How to Adjust Sprinkler Heads: A Step-by-Step Guide

A properly adjusted sprinkler system leads to efficient irrigation and a healthy lawn. By adjusting your sprinkler heads for even, thorough coverage of your yard, you can improve plant health and conserve water.

Learn how to adjust your sprinkler heads with this guide.

Signs Your Sprinkler Heads Need Adjustment

If you notice any signs that your sprinklers are not operating as they should, it’s a good idea to investigate the issue as soon as possible. Regular inspection and maintenance will keep your irrigation system working effectively. While some issues may require professional intervention, problems with your sprinkler head adjustment can be a quick fix.

Common signs that indicate your sprinkler heads need readjustment include:

• Dry spots: Do you notice spots of yellow, dry or crunchy grass in your lawn? This could signal that your sprinkler system is missing sections of your lawn, leading to these dry spots. Too much time without sufficient water can cause your grass to die.
• Clogs: If the sprinkler head is too close to the ground or there is built-up dirt around the nozzle, you might need to clean it and readjust the head to stay clear of dirt.
• Overwatering: If your sprinkler system has too much coverage, leading to excessive water use, your lawn might become wet and muddy. Too much water can have the same effect as not enough, killing your grass by preventing the roots from getting enough oxygen.
• Overspray: Overspray is when water sprays outside your lawn area — whether onto a neighbor’s yard, a sidewalk or the road. It can waste water and even trigger fines, so you’ll want to adjust the sprinkler head to correct the spray radius.
• Uneven coverage: If your spray is uneven across your lawn, you might have discolorations or drier spots that indicate uneven irrigation coverage. Adjust the sprinkler heads so they provide even coverage of your lawn.

Different Types of Sprinkler Heads

There are many different kinds of irrigation systems, but residential properties tend to have two main kinds of sprinkler systems:

• Rotor heads: Rotor heads rotate back and forth — hence their name — and can release a single stream or multiple streams. They’re great for larger lawns because they can cover a significant surface area per sprinkler head. The type of head you use will determine the spray pattern, and you can adjust the degree of rotation up to 180 degrees.
• Pop-up heads: These sprinkler heads pop up from the ground, often emitting a circular spray. You can adjust the spray radius, but these sprinkler heads often work best for small to medium green spaces.

Why Should You Adjust Your Sprinkler Heads?

Proper adjustment of sprinkler heads is essential for proper irrigation and water control. Your sprinkler heads control the angle, amount and arc of the water, so it’s important they are optimized for proper coverage. Overwatering — when the spray overlaps too much — can lead to muddy patches in your yard, while dry patches — caused by lack of coverage — can cause dead, yellowing grass.

Water conservation is also an important consideration, especially if you live in an area that requires strict water-saving measures. Ensuring you’re not wasting water can help the environment while avoiding potential fines and citations.

How to Adjust Your Sprinkler Heads

If you determine that your sprinkler heads need adjustment, you can sometimes do it yourself (DIY). Check out the following tips to adjust sprinkler heads on your own.

The tools required for adjusting sprinkler heads include:

• Pliers
• Hex wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Rotor nozzle adjustment tool
• Sprinkler head lock tool or nozzle insertion collar

Some sprinkler systems come with specialized tools that suit your particular type of sprinkler. The manufacturer will have specific details about your sprinkler model, so refer to your manual or reach out to a sprinkler professional for help.

How to Adjust Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads

Pop-up sprinklers can come with adjustable and non-adjustable heads. If you have a fixed spray nozzle, you cannot adjust it, but you can change it to a different spray pattern. For most other pop-up sprinkler heads, follow these steps:

• Find the small screw at the top of the nozzle.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the screw, increasing or decreasing the nozzle opening as needed.
• Adjust the stem to set the arc position, which will determine the spray distance.

How to Adjust Rotating Sprinkler Heads

Rotating sprinkler heads can operate with a single stream of water — gear-drive heads — or multiple streams — stream rotor heads. The head rotates to disperse water over an even area of lawn.

If you want to adjust a rotor head sprinkler, follow these steps:

• Turn the system on and make sure you are standing behind and away from the sprinkler.
• Rotate the head all the way to the left to complete the cycle.
• Press the rotor head down and turn to the right until the water stops.
• With the nozzle facing the far right, check for plus and minus signs at the top. You’ll see a small keyhole next to these signs.
• Insert the key end of your rotor adjustment tool into the hole. Turn left to increase the rotor arc and right to decrease it.
• Remove the tool and watch the system operate. Adjust the arc again as needed until you reach the desired results.
• If you have a nozzle insertion collar, you can use this to help keep the rotor head still as you adjust the sprinkler head.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes, a DIY sprinkler head adjustment may not solve your problems. Other major issues, like leaks, clogs and broken components, can affect your irrigation system’s performance. If you experience problems with water pressure, leaks or damaged sprinkler heads, reach out to a professional sprinkler company.

Seasonal sprinkler maintenance is also an essential component in maintaining your irrigation system. Adjust your sprinklers based on the season to accommodate changing weather conditions and plant requirements. If you experience cold winters, you may need to winterize your sprinklers to avoid damage to the system. A professional sprinkler service can advise you on the right strategy. You can also use an irrigation controller to help keep your lawn in the best condition all year round.

Contact Rain Pros for Service

Regularly inspect and adjust the sprinkler heads to optimize your irrigation system and maintain a healthy and well-watered landscape. For sprinkler system maintenance, turn to the professionals at Rain Pros. We offer comprehensive sprinkler services, including custom design, installation, repair and maintenance. You can also get seasonal checkups to prepare your system for spring, summer and winter.

To learn more about our sprinkler services, contact us online or call us at 253-676-9214.