Best Rotary Sprinkler Heads

In America and other western countries, you will find plenty of houses having lawns. Apart from America and western countries, lawns are being popular among European countries. Lawns create a very beautiful landscape and provide a playground for kids.

Moreover, in research, it has been found that a 30’ x 30’ lawn produces enough oxygen for 4 family members and acts as a natural air conditioner for a house (keeping the surroundings cool). It also traps CO₂ to a great extent.

But to keep a lawn vigorous and healthy, you need to water the grass an adequate amount. Watering a lawn is very time-consuming and proper distribution of water is quite impossible with bare hands.

That’s why a sprinkler irrigation system has been developed. But a sprinkler system can’t be complete without a sprinkler head. But the problem is which one you should choose because there is a sea of sprinkler heads.

Then the truth to say is you have come to the right place. Here you will get the 5 best rotary sprinkler heads and some other tips that will help you to overcome your problem. so, let’s dive in.

The Top Choices at a Glance:

I have shortlisted all of the best rotary sprinkler heads and found the best value for the money:

1. Rain Bird 5 Pack R-VAN Adjustable Rotary Nozzle
2. Adjustable Rotor Rainbird Mini Rotary Pop-Up Sprays
3. Orbit Watermaster Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Sprinkler Head
4. R-VAN14 – 8-14 ft. Adjustable Rotary Nozzles
5. Rain Bird 5 R-VAN1724 Adjustable Rotary Nozzle Head

What Are The Rotary Sprinkler Heads?

Rotary sprinkler heads are one of the most important parts of a sprinkler irrigation system widely used in lawns. A rotary sprinkler head is a water sprayer driven by a rotating head, which is driven by water pressure and controls the spray streams that come out of the nozzles. The head is designed to perform a 360⁰ rotation. Nozzles may be one (Orbit Watermaster) to many (Rain Bird R-VAN) and are designed to spray water from 4 feet to 40+ feet.

One of the most important facts of a rotary sprinkler head is to make thicker streams of water that are capable of cutting through the air and to create the least fog or mist which evaporates before reaching the ground. The rotary sprinkler head is supplied with water through an underground water pipe or by just connecting to a garden hose pipe.

How to Choose The Best Rotary Sprinkler Head?

There are tons of sprinkler heads available on the market. At least to the highest price they are available. You don’t want to waste money on a sprinkler that won’t go with your job right? Here we will provide you some facts which you should bear in mind whenever you want to purchase a sprinkler head.

Water pressure: rotary heads require at least 30 PSI and spray heads work perfectly below 30 PSI of water pressure. Check how much pressure your house can afford and then select rotary head or spray head.

Lawn size: spray heads work best for low size lawns e.g., 30’ x 30’, whereas rotary heads are highly effective for large size lawns. Check the width and height of your lawn to determine the type of head you need to use.

Border curve: if your lawn has narrow curves and you don’t want to water beyond the curves, then you should go for spray heads. Rotary heads with higher radii have difficulty being beyond such curves. You can use short radius rotary heads which are also suitable for the purpose.

Product cost: some heads cost a lot and some not that much. You can use cheap heads but they need to be replaced frequently and some very costly ones will be overkill for irrigating the lawn. Find out your requirements and then select which one you should buy. Try to purchase a branded one, which may be a bit expensive but will provide you with more than 12 years of service.

Types of Nozzle Sprinkler Heads

1. Spray heads: they are commonly known as ‘Fixed Spray Heads’. They are designed to emit a big amount of water within a very short time (higher application rate) for which they make a fine and misty spray. They are highly effective for small size lawns and they work nicely at low water pressure (below 25 PSI). As they work well at low water pressure, they rarely reach 15 feet from the spraying point. They should not be placed further than 14 feet otherwise dry spots (unirrigated regions which cause the grass to die) will be created in your lawn. You need to install spray heads by overlap to get full coverage of a zone. Since the spray is misty and fine, it can be drafted easily and reduce water efficiency drastically. So watch out for windy days.

