How to Test Lawn Sprinklers

Properly adjusted sprinklers conserve water and reduce costs for homeowners. The testing or calibration determines the amount of water the sprinkler dispenses in a given time and the uniformity of the spray pattern. The testing requires no specialized equipment and can be performed by homeowners in a short time during a weekend. The information allows for proper planning during the lawn watering process.

12 straight-sided cans

Instructions

- 1
  Place some containers to catch the sprinkler's water. Use any straight-sided container that is 1 inch or more deep for this project. Cat food or tuna cans work well. Place about a dozen cans randomly around the area the sprinkler covers.
- 2
  Operate the sprinkler until there is about 3/4 inch of water in one can. Note how long it took for the sprinkler to deposit this amount of water on the lawn. This is the amount of water recommended for each watering session by most lawn care specialists.
- 3
  Measure the other cans. If all the cans have 3/4 inch of water the sprinkler is properly calibrated and dispensing a uniform amount of water across the lawn.
- 4
  Adjust the sprinkler system, if possible, to create a uniform watering pattern. Some sprinklers are not adjustable while others can be corrected by following manufacturer's instructions. Clearing clogged sprinkler heads sometimes solves the problem.
- 5
  Adjust the timer, if applicable, to set each watering session to the proper length to dispense the 3/4 inch of water recommended.

How to Sharpen Rusty Garden Clippers

How to Make a Milk Jug Into a Spout

Lawn Tools