Nothing is as soothing as a plush green lawn in the middle of summer. Thousands of homeowners spend time and money giving their lawn what it needs to stay healthy even when its covered by winter snow. The biggest thing you have to deal with if you want a healthy lawn is irrigation.
Irrigating your lawn is as simple as setting up a couple of sprinklers and turning them on at regular intervals.
However, some homeowners have to deal with low water pressure in their garden outlets meaning that they cannot push regular sprinklers to their full potential.
If your municipal water supply or harvested rainwater has low pressure, you will need the best lawn sprinkler for low water pressure to keep your tuff sated.
Pro Tip: Go for Fixed Spray Sprinklers Whenever Possible
Most fixed spray sprinkler systems work well with low water pressure. Unlike oscillating or impact sprinklers, they don’t need a powerful jet of water leaving the nozzles to make them rotate and spread water evenly. This means that they can use the little available water pressure to project a steady stream of water as far as possible.
You can still get a decent spread with low-pressure impact sprinklers specifically designed for low water pressure systems. Here is a roundup of the best sprinklers for low water pressure you can buy this year.
Top Lawn Sprinklers for Low Water Pressure in 2021
| Name | Type | Material | Coverage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Bird 1802VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler | Fixed Spray | Plastic | 8-15 foot radius | Check Price |
| Orbit 62120 Garden Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler | Rotary | Metal and Plastic | Up to 35 foot radius | Check Price |
| Gardena ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler | Rotary | Plastic | Up to 2300 square feet | Check Price |
| Ultimate Water Sprinkler With Shut-Off Timer from HISC, Inc. | Rotary with timer | Plastic | Up to 4000 square feet | Check Price |
| Dramm 15075 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler | Spinning Sprinkler | Metal | Up to 38 foot radius | Check Price |
| Classic Orbital Metal Arms Sprinkler | Classic spinner sprinkler | Metal | Up to 24 foot radius | Check Price |
Rain Bird 1802VAN Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler
The Rain Bird 1802VAN is one of the best-fixed spray sprinklers in the market right now. It works like a patio mister does only that it has a higher water flow rate. The highly customizable unit covers between 8 to 15 feet of ground depending on the adjustment.
You can get a fine spray of water covering a small 2-degree arc to a full 360-degree circle. Since it has no rotating parts, it uses all the supplied water pressure efficiently.
Rain Bird lets you choose between two, three, four, six and twelve-inch units. All the units are retractable and use a strong stainless steel spring to retract the irrigating head flush to the ground when not in use. There’s also a mesh filter to keep off debris and grass.
Pros
- Very adjustable spray distances and radii
- Retracts into the ground after sprinkling
- Tapered pop-up neck with protective mesh to prevent debris clogging
Cons
- You might need a couple to cover sizable lawns
Orbit 62120 Garden Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler
The Orbit 62120 Garden Enforcer is a huge sprinkler that sits on top of a tripod making it more than a mere lawn sprinkler. It can double up as a lawn and garden sprinkler since it is tall enough to cover most plants you will have in a garden.
The motion sensor looks out for rodents and animals. The sprinkler will be activated when it senses movement hence scaring annoying pests away.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and very portable
- 35-foot adjustable sprinkler
- Motion sensor to look out for rodents
- Water and energy efficient
Cons
- Is bulky and will stand out in the lawn. Not ideal if you need minimum involvement
Gardena ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler
The sled mounted Gardena ZoomMaxx is a simple and reliable oscillating sprinkler that can cover areas between 76 and 2300 square feet depending on your configuration and water pressure.
With 16 rubber nozzles distributing the water, you can rest assured that the sprinkler will cover all your grass with a gentle stream of water regardless of the operating water pressure. It will work perfectly if you have a small yard and don’t want more than one sprinklers.
Pros
- Simple and versatile controls when adjusting the range
- Easy to operate in tight areas
- A wide base that improves stability
Cons
- Made of plastic that might age faster when exposed to the sun
Ultimate Water Sprinkler With Shut-Off Timer from HISC, Inc.
This cool HISC sprinkler makes the best of your low-pressure supply and even gives you adjustable sprinkler patterns to cover your lawn to the fullest. It can spray a full 360-degree circle of up to 4000sq feet and has an auto shut off programmer to save water when irrigating. The problem is you have to twist the timer dial every time you start irrigating.
Pros
- A great coverage radius
- 360-degree coverage
- Programmable timer for efficiency
Cons
- Made of plastic that might not hold its own for long under the scorching sun
Dramm 15075 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler
This beauty of a sprinkler from Dramm will not only water your lawn but also look great while at it. It is a metal built spinning sprinkler that covers up to 38 ft radius and can work well with water pressure as low as 20psi.
Pros
- A unique beautiful spray pattern
- Works well with low water pressures
- Covers a decent size and one might be enough for small lawns
Cons
- The water stream might be blown off course on windy days
Classic Orbital Metal Arms Sprinkler
If all you want is a sprinkler that will keep on working for years to come, then this classic and simple sprinkler from Orbit is all you need. It bears the traditional 3 arm rotating sprinkle approach but uses perforated nozzle holes at the end of each arm to increase the pressure with which the water shoots out.
It’s only a great purchase if your water pressure isn’t so low (below 15psi)
Pros
- Robust metal construction for maximum durability
- Will rotate well even at low water pressure (speed of rotation may vary with pressure)
- Easy to set up and get going
Cons
- Very low water pressure may lead to suboptimal performance
Fixing Your Low Water Pressure Problem
Sometimes, even the best low-pressure sprinkler might not be enough to get your sprinkler irrigation project back on track. If your water pressure is too low, you will have to do something to fix the problem.
Here are some things you can do.
Elevate Your Reservoir Tank
If you are not getting your water directly from a mains supply line, chances are your reservoir tank is too low to generate enough water pressure. Try to keep your tank at around 6 meters above the ground whenever possible.
Check Your Hoses and Taps for Blockage
Check all your garden hoses and pipes leading to your garden outlet for blockage. A blockage could be as simple as debris in the pipe or pipe inlet to accumulated dirt that reduces your pipe’s diameter hence affecting the flow rate.
Buy a Pump
If all the above fails, you will need a garden pump to boost your water pressure levels. This is rarely necessary if all you need is some water to water your lawn with sprinklers.
Bottom Line
Getting the best lawn sprinkler for low water pressure can save you the extra expense of having to buy a pump. You should know that there are thresholds below which the only thing that can help you is actively working on fixing your water pressure.