2. Rotary heads: they are commonly known as ‘Sprinkler Rotors’ and are highly effective for medium to large size lawns. They are designed to make thick streams of water (lower application rate) and hence they require higher water pressure (minimum 30 PSI). The sprinkler heads can cover 4-40+ feet easily. You need to remember that rotary heads require more pressure than the distance between 2 spray heads. E.g., if you want to install heads 35 feet apart from each other, then you need to provide 40 PSI for each head as some of the pressure will be lost within the system. Thick streams of water they make are not susceptible to wind drift as spray heads for which they can be used anytime. The slower precipitation causes them to waste less water and improve water efficiency.

3. Bubblers: they do not provide water at long distances but provide water in a large amount in a very short region. They are not used in lawns but can be used for ground cover, filling water rings around shrubs or trees, and tree basins. They are highly effective for fast-draining soil.

Best Rotary Sprinkler Heads Reviews 2021

Here I am going to review 5 products that are currently available in the market and overall better than any other you find. I choose them based on their popularity, price point, user feedback, and the most important one is what they are capable of. I have used all of them in practice and I found them very reliable and professional. You can choose anyone from the list that matches your requirement and they will serve you more than your desire.

1. Rain Bird 5 Pack R-VAN Adjustable Rotary Nozzle

Rain Bird is one of the world’s leading irrigation tools (sprinkler head, hose, and all related to irrigation system) manufacturing companies. The company has been working before 1935 and still is keeping pace with the world’s other business companies. Customers of their products highly recommend using their products because the products have served them better than their expectations.

Like other brands, the company has manufactured a typical rotary nozzle for watering a large area which is known as ‘Rain Bird 5 Pack R-VAN Adjustable Rotary Nozzle’. Unlike most of the adjustable nozzles available in the market, the product provides a wide range of services at a reasonable price, which has made the product one of the best rotary sprinkler heads.

Installation and adjustments:

Installation:

1. Hold the riser pipe steadily using one arm (the riser pipe will be attached to a carrier which will be screwed with pipe).
2. Unscrew the existing sprinkler nozzle or head from the riser pipe (make sure to remove the previous filter screen).
3. Place on the empty carrier and screw tightly (finger tight) and let the riser get inside the carrier.

Radius adjustment:

1. The nozzle radius is 13-18 feet or 4-5.5 meters.
2. Identify the white mark located at the collar which is the initial spray point (you need to align the point with the desired edge in the field).
3. Turn on water so that you can precisely determine the desired distance.
4. Turn the radius adjustment dial clockwise to increase nozzle reach.
5. Turn the adjustment dial anti-clockwise to decrease the spraying range.
6. You can turn by hand or a player (don’t grab too tightly) to adjust the dial. Each time a crack sound will be heard whenever you reach a limit.

Arc adjustment:

1. The nozzle can cover from 45° to 270° area.
2. Turn on the water supply to precisely determine the arc of spraying.
3. Push down and turn the arc adjustment cap clockwise to increase the spray area.
4. Push down and turn the adjustment cap anti-clockwise to decrease the spray area or arc.
5. Once you are done with installing and adjustments, you need to update the watering schedule of the Controller. Adjust the run-time of the sprayer at 0.6 in/hr.

Pros:

• Radius and arc adjusting dials are adjustable without any tool.
• Color-coded for better identification.
• Comes with a manual flush feature which keeps the nozzle free from dirt.
• Rotating technology delivers water at a very low precipitation rate greatly reducing erosion and runoff.
• Water efficiency is improved by up to 30%.
• Reduces flow up to 60%.
• Makes thick wind-resistant streams working well in adverse conditions forming zero misting or fogging.
• Comes with a 3 years trade warranty.

Cons:

• Installation and adjustments are a bit tricky.
• Need to clean the filter screen frequently.

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2. Adjustable Rotor Rainbird Mini Rotary Pop-Up Sprays

Another adjustable rotary nozzle of the famous irrigation tool manufacturing Rainbird brand. The company tries its best to release products that will provide more facilities at a lower price. If you have a larger lawn size and are looking for a long sprinkler head, then ‘Adjustable Rotor Rainbird 22SA-RVAN Mini Rotary Pop-Up Sprays’ should be your choice. Very easy to adjust, spraying up to 24 feet, the capability of spraying at target in high windy condition, and other special features have made the adjustable rotor one of the best rotary nozzle sprinkler heads for medium-large lawns.

