How to Adjust the Pressure on a Sprinkler System

Sprinklers rely on steady water pressure of about 60 psi for proper function. That's because water pressure is used to pop up sprinkler heads, as well as to force water through nozzles and onto your lawn. New construction in the area, city water projects and water-using appliances can all lead to reduced water pressure in your sprinkler system. To counter this, you will need to adjust the water pressure regulator inside your home. Alternatively, you can reduce water pressure in systems that are spraying too hard.

Flashlight
Adjustable pliers
Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the water pressure regulator. This bell-shaped device sits along the main water line inside your home, probably in a basement or crawl space. You may want to use a flashlight to help look along the pipe line for the regulator.
- 2
  Turn the retaining nut around the base of the regulator counterclockwise until the nut is loose enough to move by hand.
- 3
  Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the tip of the pressure regulator.
- 4
  Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise to reduce the amount of pressure that's allowed into your main line. Turn the screwdriver clockwise to increase the amount of pressure. Use the psi ratings around the ring of the regulator as a reference for how far to turn the screw.
- 5
  Run you sprinklers to check the performance after adjusting the pressure.

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