We work on every major sprinkler brand on the market. Twenty years in, here's our honest take on what's actually in your yard and how it tends to behave.
Hunter
What we install most often when starting a new system or doing major replacements. Hunter PGP rotors are basically the industry default — durable, easy to adjust, parts available everywhere.
Strengths: Hunter's Pro-C and X-Core controllers are some of the most user-friendly on the market. The PRS40 pressure-regulating spray heads are excellent in Texas (they prevent over-spray on windy days).
What we see go wrong: PGP rotors sometimes don't fully retract after running — the spring inside weakens. The head sticks up, gets clipped by a mower, dies. Inexpensive replacement, but it's the most common Hunter call.
Rain Bird
Likely the most installed brand in Texas overall. If your home was built in the '90s or 2000s, you almost certainly have Rain Bird in there somewhere.
Strengths: Their 1800 series spray heads are reliable workhorses. The 5000 rotors are built like tanks. ESP-Me controllers are solid.
What we see go wrong: Older Rain Bird DV valves develop diaphragm leaks around the 12-15 year mark. Rebuilding them is cheap ($15 in parts) and they're back to like-new performance.
Toro
More common on commercial and HOA installs in Texas than residential. You'll see Toro a lot in apartment complexes, retail parking lots, and some HOA neighborhoods.
Strengths: Their TDC valves handle high cycle counts that would wear out residential valves quickly. Precision Spray nozzles are very water-efficient.
What we see go wrong: Toro residential heads (570Z series) use a different nozzle thread than Hunter and Rain Bird. So if you ever need to mix and match, you can't just swap nozzles between zones. Annoying for repair work.
Irritrol
Mostly older systems — late '80s through early 2000s. If you have an older home in an established Dallas neighborhood, you might have Irritrol.
Strengths: The RainDial controller is bulletproof. We've seen 25-year-old units still running.
What we see go wrong: Specific Irritrol valve diaphragms are getting harder to source. We stock them; not everyone does. Worth knowing if you're shopping for a service company.
K-Rain
Budget brand. Common in starter-home neighborhoods, especially in newer Houston suburbs where the builder went cheap on irrigation.
Strengths: Affordable. Holds up fine in light residential use.
What we see go wrong: Shorter lifespan than the big three. Texas summer heat is hard on the lighter materials. We often replace K-Rain heads with Hunter or Rain Bird equivalents during repair calls — the cost difference per head is small and the replacement lasts years longer.
What We'd Specify on a New Install
For most Texas residential properties: Hunter PGP rotors with Pro-C or Hydrawise controller. Backflow preventer brand doesn't matter much — Watts, Wilkins, Febco are all fine.
For commercial: Hunter ICC2 or Rain Bird ESP-LXIVR depending on zone count and budget.
The Real Answer
Brand matters less than installation. A perfectly designed Rain Bird system will run great for 25 years with normal maintenance. A poorly designed Hunter system will limp along the whole time.
If you're choosing, choose Hunter or Rain Bird and a quality installer. If you've got something else, don't panic — we work on all of it. Call us if you want to know what's specifically in your yard and what to do about it.