Installation and adjustments:

Installation:

1. Hold the riser pipe using one hand (the riser pipe will be attached to a carrier which will be screwed with pipe).
2. Unscrew the existing sprinkler nozzle or head from the riser pipe (make sure to remove the previous filter screen).
3. Place on the empty carrier and screw tightly (finger tight) and let the riser get inside the carrier.

Radius adjustment:

1. The nozzle radius is 18 to 24 feet or 5.5 to 7.3 meters.
2. Identify the white mark located at the collar which is the initial spray point (you need to align the point with the desired edge in the field).
3. Turn on water so that you can precisely determine the desired distance.
4. Turn the radius adjustment dial clockwise with one hand to increase nozzle reach.
5. Turn the adjustment dial anti-clockwise to decrease the spraying range.
6. Each time a crack sound will be heard whenever you reach a limit.

Arc adjustment:

1. The nozzle can cover from 45° to 270° area.
2. Turn on the water supply to precisely determine the arc of spraying.
3. Push down and turn the arc adjustment cap clockwise to increase the spray area.
4. Push down and turn the adjustment cap anti-clockwise to decrease the spray area or arc.

Pros:

• Hand adjustable pattern and spray range indicate no need for tools. Just push down to adjust the pattern and turn the dial to adjust the range.
• The spray range is up to 24 feet allowing the use of fewer heads to reduce system complexity.
• Convenient to adjust spray and radius, allowing to water only land but not walkway, street, or building.
• The nozzle’s rotary multi-stream action produces larger droplets of water that withstand wind blow overspray.
• makes almost zero mist and fog.
• Production of low precipitation rates of 0.6 in/hr. reduces water use up to 30%.
• Pressure-activated wiper seal and closed case design protect the sprayer from sand, clay, and creeping grass.
• Very convenient to clean debris.
• Comes at a very low price.

Cons:

• Need to clean frequently.
• Need to clean the filter frequently.

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3. Orbit Watermaster Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Sprinkler Head

Orbit Watermaster is another leading company in the manufacturing of irrigation system tools. The company was established in 1986 and is working hard to satisfy its customers.

The company’s products are not only famous in America, but they are also heavily used in more than 40 countries across 5 continents. One of the products is ‘Orbit Watermaster 55461 Voyager 4-Inch Adjustable Pop-Up Gear Drive Sprinkler Head’.

The spraying nozzle is special for medium to large size lawns. Apart from this, the product is compatible with all other major branded gear drive rotors. Besides, the cost of the spray head is reasonable and other special features have made the product one of the best nozzle sprinkler heads.

Installation and adjustments:

It is recommended to adjust the product before you install it for usage. Here you will learn how to properly adjust and install the nozzle.

Adjustments:

Presetting rotation:  Rotate the nozzle turret anti-clockwise with the aid of your palm to complete any rotation cycle. Then rotate the nozzle clockwise to the right stop which is the fixed side of the arc. You need to hold the position for further arc adjustments.

Arc adjustment:

1. Insert a flat screwdriver (minus screwdriver) into the pattern adjustment screw (bigger and located a bit inside from the periphery).
2. While holding the nozzle turret at the right stop, turn the screw clockwise. Every full turn of the screw denotes a 90° arc.
3. When the maximum arc (360°) will be reached, the screw won’t be further moved and a ratcheting sound will be heard.
4. Turn the screw anti-clockwise while holding the nozzle turret at the right stop to reduce the arc. As previously, each full turn of the screw will denote 90°. When the minimum arc (40°) is reached, a ratcheting sound will be heard.
5. Adjust your desired arc by moving the screw clockwise and anti-clockwise slowly.

Radius adjustment:

1. Set a minus or flat head screwdriver into the distance adjustment screw (smaller in size and located almost at the end periphery).
2. Turn the screw clockwise to decrease the spray range and turn anti-clockwise to increase that range. Turn slowly and lightly to determine your desired spray length.
3. Do not over-rotate otherwise, the screw may come out.
4. You may need to adjust the precipitation rate for dry and wet conditions.

Nozzle installation:

1. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the lifting socket and pull upward.
2. Hold the riser with one hand and loosen the adjustment screw with the screwdriver to clear the nozzle socket.
3. Pull out the pre-installed nozzle from the socket by pulling out the ear of that nozzle with the aid of needle-nose pliers.
4. Insert your nozzle into the socket and angle up 25°.
5. Rotate the adjustment screw tightly to secure the nozzle.

