irrigation nozzles Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2014 1:07 PM

   Has anybody gone ahead and changed out their sprinkler nozzles? I am looking at them and trying to find out the purpose. Have you seen better coverage, etc?
   Underhill has a huge selection.

   
   
   
   
2. Joel Fielder

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2014 1:07 PM

   I have toro 855s wall to wall out here. We have gone through our greens and put smaller nozzles into heads that were overshooting greens as well as some surrounds heads that were hitting the greens.

   
   
   
   
3. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   7/7/2014 9:07 PM

   Jeremy,
   
   I have changed a couple, but I think to do it correctly one really needs to do an irrigation audit.
   
   I have seen some improvement, but being anal about the process, I haven't gone whole hog, wanting to double check spacings, and pressures, along with an audit will give me confidence that I've have spent my money wisely.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
4. Daniel Jurgens

   

   2 posts
   
   7/8/2014 5:07 AM

   I'm the process. Have some pressure issues so I have been using some smaller nozzles on those zones and other areas that are slow coming up. Some zones on the high end of the course, farthest away from the pumps are way over dimensioned, 6-7 heads per zone. When it's dry and I adjust the pump capacity these areas struggle to pop up properly when other things are running. I'm 'saving' quite a few GPM but have to then adjust watering times accordingly. In my case its better the head is up and watering instead of just bubbling or throwing very short. I'm also putting in larger nozzles on mounds and other dry areas. In my case I went from the green nozzles down to Orange and brown, (Toro 830's) Changing nozzles does not take as long as you think if you have a tool(or anything) to hold the head up while you screw out the nozzle. What I'm not to sure about is the smaller side nozzles and rear nozzles. I insert rear nozzles where needed on sector heads but am not sure of total output.
   
   Smaller nozzles do not throw as far so head to head coverage is not quite like it was but it's close enough

   
   
   
   
5. John Westermeier

   

   0 posts
   
   7/8/2014 6:07 AM

   Jeremy,
   
   I replaced all of the nozzles on my fairway heads. They were older (mid 80s) Toro 670s. The new nozzles eliminated the common donut pattern around the heads. I also reduced run times by 10 percent with no reduction in amount of water applied. I did use the Underhill nozzles and am pleased with the results in my situation.
   
   Respectfully,
   John Westermeier, CGCS
   Twin Lakes Golf Club
   Carmel, In

   
   
   
   
6. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   7/8/2014 10:07 AM

   Jeremy,
   
   I have probably changed every sprinkler (1300 Rainbird 700 eagles) nozzle twice over the past 18 years. Its a spendy procedure but they do wear out. I had a audit done a couple of times but what I have found IMHO is that the Underhill nozzle is superior to the Rainbird. The replacement Rainbird Nozzle is cheaper $, but seems to wear faster and just perform more inconsistently. I use Underhills on greens and tees and trouble/hot spots. Every year we mark the heads that we change the nozzles in with paint, this year it is blue, 2013 was white, 2012 was red, so we have a idea of the age of the nozzles. If we see a area that is experiencing poor coverage we inspect the nozzles to make sure they are not plugged, and if its a cheap plastic Rainbird nozzle that has not been changed in the past 3 years we replace it with a fresh set and toss out the old ones and dot the head w/paint. Simple irrigation audits are pretty easy to do and a valuable tool. Nozzle problems tend to be more sporadic if you are seeing doughnuts every where it may be a pressure problem. Good Luck!
   
   Sean

   
   
   
   
7. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   7/16/2014 10:07 AM

   Thanks everyone.