Pop Up Sprinkler Heads that don't SUCK?

[Nessism1]

Am I fighting a losing battle? Plastic pop up sprinkler heads that don't bind up, stick, leak, heads pop off, etc? The other thing, last time I took the weed whacker, to clear grass around the heads, I broke several in the process. They seem made of china glass (actually, crap plastic).

Is there such a thing as a quality pop up sprinkler head? Or should I give up and go old skool brass?

BTW, using Orbit currently. Tons of features, like adjustable flow, spray pattern, etc. And they are cheap...too cheap.

 

[TCL]

I have had the same rainbird heads for 30 years (49 of them) and only replaced two because they got partially stuck and hit them with the lawnmower.

 

[Danno]

I liked my Toros when I had a house with irrigated lawn. Not a lot went wrong with them.

 

[alarmguy]

Am I fighting a losing battle? Plastic pop up sprinkler heads that don't bind up, stick, leak, heads pop off, etc? The other thing, last time I took the weed whacker, to clear grass around the heads, I broke several in the process. They seem made of china glass (actually, crap plastic).

Is there such a thing as a quality pop up sprinkler head? Or should I give up and go old skool brass?

BTW, using Orbit currently. Tons of features, like adjustable flow, spray pattern, etc. And they are cheap...too cheap.

I’m not sure if you’re talking about the gear driven pop-ups or the static pop-ups.

But if you’re looking to replace gear driven pop-ups, I would strongly recommend buying the pulsating pop-ups. Simple effective, and they will last may be longer than you own your home.

Sold in all the retail outlets as well as Amazon.
Orbit or rain bird all within a few dollars of each other. Rainbird might be a little bit more robust, and they also have a model where you can change out the flow rate of the nozzles.
The link is just an example of the design I am talking about. They also have slightly small or less expensive model, the model listed, and Rainbird themselves makes the same product.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-P..._-206638408-_-0-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

 

[tbm5690]

I've never had to trim around heads...perhaps yours are too low and need risers? Heads settle over time. I have 44 Toro heads (about 50/50 rotors and pop-ups) and the only issue with the pop ups after 25 years since the system was installed was weak springs so they wouldn't easily retract at times, but functionally they were just fine.

If you are wanting to replace the Hunter MP Rotors are the way to go in a non-rotor pop-up IMO.

 

[Nessism1]

My yard is almost all sand, and small granules get into the pop-up mechanism and foul them up. Also, the grass is like a vine mat, and you have to trim around the sprinkler heads or they won't pop up. Wound up buying some "professional" grade pop-ups, with a metal head on them. At least the head won't go flying the first time the weed wacker touches it like the plastic head jobbies. Fingers crossed anyway.

 

[FZ1]

Am I fighting a losing battle? Plastic pop up sprinkler heads that don't bind up, stick, leak, heads pop off, etc? The other thing, last time I took the weed whacker, to clear grass around the heads, I broke several in the process. They seem made of china glass (actually, crap plastic).

Is there such a thing as a quality pop up sprinkler head? Or should I give up and go old skool brass?

BTW, using Orbit currently. Tons of features, like adjustable flow, spray pattern, etc. And they are cheap...too cheap.

If you are not mowing the area, just get a taller pop up. Rainbird is good. Custom spray pattern nozzles available online.

 

[Pablo]

I have Hunter. 4+ years of whacking and mower strikes still working. I have 5 backups I bought extra I still have not needed

 

[Donald]

RainBird sells some stainless steel ones. Less plastic.

So it's SS and plastic

Model 52SA

 

[Cropduster172]

Have had RainBird heads for 15 years+. I've only replaced 1.
Have to did out the around them occasionally.

 

[tbm5690]

You can also get stuff like this to prevent the need to trim:

 

[blkwtr]

I have over 100 Rainbird pop ups with a total of nine zones that I installed over 20 years ago. So far they are working well. Occasionally I have to replace one that I damage in some way or another, like hitting one with a core aerator or shovel. The sprinkler heads are invisible until they pop up.

 

[Cropduster172]

You can also get stuff like this to prevent the need to trim:

View attachment 285708

I cut a piece of 4" PVC and pounded it into the ground around one of the heads that kept getting grown over or covered .

 

[Carmudgeon]

My experience with Toros has been mediocre. Not by choice, just what the landscaper installed.

As they age, they eventually bind and refuse to pop up.

Tried to revive them with Syl-Glide, which worked, for a limited period, before it would lose effectiveness. Fitting, I suppose. Peas in a pod.

I don't recall the old school brass heads having such issues. But they were no match for a lawn mower blade.