Pros:

• The spray range is from 20 ft. to 40 ft., making it highly effective for medium to large size lawns.
• Compatible with all other brands of gear driving rotors.
• Comes with a filter to protect from clogging.
• Very easy to clean the nozzle.
• Very easy to adjust, just requires a flat-head screwdriver.

Cons:

• Quiet time-consuming at adjusting and installing.
• Need to clean frequently.

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4. R-VAN14 – 8-14 ft. Adjustable Rotary Nozzles

Nozzles having higher reach make them highly effective for a large size lawn. But what if your lawn is not that big? You may find yourself in trouble if you use a long-reach nozzle because the spray minimum radius may be too long for your lawn. Then what should you do? You need to find a nozzle that comes with a lower range.

If so, then ‘R-VAN14 – 8-14 ft. Adjustable Rotary Nozzle’ should be your first choice. The product belongs to the world-leading ‘Rain Bird’ company. Not only from being manufactured by a trustworthy company, but the rotary nozzle also provides premium qualities at a reasonable price, which has made the rotary nozzle one of the best rotary nozzles for smaller size lawns.

Installation and adjustments:

Installation:

1. Hold the riser steadily with a hand (the riser pipe will be attached to a carrier which will be screwed with the pipe or stalk).
2. Unscrew the existing sprinkler nozzle or head from the riser pipe (make sure to remove the previous filter screen).
3. Place on the empty riser and screw tightly and let the riser get inside the carrier.

Radius adjustment:

1. Turn on water so that you can precisely determine the desired distance.
2. Identify the white mark located at the collar which is the initial spray point (you need to align the point with the desired edge in the field).
3. Turn the radius adjustment dial clockwise to increase nozzle reach (the spray will go up to 14 feet).
4. Turn the adjustment dial anti-clockwise to decrease the spraying range (the minimum length of the spray is 8 feet).
5. Each time a ratcheting sound will be heard whenever you reach a limit.

Arc adjustment:

1. Turn on the water supply for precise determination of the arc of spraying.
2. Push down and turn the arc adjustment cap clockwise to increase the spray area (the maximum arc of the sprayer is 270°).
3. Push down and turn the adjustment cap anti-clockwise to decrease the spray area or arc (the minimum arc is 45°).

Pros:

• Provides matched precipitation rates throughout radius and arc, which simplifies the design process.
• Radius and arc are adjustable without the aid of any tool.
• Comes with a color code for easier identification.
• The lower spray length makes it highly effective for small to medium lawns.
• The rotating stream technology uniformly delivers water at a very low precipitation rate.
• The lower precipitation rate significantly reduces runoff and erosion.
• Increases water efficiency up to 30% and reduces flow up to 60%.
• Makes droplets large enough to withstand higher wind velocity.
• The pull-up to flush feature makes it easier to clean the nozzle from debris and dirt.
• Makes almost no fog or mist.
• Apart from just being adjusted with Rain Bird spray bodies, it is adjustable with spray bodies of other brands.
• Provides the customers a three-year trade warranty.

Cons:

• You may need to clean the filter and nozzle frequently.

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5. Rain Bird 5 R-VAN1724 Adjustable Rotary Nozzle Head

Irrigating smaller size lawns with short-reach nozzles is decent. But it will be a tricky job to irrigate a large lawn using short radius nozzles. So, you need to select a long radius nozzle. But which one you should select because there are thousands of nozzles from numerous brands for the task. In such a situation, you can without any doubt choose ‘Rain Bird 5 R-VAN R-VAN1724 Adjustable Rotary Nozzle’.

We just don’t recommend you the nozzle for being manufactured by the world-famous Rain Bird company, we recommend you for providing the superior qualities which will be provided by the rotary nozzle. The special qualities have made the rotary nozzle one of the best rotary nozzles for covering medium to large lawns.

Installation and adjustments:

Installation:

1. Hold the riser steadily with a hand (the pop-up pipe is attached to an adapter that is screwed with the pipe or stalk).
2. Unscrew the existing sprinkler nozzle or head from the pop-up pipe and remove that. Remove the filter screen if it exists in the socket.
3. Place your rotary sprayer on the empty socket of the pop-up pipe and screw tightly.
4. Let the pop-up pipe get inside the adapter.

