Irrigation equipment

Heads first. Spray heads throw a fixed fan of water over short distances at a high application rate; rotors and rotary nozzles turn and cover more area at a lower rate. The critical rule is that a single zone must use devices with matching precipitation rates — mixing sprays and rotors on one valve guarantees that part of the zone is drowned while part stays dry. If someone has done that in your yard, that's the dry-spot explanation.

Valves and wiring are the system's nervous system. Each zone has a solenoid valve that opens when the controller energizes it. Solenoids, wire splices and controller outputs are the most common failure points, and they're all inexpensive — which is why a dead zone is usually a small bill, not a redesign.

The backflow prevention assembly is not optional equipment. It's the device that stops water in your irrigation lines — which sit in soil, near fertilizer and pet waste — from being pulled back into the drinking water system if supply pressure drops. EPA's cross-connection guidance names lawn irrigation as a common risk, and the required device type is set by your state and water utility.

Sensors close the loop. A rain sensor stops a cycle that shouldn't run; a soil moisture sensor measures what's actually in the ground. WaterSense labels both weather-based and soil-moisture-based controllers, and many utilities rebate them — EPA's rebate finder lists programs, though EPA doesn't fund them and tells homeowners to contact their water provider directly.

How to choose

Never mix head types in one zone

Sprays and rotors apply water at very different rates. Mixed zones cannot be scheduled correctly, period.

Spend on the controller

It's the lowest-cost, highest-leverage component. EPA estimates up to 15,000 gallons a year saved versus a clock timer.

Confirm the backflow assembly and its type

Device type is set by your state and water utility based on hazard level. Ask what's installed and whether it's the type your utility requires.

Ask about pressure regulation

Pressure-regulating heads stop misting and drift. It's a small upcharge with a permanent efficiency return.

Standardize on parts you can buy locally

Obscure heads and controllers mean waiting for parts. Ask what the contractor stocks on the truck.