Parts of a Sprinkler

Body

• The body of the sprinkler is the plastic or metal shell that surrounds the internal components of the sprinkler. The body is usually round and contains threads for the supply line on the bottom and a removable sprayer on top. The body is designed to be installed underground and is weather-resistant. Some sprinkler bodies are made out of metal, which are stronger and resist cracking when frozen or hit by the lawn mower.

Riser Threads

• The riser threads are on the bottom of the sprinkler body. The threads are designed to accept a PVC sprinkler riser, which connects the sprinkler body to the supply line underground. The threads typically come in 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch models, depending on the size of your system. You can also purchase adapters to change the size of the riser threads at most home-improvement stores. These adapters allow you to use larger or smaller sprinklers without affecting water flow.

Sprayer Head

• The sprayer head on a sprinkler is at the very top of the body. This is the part that water exits from and is directed into a stream through a specific shape or pattern. Sprinkler heads come in many types, including rotating heads that use water pressure to move, pop-up heads that eject from the body under pressure and impact heads that use water pressure to shoot a jet of water over large distances. Sprayer heads can be unscrewed from the top of most sprinklers and replaced with other styles.

Filter

• Almost all sprinklers come with a small, plastic filter. The filter usually sits in the sprinkler body just below the nozzle. The filter is designed to capture large pieces of dirt and other debris before it reaches the nozzle. The filter keeps dirt from clogging the nozzle, which can lead to problems with spray patterns or water flow. The filter cab be removed for cleaning or replacement by unscrewing the nozzle and pulling out the filter.