Glossary

Speak irrigation.

No jargon left unexplained. Every term you'll hear from a contractor or read on a controller, in plain English.

Audit / Catch-Cup TestMaintenance
Placing cups across a zone while it runs to measure how evenly and how much water is applied, then tuning run times accordingly.
Backflow PreventerComponents
A required safety device that stops irrigation water from siphoning back into your home's drinking-water supply. Texas requires annual testing on most systems.
BubblerComponents
A low-flow head that floods a small area, perfect for deep-watering trees and large shrubs at the root zone.
Cycle-and-SoakWater Management
Splitting a watering run into several short bursts with soak time between them, so water absorbs into tight clay soil instead of running off.
Drip IrrigationComponents
Tubing with emitters that delivers water slowly and directly to plant roots. The most efficient way to water beds, trees, and gardens.
Evapotranspiration (ET)Water Management
The combined water lost from soil evaporation and plant use. Smart controllers use ET data to water exactly what the landscape needs.
Head-to-Head CoverageDesign
Spacing sprinkler heads so each one throws water all the way to the next head. This overlap is the key to eliminating dry spots.
Hydro-ZoningDesign
The practice of grouping plants with similar water needs onto the same zone — for example separating thirsty turf from low-water beds and trees.
Matched PrecipitationDesign
Using nozzles engineered to apply water at the same rate regardless of arc, so a corner head and a full-circle head deliver evenly.
MP RotatorComponents
A high-efficiency nozzle that delivers water in slow, rotating streams. Its low precipitation rate is ideal for clay soil and slopes.
Precipitation RateWater Management
How fast a sprinkler applies water, measured in inches per hour. Matching precipitation rates within a zone keeps coverage even.
Rain SensorComponents
A device that pauses the system when it detects rainfall, preventing wasteful watering during storms.
Rotor HeadComponents
A sprinkler that rotates a stream back and forth to cover large, open turf areas with a long throw.
RunoffWater Management
Water that flows off the lawn onto pavement instead of soaking in — wasted water and a common code violation, usually fixed with cycle-and-soak.
Smart ControllerComponents
A Wi-Fi timer that adjusts watering automatically using local weather, soil data, and your landscape settings to save water.
Spray HeadComponents
A fixed sprinkler that sprays a fan of water over a short distance — best for smaller or oddly shaped turf areas.
Static PressureDesign
The water pressure available at your home with no water flowing. It determines how many heads each zone can run.
WinterizationMaintenance
Draining and blowing compressed air through the system before winter so trapped water can't freeze and crack pipes and valves.
Zone (or Station)Design
A group of sprinkler heads or drip lines controlled by a single valve. Systems are split into zones so each area gets the right amount of water at adequate pressure.
Zone ValveComponents
An electrically controlled valve that opens to send water to one zone when the controller calls for it.