The Basics: How Do Lawn Sprinkler Systems Work?

Key Takeaways

Lawn sprinkler systems offer:
  • Automated Convenience: Enables scheduling for optimal watering times, ensuring lawn care without manual intervention.
  • Variety of Sprinkler Heads: Diverse options like rotating, pop-up, and gear-driven heads cater to different lawn needs and sizes.
  • Efficient Water Distribution: Systems are designed to minimize waste and ensure even coverage, conserving water while maintaining lawn health.
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Many homeowners and commercial property owners may be interested in installing lawn sprinklers. Lawn sprinklers are devices used to irrigate the lawn by distributing water evenly through a network of pumps, valves, pipes, sprayers, and nozzles. When the water is pressurized, it gets dispersed through nozzles to water the lawn. 

While this process is a basic description of how sprinkler systems work, many types of sprinkler systems may have different working mechanisms. Property owners can select the right components for the sprinkler or irrigation system they need. 

Most property owners today opt for automatic systems for ease. Automatic systems allow you to set a controller to turn on at specified times. The benefit of this option is that you can go on vacation - or anywhere else - without returning to a dead lawn since you don’t have to be present while watering the area. 

Your lawn or garden will get a steady water supply no matter what. You can easily set it to optimal times. For example, many lawn experts recommend watering early in the day. With an automated sprinkler system, it can automatically turn on without getting out of bed.

And while automatic sprinkler systems are very popular, they are not all the same. You can select different heads for the system. Some of the different options include:

  • Rotating sprinklers: Rotating sprinklers deliver water to your lawn in rotating streams covering large areas. These components ensure that every patch of lawn gets the same amount of water, and they work great with soil that absorbs moisture slowly. They work this way because the sprinkler head sits atop a rotating bearing, ensuring they can achieve 360-degree coverage.

  • Pop-up sprinklers: Popular with many property owners, pop-up sprinklers preserve the beauty of your home or business. These sprinklers work by allowing the sprinkler head to pop up when activated and retract into the ground when deactivated. Each head is responsible for watering a designated zone to ensure maximum coverage.

  • Impact sprinklers: Impact sprinkler heads move water in a circular motion, which is created by the force of outgoing water

  • Gear-driven sprinklers: These systems use a gear to move the sprayer through its watering arc, minimizing noise. Their ability to create very little noise makes these sprinklers a desirable option in many commercial and residential areas. 

  • Oscillating sprinkler: These sprinkler systems use a metal arm that oscillates to cover the entire lawn. They are great for small to medium-sized lawns.

  • Fixed sprayer: Sprinklers with a fixed sprayer result in a stream of water that does not change direction, although the user can adjust the angle. These systems allow you to spray in quarter, half, and full circles, minimizing water wasted on sidewalks. 

These features may impact how any given sprinkler or irrigation system works. For example, before the water reaches a sprinkler head, it must travel through underground pipes, valves, and joints. 

When considering a lawn sprinkler system, it can be challenging to decide which option would best meet your lawn’s needs. To learn more about lawn sprinkler system options, contact Cory’s Lawn Service today.