Give your sprinkler system a push in the right direction
Sprinklers can take a lot of watering work off your weekend to-do list, but they’re unlikely to produce the results you want if they’re not pointed in the right direction. If a big patch of your lawn is suddenly brown but your sidewalk is always wet, it’s probably time to adjust your irrigation setup. This guide will show you how to adjust Rain Bird sprinkler heads, whether you want to change the spray pattern, distance, or direction.
There are many different sprinkler heads on the market, but those from Rain Bird are some of the most commonly purchased options. Some sprinkler head options operate without any (or only minimal) pressure regulation, which makes them more prone to misting or fogging and can result in as much as 1 gallon of excess water wasted per minute. That’s a lot of water down the drain if you have 10 or more sprinkler heads running throughout the day.
Rain Bird touts that their sprinkler heads are equipped with an advanced pressure regulation system that ensures full coverage from the least amount of water, and the company claims that their products can reduce water consumption by 30%. Options come in an array of different sizes and styles—from pop-up spray heads to impact sprinklers—and all of them are easy to adjust with a few common tools.
Rain Bird sprinkler heads come in several different styles. Knowing what you have will make it easier to find the tools and tricks to make the necessary adjustments. Here’s how to prep.
Knowing which sprinkler head you have is the first vital step, as each head operates slightly differently.
These are typically reserved for small areas because they don’t offer huge coverage—only between 5 and 15 feet. Some sprinkler heads only pop up when activated, so any unsightly irrigation pipes are hidden from view until the moment they’re in use. These pipes range in height from 4 to 8 inches, and some can be adjusted up or down depending on how far you want the stream to travel.
The shorter the pipe, the shorter the stream will be. Unlike rotor heads or rotor nozzles, spray heads don’t move automatically. Instead, they emit water in a fixed direction from several openings placed on one side of the head. If you want them to spray in a different direction, you have to physically move the sprinkler head.
This option emits a single stream of water from one opening and rotates from side to side. These generally have a lower precipitation rate than spray heads because they don’t have multiple openings, and they’re better for larger areas because their streams project water between 15 and 50 feet.
This type of sprinkler setup is a combination of spray and rotor heads. Like a spray head, it emits water through multiple openings, but it’s also equipped with a micro-rotor that enables it to move from side to side and cover a larger surface area.
This type of sprinkler sprays water in multiple directions and can be adjusted to spray in different patterns, but it can only function properly with a water pressure of at least 15 PSI.
You don’t need a lot to adjust sprinkler heads of all shapes and sizes, but there are a handful of must-have tools to complete the project.
Flathead screwdriver
Wrench
Rotor nozzle adjustment tool
Most experts encourage turning on your sprinkler system before getting started. Why? Being able to see where and how the water flows will make it easier to make the appropriate adjustments.
Each different type of sprinkler head needs to be adjusted in slightly different ways. Here’s what to do depending on the setup you have.
Remember to turn your sprinkler system on before making any adjustments. Once it’s functioning, place a wrench around the middle of your spray head and gently crank it to point in your desired direction. It’s normal to hear a cranking noise coming from within the sprinkler head as you do this, so don’t worry if you do.
If you take a look, you’ll notice that there’s a screw on the top of your sprinkler head. Use a flathead screwdriver to turn this screw to the left to lengthen the stream of water, or turn it to the right to shorten it.
Let the head turn to see how far it moves to the left without changing anything. If it doesn’t stop in the desired spot, you’ll need to move it at the base with either your hand or a wrench. Begin by placing your hand at the base of the head just where it meets the ground and turn to the left to adjust. If you can’t move it with your hand, grip the base with a wrench and turn it.
On top of the rotor head, you should see a rubber cover with two to three access points. The point on the opposite side of the nozzle is where you can adjust how far your sprinkler head turns to the right. Place a rotor adjustment tool or a flathead screwdriver into the access point. Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise to decrease or clockwise to increase how far the head moves to the right.
Place a flathead screwdriver or rotor adjustment tool into the access point that aligns with the spray nozzle. There’s a screw inside of this access point, and turning the screw clockwise pushes it down to block the stream and reduce its radius, while turning counterclockwise lifts it up and increases its radius.
Place a wrench around the base of the head and turn it to point the nozzle in a different direction. You may also be able to do this with your hands, depending on how tightly installed the sprinkler head is.
Place the tip of a flathead screwdriver into the screw on top of your rotor nozzle. Turn clockwise to lengthen the stream distance or counterclockwise to shorten it.
Rain Bird rotor nozzles are color-coded to indicate their spray radius. An orange head indicates a half-circle radius, yellow a quarter-circle, and blue a full circle. Switching your current head for another is the only way to adjust the spray radius on rotor nozzles.
Just underneath the nozzle, you’ll notice several metal stops that can be moved to adjust stream pattern and direction. With the sprinkler running, push these stops to the left or right to adjust accordingly. To move the head in a full circle, push the metal pin pointing downwards so that it’s pointing up.
Turn the nozzle clockwise to push the deflector into the stream and shorten the spray distance. Turn the nozzle counterclockwise to pull the deflector back up and lengthen the spray distance.
Moving the position and spray distance or pattern of a sprinkler head is easy for almost anyone to do—no need to hire a sprinkler company in your area. These professionals charge anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour of work, so you can save a lot by going the DIY route. To keep your sprinkler heads in tip-top shape, consider scheduling a yard sprinkler system inspection, costing an average of $115.
Rain Bird sprinkler heads range in price from $2.50 to $40 per head, depending on the type. Spray heads are generally on the less expensive end at $3 to $6 on average, whereas impact sprinklers cost as much as $40 for just one head. Rain Bird is a pretty big name in sprinkler heads, so you’re also paying for brand recognition.
Installing a sprinkler system in your backyard eliminates the need to water plants or grass by hand, be it with a hose or watering can. Installing sprinklers in your yard can also help reduce the amount of water your household uses overall. Additionally, sprinklers are a great choice for people who may have physical limitations that make it harder to maintain their lawns.
Most homeowners program their sprinklers to turn automatically in the morning, and this is for a great reason. Morning temperatures are lower than midday temps when the sun is at its peak, so a morning watering ensures that all the water is properly soaked up by your lawn instead of quickly evaporating in hotter temperatures.
The type of sprinkler head you should choose depends on the size of your outdoor space and what needs to be watered. If you want something small for a flower bed, a pop-up spray head is discreet and has a short spray distance. A large backyard will benefit more from an option with a long spray distance, like rotor heads or impact sprinklers.