Radius adjustment:

1. Turn on the water supply to precisely determine the desired distance.
2. Locate the white mark at the collar which is the initial spray point and align the point with the predetermined edge of the lawn.
3. Rotate the radius adjustment dial clockwise to increase nozzle reach (the spray will go up to 24 feet).
4. Rotate the adjustment dial anti-clockwise to decrease the spraying range (the minimum length of the spray is 17 feet).
5. Whenever you reach a limit, you will hear a ratcheting sound.

Arc adjustment:

1. Switch on the water supply so that you can precisely determine the spraying arc.
2. Push down gently and turn the arc adjustment cap clockwise to increase the spray area (the maximum arc of the sprayer is 270°).
3. To decrease the spray arc (the minimum arc is 45°) of the nozzle, you need to rotate the cap anti-clockwise.

Pros:

• Highly efficient for irrigating medium to large size lawns.
• Provides matched precipitation rates throughout radius and arc, which simplifies the design process.
• Color-coded and laser marks make it easy to identify.
• Easily adjustable with no aid of the tool.
• Multiple, rotating streams ensure uniform distribution of water throughout the radius range.
• Capable of maintaining performance at high operating pressures without forming fog or mist.
• The large droplets of water emitted from the nozzle help them reach the target position during heavy wind flow.
• The pull-up flush feature makes it easier to clean the nozzle.
• Provides low precipitation which reduces runoff and erosion.
• Flow is reduced up to 60% and water efficiency is increased up to 30%.

Cons:

• The price is quite high.
• Need to clean the nozzle and filter screen frequently.

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Benefits of Installing a Sprinkler Head:

Sprinkler heads are installed on sprinkler irrigation systems which are fully automatic at present days. But a sprinkler head is not that cheap and installing a sprinkler system may seem to be quite expensive. Yes, once it was very expensive but at present, it is not that much. It may be quite costly at installation but it will reduce your cost a great amount further. Apart from it, the sprinkler system provides more benefits for which you should check the system out.

Environment: modern sprinkler systems are fully automatic, meaning the time of application, amount of water, distribution, etc. are done automatically. It waters the lawn at the only required amount, which keeps the lawn grass healthy and free from diseases. Besides, the system won’t allow excess water to drench the soil and make it lose, which causes erosion. Thus, it keeps the soil enact.

Time: watering a lawn with a hose consumes a lot of time. If the lawn is big, it is quite impossible to cover within a short time. Besides, at present people are very busy. By installing a sprinkler system, you can save much of your time. Besides, you can go on tour for several days without worrying about watering your lawn because the automatic system will do the job.

Money: yes, the initial cost is quite big. But the waste of water is very little compared to manual watering. If you calculate water wastage for a long time, you will notice the wastage of water if measured in money is quite big. But by installing the system, you can reduce your overall cost.

Aesthetic: sprinkler system provides uniform distribution of water throughout the field. It means, no less or overwatering here and there. It ensures uniform growth and development of grass, which increases the beauty of the field greatly. Moreover, in the present day, the price of a house having a sprinkler system is higher than a normal house. And beauty adds more value. So, setting a sprinkler system on your lawn will be a wise decision.

How to Adjust Rotary Sprinkler Heads

Irrigation rotors must be tested and tuned up at the beginning of every season for the optimum water distribution to your lawn. Besides, you should check once a week whether everything is working well.

If the task is not done, it may lead to many irritating problems. For example, if the head of a sprayer is broken then the proper distribution of water will be hampered, leaving some areas over-watered and some unirrigated regions. Besides, if a head is not properly aligned, it will spray water on the sidewalk and driveway, which is a lot of waste of water. Nozzles will be jammed and even distribution of water will be hampered.

So, you need to adjust the rotary sprinkler heads via which you will irrigate your lawn. But how will you perform the task? Because different brands have a different way of adjusting.

