Sprinkler Heads FAQ
What types of sprinkler heads are there?
Common types include spray heads, rotor heads, and impact heads, each suited to different areas and coverage. Spray heads cover small areas with a fixed pattern, rotors cover larger areas with rotating streams, and impact heads throw far for large spaces. Matching the head type to the area's size and shape is what produces even coverage without dry spots or waste.
What is the difference between spray heads and rotor heads?
Spray heads deliver a fixed fan of water over a short distance, suiting small and irregular areas. Rotor heads rotate, throwing streams over larger distances with less water volume at once, suiting bigger zones. They generally should not be mixed on the same zone because their application rates differ. Choose by the area size each zone needs to cover.
Why should I not mix sprinkler head types on one zone?
Different head types apply water at different rates, so mixing spray and rotor heads on one zone means some areas get far more water than others in the same run time, causing both over and under-watering. Keeping each zone to one head type ensures uniform application. This matching is fundamental to even coverage and efficient irrigation across a system.
How do I get even coverage from sprinkler heads?
Head-to-head coverage, where each head's spray reaches the adjacent heads, ensures the overlapping patterns cover evenly without dry gaps between them. Proper spacing and matched heads on each zone are what produce uniform watering. Under-spacing leaves dry spots; the overlap of head-to-head design compensates for the lighter water at each pattern's edge.
How do I maintain sprinkler heads?
Keep heads clear of debris and clogs that distort the spray pattern, check that they pop up and retract freely, and adjust patterns to avoid watering pavement. Replace damaged heads, since a broken head wastes water and leaves dry areas. Regular inspection and clearing keep heads delivering their intended pattern, which is essential for the even coverage efficient irrigation depends on.
Can sprinkler heads be ordered in bulk?
Yes. Sprinkler heads are stocked in various types and bulk quantities with volume pricing by quote. Operations installing and maintaining irrigation benefit from ordering the head types their systems use in volume, keeping replacements on hand so a damaged head gets swapped promptly to maintain even coverage.
