Sprinkler Heads
The two most common types of lawn sprinkler heads are spray heads and rotor heads. Which one is best for your sprinkler system? That will depend on the size of your lawn, the layout of your lawn, and what results you want to obtain.
Spray lawn sprinkler heads are generally known as pop ups. They retract underground when not in use. They pop out of the ground when that section of lawn is to be watered. This system is able to put out a large amount of water in a short period of time. This type of sprinkler head is recommended for flat surfaces.
Rotor lawn sprinkler heads apply water more uniformly than spray heads. This makes them a better choice if you are watering a large area. They allow the water to be absorbed deeper into the ground than the spray lawn heads. It is important to take the time to observe your system and make sure it is working properly.
About a year ago, we bought a new house with a sprinkler system. It seemed to work well until one morning I had to leave the house very early. I was surprised and embarrassed to find out the system was mainly watering everything but our lawn! The sidewalk, the shed, and even one side of our house was getting watered twice a week. We were able to get someone to come adjust the sprinkler heads at very little cost.
It can be difficult trying to decide which sprinkler heads to install. You want something that will get the lawn watered sufficiently, but also something that will be easy to maintain and replace if necessary. For example, you will need to adjust your sprinkler heads from time to time to keep them watering exactly where you want. If you have one that is getting water on the sidewalk then you will need to adjust it. Some types of heads require a key to adjust them. Purchasing such a key can be very expensive.
The internet offers information on types of sprinkler heads available as well as information and reviews on various brands that market them. It may be to your benefit to consult with a professional sprinkler system installer to find out what they would recommend and why. The last thing you want is a sprinkler system with heads that don’t work properly. Then the system becomes basically useless.
