Sprinkler Heads

In Southern California, a huge amount of outdoor water is wasted from systems that run too often, don’t water efficiently, or apply water unevenly. Choosing the right sprinkler heads—and placing them correctly—is one of the fastest ways to improve performance.

Two concepts matter most: (1) deep watering (less often, longer run times when appropriate) and (2) irrigation uniformity (even coverage so you don’t overwater one area just to keep another area alive). Learn more: benefits of deep watering and irrigation uniformity.

Why head selection matters

There are many efficient sprinkler options on the market today—and also many older styles that waste water through misting, poor coverage, low pop-up height, and uneven precipitation. Even a “good” controller schedule can’t fix a head that applies water poorly.

This topic is bigger than one short article, but below are two common older head types that often cause problems.

Old brass pop-up sprinkler head

Old Brass Pop-Up Heads

Often inefficient

Older brass pop-up heads tend to waste water and underperform. They often push out a large burst just to pop up, then distribute water unevenly. Many also don’t rise high enough to clear turf, so the spray gets blocked by grass blades.

  • Can get stuck up and be damaged by mowing
  • Low pop-up height can cause “shadowing” and dry spots
  • Uneven coverage leads to overwatering to compensate
Old impact sprinkler head

Old-Style Impact Heads

Often inefficient

Traditional impact heads throw a strong stream of water and “knock it down” with an impact arm. In many residential settings this can create overspray, misting, and evaporation—especially in wind. They’re also harder to tune precisely for odd-shaped areas.

A common uniformity problem

Many impact setups apply the same flow rate whether the head is set to a full circle or a quarter circle. That means the quarter-circle area can receive roughly four times the water (because the same volume is applied to one quarter of the area).

  • More mist and evaporation in warm, windy conditions
  • Less precise for mixed shapes and short distances
  • Uneven precipitation rates can cause wet spots and dry spots

Quick takeaway

If your lawn has chronically wet areas, chronically dry areas, or you’re constantly adjusting run times, sprinkler head type and placement may be the real issue. Improving uniformity is often the best “first fix” before increasing watering time.