Why do some sprinkler heads mist instead of spray?

Misting usually means the pressure at the head is higher than the nozzle is designed for, which breaks water into fine droplets that drift away. EPA WaterSense suggests pressure-regulating sprinkler bodies to prevent it. Check the pressure regulator and the nozzle type before replacing the whole head.

How high should a replacement sprinkler head sit?

Set it flush with the finished grade and straight up. A head that sits too low gets buried by turf and sprays into the grass blades, while one sitting too high gets hit by mowers. A tilted head throws water unevenly and can land on paving.

Sprinkler Head Replacement

Swap broken, sunken or mismatched heads and nozzles so the whole station covers evenly.

Request an estimate(623) 292-2515

Replace what the station needs, not just what broke

A head snapped by a mower is obvious. Many others only look broken: a nozzle packed with grit from mineral-rich groundwater, a body that has sunk behind thick Bermuda, a riser that leans after the soil settled. Replacing them one at a time with whatever is on the shelf often makes coverage worse, because heads on one station should share a nozzle family and put water down at a similar rate. EPA WaterSense sets the target as head-to-head coverage, each sprinkler reaching the next.

New heads are set flush with grade, plumb, with arcs that stop at the edge of the grass. The City of Surprise watering guidelines say sprinklers should not spray buildings, fences or non-landscaped areas, and the city code treats spray onto paving as water waste, so an arc that clips the driveway is a defect, not a nuisance.

Rotating nozzles and the city rebate

The City of Surprise pays part of the cost of water-efficient rotary nozzles. The rebate parameters for the July 1, 2026 to June 1, 2027 program name eligible series: Hunter MP Rotator nozzles, Rain Bird R-VAN rotary nozzles and Toro Precision rotating spray nozzles. Rotor sprinklers do not qualify. The owner applies, photographs the existing nozzles and spray heads before the swap, keeps an itemized paid receipt and allows a city inspection afterward; labor is not reimbursed, and there are minimum and maximum nozzle counts.

Rotating nozzles apply water more slowly than fixed sprays, which helps on compacted soil. Runtimes must be lengthened to match, so the controller is part of the job. Check the current terms before buying. Related pages: sprinkler repair and the irrigation efficiency audit.

Source: City of Surprise, Water Conservation Rebate Program Parameters, Checked Oct 1, 2026