Best Automatic Irrigation Sprinkler Heads in 2022

Last update: November 16, 2022

Are automatic sprinklers worth it?

Automatic sprinklers are definitely worth it! They save you so much time and water, and they keep your lawn looking green and healthy.

Are high efficiency sprinkler heads worth it?

If you’re considering high efficiency sprinkler heads for your lawn irrigation system, the short answer is yes – they’re definitely worth it! High efficiency sprinkler heads can save you a significant amount of water, and they’re also much easier to maintain than traditional sprinkler heads. Here are a few more reasons to consider high efficiency sprinkler heads for your lawn: 1. They save water. This is the most obvious reason to choose high efficiency sprinkler heads – they can help you save a lot of water. If you live in an area with water

Do all sprinkler heads fit?

No, all sprinkler heads do not fit. Each sprinkler head is designed to fit a specific type of pipe and connection.

How do I increase water pressure in my sprinkler system?

If your sprinkler system's water pressure is too low, there are a few things you can do to increase it. First, check for any leaks in the system. A leak can cause the water pressure to drop. Next, check the sprinkler heads to make sure they are not clogged. If they are, clean them out. Finally, check the pressure regulator to see if it is set properly. If it is not, adjust it accordingly.


Orbit 55662 Voyager II Professional 4" Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Drive Rotor Sprinkler Spray Head, 40° To 360° Pattern, 25' - 52' Spray Distance (Ten bonus nozzles included) Review:


I've used rotors from Orbit, Toro, Rain Bird, and Hunter. Due to a broken manifold and defective valves, my 8 zone irrigation system has not been used for more than 8 years. I looked over the 45 heads I have in rotors, pop-ups, and shrubbery heads before deciding to start the system. One thing I did note was that compared to other brands, the Orbit professional equipment were in the best shape for their age. The majority of the competing brands' products had sun damage to the tops of the heads, making radius and arc adjustments to account for shifting landscaping over time impractical. So far, I've changed around 80% of the heads. One of the rotors was flawed, but Amazon delivered a replacement the same day and covered the cost of the return shipping. The Orbit products are simple to install and configure. In contrast to some of the other devices I've used, adjustment is fairly simple following installation. The rotors include a wide variety of nozzles and an adjusting tool. They offer a reliable warranty. They are the only line I would use due to its strength, simplicity, and affordability.One thing I'd advise is to mount the heads on flex pipe in locations where they might be trodden on, run over by cars or ride-on lawn mowers, or both. It is easy to complete. I performed this years ago, and practically all of the damage to the heads and underground plumbing that usually occurred, especially near the edge of my curved driveway, has been avoided.



Rain-bird 5000 Series Rotor Sprinkler Head - 5004 PC Model, Adjustable 40-360 Degree Part-Circle, 4 Inch Pop-Up Lawn Sprayer Irrigation System - 25 to 50 Feet Water Spray Distance (Y54007) (2 Pack) Review:


Since they were all made of metal when I started using them, I have always favoured and used everything Rainbird. The timer/controller is the only product I no longer use from Rainbird because there are other manufacturers with superior controllers. The sprinklers have always been excellent and kept working for a much longer period of time before their seal started to fail. They also water in a much better pattern. From the head all the way out to the edge of its spray, it is even. They just represent the best head brand, in my opinion.



Melnor XT4200M XT Metal Oscillating Lawn Sprinkler, Black Review:


After being disconnected for two years and moved onto the screened porch, the sprinkler is now functioning properly as of 4/25/18.In one year's time:My strategy of keeping the second sprinkler INSIDE has been a complete success. When I initially set the sprinkler out in the spring, it was practically brand new, and so far this summer, it has been operating perfectly. In order to keep it out of the sun and the dirt, I quickly remove it from the hose, let it drain, and then bring it into the screened porch. See the reasons why I do that below:Original assessmentRELUCTANTLY, I'm placing a second order for this particular model. The narrow width control (the yellow loop-like tabs in the middle of the tube) fell off this spring because it had grown brittle and was built so that dust can get inside and make it difficult to adjust. I had purchased the first one last summer and was VERY satisfied with its operation and design. Although I did protect it from the sun whenever it was not in use, even though it was outside, I may have anticipated it if I had left this out in the sun all year.I'm giving the item another opportunity because to:1. There is nothing that appears like it would function better, and I enjoyed how it performed and could be changed with ease. Unfortunately, there isn't an ALL METAL version. For one, I would quadruple my money.2. Even if they only last a year, I believe that replacing them is worth the trouble and expense rather than having to reposition the sprinkler frequently in order to deliver it to all the nooks and crannies.3. By taking the unit inside and removing it, I'm hoping that maybe dirt and dust won't get inside the oscillating slide and make it difficult to move.Although I can see that there are less expensive variations of this type, I believe the metal base and brass hose fitting make it worthwhile to spend the extra $6. In order to preserve it from the sun, dust, and cold this year, I will turn off the sprinkler whenever it is not in use and bring it inside. I'll up the rating if this strategy becomes successful for me.Simply because it sprays a smaller area or is circular and can't reach the corners of the yard, or because it takes me to go outside and move it every hour, I simply cannot bear the thought of paying half as much for a sprinkler.Sprinklers irritate me. even the automated kinds. Every time I move to a new location, I detest having to move the hoses or switch them on and off. Although automatic systems prevent you from having to think about them, something always goes wrong. When that occurs, you have to go out and dig and work in the mud instead of just getting a new one. dislike it yet yearn for green grass.If



