List & Describe the Four Basic Types of Sprinkler Design

Pop-Up Spray Heads

• Pop-up spray sprinkler heads are the most common type of sprinkler for homes and commercial properties. They lift out of the ground and above the level of the lawn, then spray a continuous stream of water in different directions depending on the design of the spray head. The pop-up heads used in most lawns are 4 inches tall, but they can be as tall as 20 inches. The spray radius from these heads is from 3 to 15 inches, and the pressure ranges from 15 to 30 psi.

Impact Rotors

• Impact rotors cover a wider radius than pop-ups, reaching anywhere from 20 to 150 feet. They rotate to spray an arc of one or more streams of water across the surrounding landscape; different designs cover from 40 degrees of rotation up to a complete, 360-degree circle. They make a distinctive sound as they operate, because their rotation is driven by a metal arm on a spring which strikes the rotating head; this sound makes them too loud to be popular for commercial or residential areas.

Gear-Driven Rotors

• Gear-driven rotor heads have the same arc range as impact rotors, but a smaller spray range, only reaching from 18 to 55 feet. However, they are cheaper, quieter and easier to maintain than impact rotors. They are protected from dirt blockages by their design, which includes an outer layer of plastic. These sprinklers are the most popular kind for large residential developments and commercial properties, because they are quiet and customizable. They also spray less water than pop-ups, which makes them a good choice for sloped areas or clay soil, where the ground needs more time to absorb water.

Large Turf Rotors

• These sprinklers are designed for golf courses, parks and other large, commercial lawn areas that require regular irrigation. They spray across a maximum radius of 100 feet, with pressures ranging from 50 to 100 psi. Instead of whole blocks of heads being activated by opening a valve, as is common for sprinklers on smaller turfs, they generally use a hydraulic activation system or an electric valve-in-head (EVIH). These allow a more flexible and cost-effective scheduling for watering such large areas.