one position, watering the same three feet all summer. Heads fail constantly in Central Florida: mowers clip them, cars park on them, sun bakes the plastic brittle, and sandy grit clogs nozzles from the inside. The good news is that head replacement is the fastest, cheapest repair in irrigation — when it is done right.
Done right means matched, not just swapped
Here is what separates a proper head replacement from a handyman special: the new head has to match the zone. Spray heads and rotors put out water at very different rates — mixing them on one zone means one area floods while another stays dry. Nozzles have to match the arc and throw distance the spot actually needs. And the head has to sit at the right height: buried heads water the mulch, while heads sticking up get scalped by the mower next week. We match head type, nozzle, arc, and height to the zone — then rebalance run times if the new heads changed the zone's output.
What we replace heads with
We carry current-generation heads from the major manufacturers — pop-up sprays for beds and tight areas, rotors for open lawn, and high-efficiency rotary nozzles that throw large droplets (less wind drift, more even coverage) as an upgrade where they make sense. If your system uses discontinued heads, we fit the closest modern equivalent and adjust the zone so coverage stays uniform. We also replace the small parts that fail with heads: cracked swing joints, clogged filters, and worn seals.
When one bad head means a zone check
A single broken head is a single broken head — but heads usually fail in groups of similar age and exposure. When we come out for head replacement, we run the whole zone and check every head on it, because replacing one clogged nozzle while three others sputter is a wasted trip. We will show you what we found and price the full zone refresh alongside the single fix. You choose; there is no upsell pressure, just the information.
The case for upgrading while we are there
When we are already replacing heads on a zone, upgrading the nozzles at the same time is worth considering. High-efficiency rotary nozzles cost more per head than basic replacements, but they transform the zone: even precipitation instead of misty unevenness, large droplets that resist wind drift, and lower flow rates that reduce runoff on slopes. The labor is nearly identical — we are already at the head, already adjusting arcs. Many homeowners upgrade one zone, see the difference, and have us do the rest. We price both options on every head-replacement visit so you can compare; there is no wrong answer, just information.
How it works
Run the zone. We activate the problem area and watch every head perform. Diagnose. Cracked, clogged, sunken, or mismatched — we identify each failed head. Written price. You approve the per-head price before we start. Replace and match. New heads go in at proper height with matched nozzles. Test. The zone runs while you watch; we fine-tune arcs and confirm edge-to-edge coverage.
What it costs
Head replacement in Kissimmee typically runs $150-$350 per visit, depending on how many heads need swapping and whether we are upgrading nozzles at the same time. A single head is quick and cheap; a full zone refresh with high-efficiency nozzles costs more but transforms coverage. Prices vary by job — you get a written price after we run the zone, before any work starts.
Stop mowing around the geyser
That broken head you have been avoiding is a ten-minute fix that is currently wasting water, browning grass, and annoying everyone who sees it. Most head replacement visits take under an hour, and the difference in the lawn is visible the same week. Send the form — your grass will thank you.
Heads are wear items — plan for them
Sprinkler heads are consumables, like brake pads: they wear out on a schedule determined by sun, mowers, and water quality, and replacing them is maintenance, not failure. A system whose heads are all the same age will need them in waves — which is why we check every head on the zone during a replacement visit rather than just the broken one. Budgeting for periodic head refreshment every several years keeps coverage consistently good instead of declining gradually until the lawn shows it. It is the most routine work we do, and the most immediately visible. When the geysers and dry spots appear, you know what to do.