Rain Bird 25PJDAC Brass Impact Sprinkler, Adjustable 20° - 360° Pattern, 20' - 41' Spray Distance Review:


I had read a number of unfavorable reviews of this product, so I wasn't sure what to anticipate when I ordered it. I will say, however, that in my opinion, this is a high-quality product, and I am quite satisfied with it. First of all, finding an impact sprinkler like this one that connects to a hose is difficult. There are several, but the majority of them are disposable plastic objects. This metal is strong and of great quality. It appears to be very hardy and should last for many applications.Second, I read numerous complaints concerning the sprinkler's settings and what it purportedly could and could not accomplish. If you know what you're doing, it is extremely adjustable, I'll tell you. With a little trial and error, you can adjust the distance and pattern. Although there are no instructions, it isn't particularly difficult.Third, I found a lot of complaints regarding low pressure not functioning well. I use a water well, and even though the pressure is rarely very high, it works fine for me. However, as it does require a specific amount of pressure to operate effectively, I should point out that occasionally it stops rotating when pressure decreases. How much is sufficient? I can't say for sure, but if you had access to a conventional city water supply with typical pressure, you would be just OK. On a water well like mine, there's still usually no problem, but if your pressure is too low, it might be a problem. However, this is much the same as any other sprinkler, so if there is a problem with another sprinkler, there probably is one with this one as well.Last but not least, I just want to mention how pleased I am with my sprinkler head. It may be relocated to any location and is just as effective as stationary sprinkler heads like those found in subterranean sprinkler systems. It can be adjusted to deliver water anywhere you want it and is also very durable.



Orbit 67000 8 Port Adj Flow Manifold Review:


This was sent unprotected and unboxed in a padded envelope. Other than a paper name tag affixed to one tube, there are no instructions or papers of any type. It appears to be in good condition and isn't broken or used other from that. I got this to have on hand as a backup to my Rainbird Xeribird 8-port manifolds, which occasionally blow out without notice. When I use it, I'll update this review.UPDATEI have upgraded my first rating from three to four stars. In order to replace my Rainbird manifolds, I have purchased additional of them. Compared to the Xeribirds, I found these to be much more dependable and less likely to randomly "blow out." The adjustment caps at the top are made of very flimsy plastic, which is my main gripe because a screwdriver can easily damage them (even after one use). Better materials need to be updated for this. And it seems like a simple design tweak to keep the individual port fine-tuning while adding a central pressure regulating valve to modify the entire device at once. But aside from that, these are great and I'll buy more.



Rain Bird 22SA-RVAN Mini Rotary Pop-Up Spray, Hand Adjustable 45° - 270° Pattern, 18' - 24' Spray Distance, 4" Pop-up Height Review:


These are what I bought to put on a portable sprinkler I made. I joined some PVC with adhesive, added a hose connection, and added three sprinkler heads. These tiny creatures do admirably for it. I really appreciate that they are so easily movable since it allows me to tailor the water to meet the area I am attempting to water. I move them about a lot.However, I do have two grievances. The first is probably more related to my use case, however on one of the heads I purchased, the wheel that regulates the water flow to make the spray longer or shorter has broken. It worked when I originally got them, and typically you would just set it to where it is installed and leave it, in which case it would be OK. However, I haven't tried taking it apart yet. Perhaps there is something in the head that simply has to be cleaned out.The second issue is that there seems to be some spray around the heads that is still being blown around by the wind. Although not quite as much as a fan spray head would receive, these types of heads actually get more than the videos and literature I've heard about them would have you believe. Although I would concur that it still delivers more of its water to the targeted location, I am still giving it a rating of 4.Since they are so adaptable and would make covering tricky locations so much easier, I will probably use this sort of head on the majority of my in-ground system when I finally rebuild it.



