Sprays vs. Rotors: A Side-by-Side Comparison

When it comes to choosing the right sprinkler head for your irrigation systems, the two choices are sprays and rotors. Which is the most effective sprinkler head, and the one that makes the most sense for your customers? 

That depends—on a lot of things. But primarily, your decision will be based on the goals of your customer, the area in question and the design of the irrigation system. 

That design should factor in things like wind or shade, elevation changes, the actual size of the irrigated area, and more. From there, the decision between spray or rotor will be based on several additional considerations.   

But, let’s first define the two common sprinkler-head designs: 

1) Spray heads (a.k.a. “fixed spray heads”) are smaller than rotors, and spray water in a fan shape pattern—a half circle or a full circle—that’s fixed. The water spray, however large or whatever shape, covers the same ground.

The pattern and the radius of the water’s distribution (i.e., the “water throw”) is determined by the size and shape of the nozzles. Specialty nozzles can also be used when irrigating unusual sizes like long, narrow areas.

Spray heads are generally spaced up to 18 feet apart, and proper operation requires a water pressure of between 20 and 30 PSI. Above 45 PSI, the bulk of spray heads start misting heavily, leading to poor sprinkler performance and limited water absorption.

2) Rotor heads distribute water as a single stream that turns (think of the classic “ticking” sound made by an impact rotor head) as the head rotates through a cycle. In recent years, smaller and far quieter gear-driven rotors are replacing impact rotors.

Rotor Head Vs. Rotary Head

The terms “rotor” and “rotary” are used interchangeably, but are different mechanisms: 

• Rotor heads eject a single stream of water as they rotate.
• Rotary heads create multiple streams of water that rotate around the nozzle.

Rotary heads are smaller than standard rotor heads; they’re the same size as a standard spray-type nozzle, meaning they’ll fit on the smaller bodies of spray-head “pop-ups.” 

Conventional guidelines state that rotary heads have a working radius between 15 and 35 feet, depending on the mode. That said, some landscape experts suggest using rotary heads when irrigating distances less than 15 feet, rotor heads for distances above 35 feet, and for distances in between, the designer or contractor makes the call. 

Green Tip: The smaller rotary heads generate less mist than a standard spray head, making it a high-efficiency sprinkler recommended by water conservation agencies.

Product Recommendations

Check out SiteOne for all your sprinkler needs, whether sprays (e.g., the Rain Bird 1800,  Hunter Pro-Spray, and Toro 570Z series) or rotors (e.g., the Rain Bird 5004, Hunter PGP, and Toro T5 RapidSet series). 

From pop-up sprays and pop-up rotors, to pressure regulators, nozzles and check valves, plus a full line of SMART-irrigation products, you’ll find it all at SiteOne. 

Let’s look at the different uses for sprays and rotors, and their respective benefits…
 

USES AND BENEFITS OF SPRAYS:

Spray heads—because they distribute more water in less time—are ideal for:

• More topographically level areas
• Smaller and more clearly defined areas (like flowerbeds) ranging from eight to 20 feet
• Areas close to patios and other landscaping features that aren’t supposed to get wet 

Plus, the pop-up design of spray-head sprinklers means, aesthetically, they’re only visible once they’ve been activated.

Many landscape experts also agree that the placement of spray heads, given their typical use on smaller, more level areas, is a simpler process—more of a “set-it-and-forget-it” proposition.

Save Water with SMART (Spray) Irrigation Technology  

EPA estimates that 50% of irrigation water is wasted due to inefficient irrigation techniques and equipment. Items such as pressure regulators, flow-restriction devices, and check valves can all be added to a spray-head irrigation system to create a high-efficiency sprinkler that conserves water. Check out this article for the specifics. 

USES AND BENEFITS OF ROTORS: 

Rotor heads are ideal for:

• Irrigating larger areas of landscape (e.g., athletic fields); this often means three to four times as much coverage as spray heads, resulting in potentially big labor savings as well 
• Covering more area over a longer duration of time, thanks to their lower application rate 
• Areas that are sloped—again, thanks to more time for water absorption 
• Creating a range of different throw patterns for different applications, thanks to the interchangeability of rotor heads 

THE DOWNSIDES

Spray heads: Because spray heads clog up more easily—especially in hard-water environments where calcium can build up—spray-head maintenance is typically more involved. 

Rotor heads: As noted, spray heads are easier to position because they’re used in smaller, more even areas; once they’re set, you know what you’ll get. 

By contrast, rotor-head installation can take longer. Because rotors are used on larger and more uneven/sloping areas, they typically need to be set, checked and reset to determine the ideal final placement.

Costs: 

Though spray heads are less expensive than rotors, their installation calls for more pipe, trenches and valves.

While rotor/rotary heads require less pipe and trenches, they’re more expensive than spray heads. Add the fact that rotor heads are typically spaced farther apart, and material costs can far exceed that of spray heads.

If you’re recommending rotor/rotary heads to customers, it’s especially important to justify your choice by explaining all the reasons why that technology, given the customer’s property, will deliver the ideal outcome they want.

SiteOne Can Help

Have questions about the difference between sprays and rotors, and which is best for a specific job? Need supplies for the job? Associates are waiting to help in your local SiteOne branch. And, as always, we invite you to order everything you need on SiteOne and the SiteOne mobile app.