Proper sprinkler pressure is necessary to irrigate your agricultural field or lawn properly.
Low or high water pressure in the sprinklers has quite a few downsides.
High water pressure in the sprinklers results in mist or fog in the sprinkler’s head. In comparison, low pressure reduces irrigation efficiency.
Although most sprinklers come with adjustable valves, people aren’t very concerned with them.
So if you’re one of those who are looking to get the best output from your sprinklers, it’s time you learn to adjust them.
So here are the best ways to learn how to adjust water pressure for sprinklers.
Advantages of Having Proper Sprinkler Pressure
The sprinkler irrigation system is quite common nowadays for its wide range of benefits.
Although it’s a bit costly compared to the traditional irrigation system, its benefits cancel out the added cost and other downsides.
Adjusting water pressure in the sprinkler system is a must to get the most out of the sprinklers.
If not done correctly, it may result in over-irrigation, and a huge amount of water will be wasted.
So if you’re wondering why sprinkler pressure is important, here are some of the top reasons behind it-
Enhances Appearance
Your lawn is the first thing a guest sees while entering your house.
As a first impression is the best, it’s essential to have a beautiful, charming, and even lawn.
And to achieve this, your lawn needs to be irrigated properly.
As sprinklers are used to irrigate the field, adjusting water pressure on sprinklers helps set the proper water flow rate.
As a result, your lawn gets evenly irrigated and looks beautiful and enchanting!
Maintains Balance of Lawn
According to research, using excess water on your lawn hampers the nutrition production of the soil.
As a result, plants get nutrition-deprived and heavy.
So when you’re using proper sprinkler pressure to irrigate your lawn, the sprinklers ensure that each side gets enough required water.
So the soil balance remains and helps your lawn get the perfect nutrition.
Saves Water
Irrigating the lawn already takes gallons of water. And if overwatering is done, it results in more water waste.
In cities, overwatering the lawn is a major problem, and some owners don’t have any headaches about it.
Overwatering wastewater also damages your lawn.
So to avoid this issue, you must learn how to adjust the water pressure irrigation system and work accordingly!
How to Adjust Water Pressure for Sprinklers
There’s a common misconception that adjusting water pressure means ways to increase the water pressure.
But let me tell you that this is wrong.
Sometimes, you need to lower the water pressure as well.
This depends on the current setup you’re using. If you have a small lawn with high water pressure, you need to lower it.
On the other hand, if you own a big lawn with low sprinkler water pressure, you need to adjust the pressure and speed it up.
So here’s how to adjust the water pressure sprinkler-
Step 1: Adjusting Master Valve
Adjusting the water pressure on the sprinklers is the first and most crucial step for maintaining proper water pressure on the sprinkler valve.
A few valves are present that ensure the water flow in the sprinkler.
Firstly, you need to find out the master valve on the sprinkler.
After that, you need to turn the flow control in the clockwise direction.
Do it until water droplets come out of the nozzle.
At the end of the procedure, you’ll see that the water pressure on the sprinklers has lowered.
Keep adjusting the flow master valve in the same way until the water is sprayed in the full radius!
Step 2: Adjusting Station Valves
This step is for those who couldn’t lower the water pressure by adjusting the master valve.
If adjusting the master valve didn’t help, find the station valve and adjust it instead.
To locate the station valves, you need to look closer to the nozzles’ underneath.
You need to turn the station valve clockwise here as well. Keep turning it in a clockwise direction until the valve is fully closed.
After that, turn the station valve again but this time, do it in an anti-clockwise direction.
No longer need to turn when you get the desired water pressure.
That’s how you can adjust sprinkler valve pressure and set water pressure.
Step 3: Adjusting Radius Screw
Adjusting the radius screw is another way to lower and adjust the water pressure on sprinklers.
For adjusting the screw, you’ll need a screwdriver.
Place the screwdriver on top of the sprinkler’s head and turn it clockwise to reduce water pressure.
Doing so will increase friction on the sprinkler head, and it’ll help to adjust or lower the water pressure.
How to Check Sprinkler Pressure?
There are multiple sprinklers used on a lawn to provide irrigation. So it’s essential to adjust the water pressure on all the sprinklers.
If you notice irregular water pressure on one or two sprinklers, the reason is simple.
The sprinkler heads may be dirty, or there can be holes in the pipe, resulting in water leakage and irregular water pressure.
As having a proper sprinkler pressure is essential, you can use a pressure gauge to measure the water pressure on the sprinklers and adjust them accordingly.
The pressure gauge is fitted on top of the mainline.
It has a round dial that shows the water pressure.
Some even come with a regulator that can regulate or adjust water pressure!
The water pressure is measured in psi or pounds per inch for sprinklers or other irrigation facilities.
Usually, the average water pressure remains between 30 psi and 50 psi.
On average, sprinklers are made to use around 30 psi water pressure.
However, the water pressure depends on the lawn area and the number of sprinklers you use.
If you have got a big lawn and the number of sprinklers is less, high water pressure is required to cover the whole lawn evenly and vice versa.
Final Words
Adjusting the water pressure manually every time can be hectic and boring.
So if you’re looking for an easier way to adjust the water pressure on the irrigation system, we recommend using pressure regulators.
They just need to be set once, and after that, you can easily increase or decrease the water pressure to your needs.
However, if you’re interested in spending on a pressure regulator, you now know how to adjust water pressure for sprinklers, as you’ve already read this far!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need a Pressure Regulator for Sprinklers?
Yes, a pressure regulator or gauge can come in handy for evenly irrigating the lawn and maintaining proper water pressure.
How Much Psi Does a Sprinkler Need?
Typically, regular water sprinklers can use 30 psi water pressure. However, this varies from sprinklers to sprinklers depending on size, capacity, and cost!
How Can I Increase Water Pressure?
If you’re not getting the proper water pressure, check out for leaks or damage in the water pipe.
You can also adjust the master and station valve and set the water pressure to your needs if they’re alright.