Rain Bird R-VAN adjusting:

1. All are adjustable without a tool.
2. Identify the white grooved mark located on the collar which is the initial spray point. You need to align the point with a walkway or driveway.
3. Rotate the dial clockwise to increase spray length.
4. Rotate the dial anti-clockwise to decrease the spray length.
5. You can adjust the spraying arc by pushing the cap and rotating left or right.
6. Rotate the cap clockwise to increase the arc and anti-clockwise to decrease the arc. You may keep the water running through the sprinkler head for precise length and arc adjustment.

Orbit Watermaster adjustment:

1. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the smaller and closer to the periphery for spray radius adjustment.
2. Turn the screw clockwise to increase spray range
3. Turn the screw clockwise to decrease the spray range.
4. Turn the screw anti-clockwise to increase the spray range.
5. Insert the flat-head screwdriver into the bigger and closer to the center screw for spray arc adjustment.
6. Rotate clockwise to increase the spray arc (maximum arc is 360°) and anti-clockwise to decrease (minimum arc is 40°) the arc.
7. Each full rotation of the screw denotes a 90°

Hunter MP Rotator adjustment:

1. You need the MP rotator to adjust arc and distance for easier adjustment.
2. Insert the tool into the sprinkler pointing along with the left nozzle to align with the sidewalk or driveway.
3. Rotate the tool clockwise to increase the arc and anti-clockwise to decrease the arc.
4. The spray length or radius can be adjusted using the tip of the rotator or a tiny flat-head screwdriver. The length can be elongated up to 25% and decreased by not less than 25%.

How To Use A Rotary Sprinkler in The Best Way

You can’t use a rotary sprinkler directly because it is not such a tool that can be used directly. The best way to use the sprinkler is to install it on a sprinkler irrigation system and adjust that (the adjusting guide has been described above) and check them at least once a week. Since the sprinkler is very less time-consuming to check, you can check it regularly at the time of irrigation. By doing this, you can identify any fault and calibrate that again instantly. You should adjust the time setting at the beginning of each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the max distance a fire sprinkler head from a wall?

Answer: a fire sprinkler can cover many areas of a room. A modern sprinkler can cover more than 200sq ft. in some cases. But in a square room, you need to set multiple sprinklers. Placing sprinklers too close to walls, to each other, or obstacles can make a fire much more likely to spread and make it tough to control the fire. So, it is advised to keep at least 4 inches spacing from walls and the maximum spacing will be different for different room sizes and shapes.

What is the radius of a sprinkler?

Answer: the radius of a sprinkler is the distance of water spray from the nozzle to the target location. It varies from company to company and head-to-head (Rain Bird provides 4-35 feet). The modern sprinkler’s radius is adjustable. It also varies with PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute).

What is a fire sprinkler system?

Answer: a fire sprinkler system is a type of fire protection system, which consists of a water supply and one to several sprinkler heads being installed on walls or ceilings. It provides enough water pressure and flow rate which are capable of suppressing a sudden fire. The system is automatic and found mostly in industries and offices. At present, the system is heavily used for domestic purposes.

How far from the fence should sprinklers be installed?

Answer: water causes damage to the fence over time. If you are using a sprinkler system, keep the sprinkler head 2 feet away from the fence (if you are using a spray-type sprayer) or 3 feet away (if you are using a rotary-type sprayer).

How many sprinkler heads can I add to one watering zone?

Answer: several facts you need to bear in mind to determine the number of sprinkler heads on a single watering zone like PSI, GPM, etc. For example, if you have a 35 PSI and 3.11 GPM water system and your house can afford 10 GPM, then you can install 3 heads of 3.0 nozzle. It will also vary with different nozzles.

How long do my sprinkler heads last?

Answer: it depends on the brand of sprinkler head you are using. If you use sprinklers of worldwide famous brands like Rain Bird, Orbit, Hunter, etc. they will last normally up to 15 years or even 20 years. But if you are using cheap or normal sprinkler heads, then they may last rarely up to 5 years and normally 2-3 years. Moreover, cleaning sprinkler heads regularly will improve their life drastically.

Conclusion

Thanks a lot for being with us so far and hopefully, you have selected a product from here or have probably been using one or several. We also hope that our tips have helped you. We like to know more about sprinkler heads. We also like to respond to you. So, if you have anything to know, please don’t hesitate and ask us immediately. We will try our best to answer your queries as soon as possible. Till then, take care of yourself and your family members. Keep your lawn clea