Miramar, Florida recently experienced a geyser at the site of a commercial building. No, not a geyser the size of Old Faithful. But it might as well have been for the amount of damage it caused. The source was a water sprinkler, and the truth is that water sprinkler damage can be quite serious. Especially when the sprinkler head comes off, the pipe is exposed, and water with great pressure behind it is allowed to gush out unchecked.

In the Miramar case, the water level rose so high near the broken sprinkler that it started to flow through the warehouse doors and into the building. So much so that it flooded the warehouse itself, the break room, computer room, two bathrooms, and three offices. As soon as all the water sprinkler damage was discovered, Joe Taylor Restoration was called in to take care of the situation.

The technicians at Joe Taylor Restoration had to extract an extensive amount of standing water from the tile floors inside the building. They also had to remove the vinyl baseboards from all the affected walls and vent the walls to promote airflow and accelerate the drying process. A large amount of additional equipment was also utilized, including extra-large dehumidifiers, large dehumidifiers, and over forty air movers!

According to the diy network, it is relatively easy to replace a broken sprinkler head and avoid water sprinkler damage. Broken sprinkler heads are a common problem, and are easy to detect because, as we have already discussed, when the system is turned on, water will shoot up like a geyser from the broken head.

To start, turn the system off and unscrew the broken sprinkler head. Place a flag or a stick into the hole where the head was to mark the location. Take the broken head with you when you buy a new one to make sure you get something compatible.

Then, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.

1. Dig a Hole

2. Cut Existing Pipe to Remove the Broken Head

3. Install the New Sprinkler Head

4. Backfill the Trench

For more detailed information, including pictures, visit http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/landscaping/how-to-repair-a-broken-sprinkler-head.

We at Joe Taylor Restoration hope that your sprinklers function as they should, and your property does not suffer the affects of water sprinkler damage. But if you find yourself with a geyser in your front yard or outside your office, and water inside the building instead of out, contact us immediately. One call will result in the expertise and considerable resources necessary to remedy the situation and restore your property to its original condition, almost as fast as you can say “Old Faithful.”