Lawn sprinkler lubricants (2024)

FAQs

What is the best lubricant for sprinklers? ›

MAINTAIN THE SPRINKLER BODY

After thoroughly cleaning the parts, the dispenser body must be treated with WD-40 Specialist Silicone Lubricant and inserted and extracted several times to best distribute the lubricant evenly.

Do not use lubricants on your Sprinklers. One of the worst things you can do to an impact sprinkler is put a foreign substance or lubricant on it. Whether it is silicone, Teflon, Pipe dope, or WD-40 none of these are helpful in making a sprinkler work efficiently.

Sprinkler system maintenance requires sprinkler head lubrication from time to time. Lubricate a head if you attempt to press it down while the water is on, and it won't budge. Use spray lubricant. Be generous with the lubricant.

All Rain Bird Sprinklers Are Water Lubricated

This includes oil, WD-40, silicone, Teflon, pipe dope, etc.

The most common reason relatively new sprinkler heads won't go down is that there is dirt or debris caught inside the sprinkler head. Dirt, grass clippings, leaf pieces, and small rocks can become lodged in the small space between the pop-up nozzle and the body of the sprinkler.

Hook up a sprinkler booster pump for your hose.

A sprinkler pump will run you $50-300, but they'll fix this problem 100%. All you do is hook your hose up to the pump, and then hook another hose up that runs from the pump to the sprinkler.

The ideal watering schedule is once or twice per week, for about 25 to 30 minutes each time.

Sprinklers with a head comprising a spray management mechanism (with movable rods, pre-set sector jet adjustments, pulse stop, etc.) can be further lubricated with WD-40 Specialist Silicone Lubricant. This will help to prevent the sprinklers jamming.

So what's the difference between Hunter and Rainbird? The answer lies in durability. In general, Hunter components — the tubes and pipes, heads and rotors and the sensors — are just a little bit more durable. That's not to say that Rainbird sprinkler systems won't last a long time.

What liquid is in a sprinkler head? ›

The typical sprinkler head consists of a plug held in place by a trigger mechanism. The most common type of trigger is a glass ampule filled with a glycerin-based liquid that expands when heated.

The bulbs typically contain a glycerin-based liquid. As the air around the sprinkler head reaches the target temperature – usually 155F or 200F – the glycerin-based liquid expands. Once the target temp is reached, the liquid expands enough to burst the glass bulb.

If a deeper clean is necessary, soak the sprinkler head in a bowl of white vinegar overnight. Rinse the sprinkler head thereafter and buff dry. Reattach the sprinkler head and assess your work!

Another option to stop leaking sprinklers is purchasing separate check valves. You can install them on the pipe under the existing sprinklers.