Choosing the Right Sprinkler Heads: A Buyer's Guide for Irrigation Systems

Growing a lush and healthy garden requires keeping a well-maintained and efficient irrigation system. Whether you’ve been gardening for years or are just beginning, choosing the right sprinkler heads is critical to ensure plants receive the necessary amount of water without waste. We’ll take a moment now to explore the different types of sprinkler heads available on the market, as well as provide insight into which one to select for your irrigation system. We’ll also cover what Vu-Flow has to offer to keep those sprinkler heads and the irrigation system as a whole running at peak performance for a long time.

To begin, we’ll go over the different kinds of sprinkler heads, including their advantages and disadvantages. One type is a rotary sprinkler head. Alternatively, these are called rotors or rotary nozzles. A rotary sprinkler head is great for use in a large, open space such as a lawn and athletic field since it covers a broad area due to producing a continuous, rotating stream of water. This rotation helps distribute water more evenly, ultimately reducing runoff. The pros of rotary sprinkler heads are that they’re suitable for large areas, they’re good at handling windy conditions, and they promote even water distribution. Cons of this type of sprinkler are they require longer watering times, and they may also require maintenance periodically.

Pop-up spray sprinkler heads are another type. These are good for smaller, rectangular areas with defined borders, including flower beds. These heads work by popping up when activated and then produce a fan-shaped spray pattern. There are numerous spray patterns to choose from, including full, half, or quarter circles. The advantages of pop-up spray sprinkler heads are that they’re suitable for precise watering, have adjustable spray patterns, and they’re discreet when not in use. The disadvantages are that their performance may be affected by wind, and they also require proper spacing for even coverage.

A third type of sprinkler head is a drip irrigation emitter. Drip irrigation emitters are ideal if you want to water individual plants, shrubs, or garden beds. Water is delivered directly to the root zone with these low-flow devices, which helps to cut down on water waste. Drip tubing, soaker hoses, and individual drippers make up the different types of emitters. The pluses of this type of sprinkler head are they’re highly efficient and conserve a lot of water, reduce weed growth, and minimize soil erosion. The negatives are these are not suitable for lawns or large areas, and they require careful planning and maintenance.

The final type of sprinkler head we’ll cover is an impact or pulse sprinkler head. These are typically seen on farms or in large gardens. Impact or pulse sprinkler heads have a distinctive pulsating action that’s designed to project water over a good-sized area. This sprinkler head is very durable and can work well in tough conditions. The positives of these sprinklers are they’re suitable for large, open spaces, they’re durable and long-lasting, and they provide good coverage in windy conditions. The reasons someone may not want to use impact sprinkler heads are that they’re not as precise as other sprinklers, and water dispersion can be uneven.

A few factors to consider when choosing a sprinkler head for your irrigation system include the size and shape of your garden, the available water pressure, and the climate in your area. A few of the different things that you can do to help yourself out include checking your water pressure. Different types of sprinkler heads require specific water pressure levels to work the way they’re intended to. It’s important to make sure your system's water pressure matches the needs of the chosen sprinkler head.

Something else that you can do is to calculate the flow rate. The flow rate of your system needs to match the water requirements of your plants. This will help to ensure that your garden receives the right amount of water and prevent water wastage.

Speaking of water wastage, you may also want to consider water efficiency. Water conservation is crucial more than ever these days, and choosing sprinkler heads that minimize water wastage will help out in this regard. Both rotary and drip irrigation heads are good choices for this purpose.

You’ll also want to consider the maintenance aspect of your irrigation system. It will only serve to benefit you in the long run to inspect and clean your sprinkler heads. This will help to prevent clogs and ensure proper functioning, which is necessary for maintaining efficiency and prolonging the life of your irrigation system.

The best thing you may be able to do when it comes to an irrigation system is to consult a professional. If you're not confident regarding which sprinkler heads to choose, talking to a professional landscaper or irrigation specialist can be very helpful. Not only can they help you choose the right sprinkler heads, but they can also help you design and install an efficient system that will meet your exact needs.

Selecting the right sprinkler heads is certainly a critical step in building an effective irrigation system. Seeing as how this can all turn into an expensive venture, you will want to make sure measures are put in place to protect that system at all costs. This is where Vu-Flow can come in by implementing one of our filters to help prevent sediment and debris from causing damage to your system over time.

Vu-Flow offers numerous filters that can help keep your system sediment free which will ultimately keep your sprinkler heads from clogging up with debris as well. Vu-Flow Screen or Sand Separator filters have been around for years now and come with a variety of mesh options as well as a few different inlet/outlet sizes to best cater to your exact needs. The mesh sizes all range between 24 and 1000 mesh, although for anything irrigation-related, we wouldn’t recommend going higher than a 60 mesh. When it comes to the entire unit, you can find those with either a ¾", 1”, 1-½" or 2” inlet/outlet depending on the gallons per minute (GPM) that you have running through your system.

Newer to Vu-Flow's product line, just being introduced in 2023, is a Y-strainer. These filters are intended to be used in low-flow rate applications, meaning if you’re setting up a drip irrigation system, this type of filter would be ideal. The Y-Strainers can be purchased with either a 120 or 150-mesh screen, or a 120-mesh disc. They are also available with either a ¾" 1” or 1-½" male NPT connection on the inlet/outlet.

When it comes to maintaining a healthy garden, installing an irrigation system with the correct sprinkler heads can be very important. It’s also just as important to do what you can to keep that system running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible, and installing a filter from Vu-Flow can help you to do just that. To learn more about how Vu-Flow can help you, call 1-800-833-5171 to speak to a live customer service representative.