Correct Leveling for Lawn Sprinklers

Trench Depth

• The first step to installing a level sprinkler head is to dig a level trench for the supply lines that will be installed underground. Set the depth on the trenching machine to about 8 inches. This will give you enough room to install the supply pipe, the riser and the sprinkler head, while leaving room to make adjustments during the leveling process. After running the machine, use a large level to check the flatness of the trench in various positions. Even out the trench using a hand shovel to make the trench as flat as possible.

Riser Height

• Sprinkler risers are plastic tubes that connect the supply line to the sprinkler head. Selecting the right length of riser is important to ensuring that your sprinkler heads are level when finished. The best method is to purchase cut-off risers. These risers contain small segments of risers that can be cut off while maintaining the pipe thread connections on either end. Using a cut-off riser will enable you to make a custom fit for each sprinkler head on the system.

Sprinkler Head Size

• Sprinkler heads come in a wide variety of sizes, but the most common are 2-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch. With a standard 8-inch trench, it's best to use sprinkler heads that are 6-inches long. This will allow you to use either a 1-inch fixed riser, or a cut-off riser. You may also choose to use 2-inch sprinklers with a longer riser. There is no noticeable difference in performance between a 2-inch and a 6-inch sprinkler head.

Leveling the Connection

• Screw the riser into the supply line and dry fit the sprinkler onto the top of the riser. Get down on the ground and look at the surface to see whether the cap of the sprinkler head is level with the rest of the surface. If it is, fill the trench around the sprinkler with dirt and compact the ground to secure the sprinkler in place. If not, remove the riser and sprinkler and cut the riser in small sections until the sprinkler is level with ground.