Rain Bird 1804, 1806, and 1812 Spray Bodies for Residential Irrigation Systems

Hunter HydroTech primarily installs Rain Bird 1800-series spray bodies for residential irrigation systems. The most common sizes we use are the 4-inch Rain Bird 1804, 6-inch Rain Bird 1806, and 12-inch Rain Bird 1812.

Where each spray body is commonly used

• Rain Bird 1804: Commonly used on boulevards and short turf areas.
• Rain Bird 1806: Useful in flower beds, around approaches, and where additional pop-up height is needed.
• Rain Bird 1812: Used in taller planting areas and flower beds where the spray must rise above vegetation.

In some flower beds, Hunter HydroTech may also use a properly supported PVC riser when the application requires more elevation than a standard pop-up body provides.

Where spray heads fit best

Sprays are generally used in boulevards, narrow side yards, flower beds, approaches, tight areas, and locations close to the home. Hunter HydroTech may use sprays in areas roughly 15 to 20 feet wide and about 10 feet long when the geometry and zone design support them.

Preferred nozzle brand

Hunter HydroTech primarily uses Rain Bird spray nozzles. Fixed-pattern nozzles are preferred for predictable flow and coverage. VAN adjustable nozzles are useful in flower beds and irregular spaces, but opening an adjustable nozzle changes flow, spray pattern, and watering efficiency.

Installation standard

A typical spray-head connection is:

CRE or CRT → 050 swing elbow → swing pipe → 050 swing elbow → spray body

Spray heads should be set level with the soil, positioned about 2 to 3 inches away from sidewalks and driveways where practical, adjusted for head-to-head coverage, and tested as part of the complete zone.