Orbit 57253 3-Valve Heavy Duty Preassembled Manifold Review:


After using a normal PVC 6 valve manifold system for ten years, I just uninstalled it. I opted to replace everything when a PVC "T" that was in the midst of the assembly developed a tiny hole on top of it (not at the slip joints). I was determined to avoid dealing with the manifold after 35 years of installing sprinklers. When I called Orbit to inquire about the valves used in this arrangement, a technician acknowledged that they were not their premium valves (I was not able to find any technical information about these valves in their literature.) In the end, I removed all of the Orbit valves off the pre-assembled units and replaced them with reliable Rain Bird 150 PSI valves. I've used Rain Bird's products for many years with amazing success. They no longer produce the manifolds, which is why I would have bought one from them.As there is more area in the box to service 3 valves than 6, we put 2 three valve assemblies (each in a separate box), and everything appears to be functioning as it should. I'm glad we switched to these units because it will be simple to replace anything that has to be changed in the future (I'm betting on components being readily available). If the "O" rings utilized in the joints withstand the weather in Southern California, only time will tell.



Toro 53816 3-Inch Pop-Up Fixed-Spray with Nozzle Sprinkler, 180-Degree, 15-Feet Review:


I like that you can utilize the water pressure to clean the head valve and stem while the system is running and that you can clean the head while the system is running. Oh, and that when performing maintenance, you don't completely drown while cleaning out the head and screen. Utilizing this head design element is intended to achieve precisely that.Until the female threads wear out or become cross-threaded, that is. Which occurs when water enters the head before the head grabs hold of the sprinkler stem's threads firmly enough to keep it attached. And it is what ultimately leads to the threads being harmed and worn out. Because it takes some time for the fault to render a sprinkler head worthless for maintenance, but still useful for the traditional manual shut-off method of cleaning the head and screen out, I merely buy replacement heads. Maybe the problem was bad engineering or a planned replacement market strategy. Whatever happens, I'll continue to purchase and use them because they don't clog or require repair frequently enough to prevent them from still being economical to use. Any product that allows me to skip steps to maintain it is valuable to me since it saves me time, which I view as the true cost of maintenance. This product satisfies that need! Thanx



Rain Bird Spray Head Cap for 1800 Series Sprinklers (New Version) Review:


Because it was surrounded by cement and I couldn't dig down to remove it easily, I wanted to cap off a sprinkler. I quickly searched online for the best solutions (ie, I watched a couple YouTube videos). There are a few choices; none of them, despite there being another generic product on the market, addressed this. I visited my two local national-chain big box "home improvement center" hardware stores, and when I requested for a sprinkler-head cap, they gave me the same look they would have given me if I had asked for a new nose hair. Well, I could probably create something acceptable in the garage, I briefly reasoned. When I quickly searched Amazon after arriving home, this sprinkler top popped up. BINGO!It literally only took me a minute to "setup." This is the ideal solution if you are unable to remove the sprinkler permanently or are not committed to doing so (or even if you are and simply need a fast fix).


How do I know what size sprinkler head I need?

The size of the sprinkler head you need depends on the size of your lawn. The larger the lawn, the larger the sprinkler head you will need.

How do I know which sprinkler head to buy?

There are a few things to consider when purchasing a sprinkler head. The first is the type of head, which is determined by the shape of the spray pattern. The second is the size of the head, which is determined by the diameter of the spray pattern. The third is the flow rate, which is determined by the amount of water the head can deliver per minute. Once you know the type, size, and flow rate you need, you can narrow your search to find the perfect sprinkler head for your needs.

How many sprinkler heads can you put on one zone?

The number of sprinkler heads that can be placed on one zone will depend on the type of sprinkler heads being used as well as the size of the zone. Generally speaking, you can put anywhere from four to ten sprinkler heads on one zone. If you are using large, commercial-grade sprinkler heads, you may be able to put more on one zone. However, if you are using smaller, residential-grade sprinkler heads, you will likely need to limit the number of heads per zone.

How much does it cost to install a 1000 sq ft sprinkler system?

The cost of installing a 1000 sq ft sprinkler system varies depending on the type of system, the complexity of the installation, and the geographical location. Generally, the cost ranges from $2,000 to $4,000.

How often should you replace sprinkler heads?

If you have a lawn, you likely have a sprinkler system to help keep it green and healthy. But how often should you replace your sprinkler heads? It depends on the type of sprinkler head and the water quality in your area. Generally, plastic sprinkler heads should be replaced every three to five years. Metal sprinkler heads can last up to 10 years. If you live in an area with hard water, you may need to replace your sprinkler heads more often. Hard water can cause mineral buildup, which can clog your sprinkler heads and reduce

Is 40 PSI too much for drip irrigation?

40 PSI is too much for drip irrigation. The pressure will cause the water to shoot out of the emitters instead of dripping slowly. This can cause the water to puddle on the ground and not soak deep into the roots of the plants.