How high to install sprinkler heads

Add the extension you need and replace the head. The trouble with sprinkle heads that are too high is that they are far more likely to get damaged. Not only will too-high heads get in the way of mowing, but they pose a risk to people and animals in the yard. Fortunately, the solution is straightforward.

Using the same technique, as you would to raise a sprinkler head, dig down, and clear debris. All you do is swap out the connector for a shorter connector, check for leaks, and rebury the underground portion of the sprinkler head.

Setting up a sprinkler system is about more than simple convenience. Not only will sprinklers keep your lawn healthy, but they raise property values by thousands of dollars and give your home added appeal. The height you set your sprinkler heads at matters more than you might think at first glance.

Lawnmowers need to clear sprinkler heads as they pass, so you must stay low to the ground or barely above the surface. Setting a sprinkler too deep can cause dirt to fall on top of it, clogging the head.

Sprinkler heads make terrible underground watering systems. Or it is noticed that it is too high because it gets broken by a lawn mower quite regularly. The correct height for a sprinkler head is to have the top of sprinkler head just above the soil surface.

No more than a quarter of an inch above the ground level. This lowers the tripping hazard, and a lawn mower can go past it without causing any damage. When you can see the sprinkler head sticking out of the ground it is too high. If the sprinkler head is too high, the next step would be to adjust the riser, or re-dig the funny pipe, and reset the sprinkler to the correct height.

If neither of these are possible, then a specialty shorter sprinkler may be needed for that spot for the sprinkler to be installed at the correct height.

Sprinkler heads typically range between 2 and 20 inches tall, but confirm this with measuring tape before you dig your trench. Also measure the diameter of the pipe you plan to use; this is often a 1-inch diameter. Your trench should be at least as deep as the total height of the sprinkler head, T-joint and pipe.

If local codes require you to dig a trench deeper than you need, there's an easy fix to make sure your sprinkler head nozzles lie flush with the ground when not in use. Sprinkler system risers connect the heads to the pipes, and come in a variety of heights.