Clogged Head on a Lawn Sprinkler

Pattern

• All sprinkler heads have a pre-set pattern that determines what angle water will flow in. Some common types of sprinkler patterns include 360 degrees, 180 degrees and 90 degrees. Some models can be adjusted to any pattern between 1 and 360 degrees. Adjustable heads are great for custom or irregularly shaped lawns. Hunter, a major manufacturer of sprinklers, also makes square pattern heads. Square heads are perfect for small strips of grass, such as the grass in-between sidewalks and streets.

Throw Distance

• Sprinkler heads are available in a variety of throw distances, measured by the amount of feet that water flies from the nozzle to the ground. When selecting new sprinkler heads, it's important to select the model that won't throw water too short or too far. Not throwing water far enough will lead to brown spots in your grass, while throwing water too far will waste water. It's best to measure from the nozzle to the point where the water ends from the sprinkler on the opposite side, or from the nozzle to the edge of the grass. Select a sprinkler head that's rated for that distance.

Materials

• Sprinkler heads generally come in two materials -- plastic or metal. Plastic sprinkler heads are the most common. These nozzles are durable, rust resistant and affordable. A typical plastic sprinkler head costs about $3 at most home-improvement stores. Metal heads are also available. These are made out of brass and are more durable than plastic. Metal sprinkler heads will not crush under pressure from a lawnmower, and are also very rust resistant.

Moving Heads

• Some sprinkler heads can move. Water pressure moves through a series of tiny gears inside the sprinkler head, which moves the sprayer back and forth in a pre-set pattern. This is more for decoration than performance. Rotating nozzles can be placed on most pop-up sprayers without additional modification to the sprinkler. These heads are available from Rain Bird, Hunter, Orbit and Toro.