Pro-Spray and Institutional Spray: Rugged, Reliable Tandem Enjoys Successful First Year on Market

A little over a year ago, Hunter launched a couple of new spray heads. At the time, we immediately sensed that there would be positive customer reaction to the products, but we tried to maintain our excitement and not let our expectations get too high.

Well, 14 months and the most successful new product introduction in the history of the company later, we can now pass judgment. And to paraphrase Sally Field’s famous Academy Awards acceptance speech in the 1980s: "You like us. You really, really like us!"

Or, more to the point, you really, really like these two new spray heads.

The Same, Only Different

The Pro-Spray and the Institutional Spray are two entirely different spray heads, designed for two entirely different audiences. The Pro-Spray is a professional-grade sprinkler, built rugged enough for the needs of the everyday contractor. The Institutional Spray caters to the needs of commercial and institutional projects, combining exceptional strength, innovative features and water savings, making it the ideal choice for high traffic areas.

But, different as these two spray heads are, they also share a lot in common. Both feature durable ABS construction, including an extra-thick body and cap, plus stabilizing body ribs for easy installation and servicing. They also offer an optional heavy-duty check valve assembly that reduces potential water hammer damage associated with system start-up of empty lateral lines and eliminates the leakage, puddling and potential liability issues of low head drainage.

One feature both spray heads include that has been a real hit with contractors is a multi-function wiper seal. "When it comes to retraction, the new Hunter spray heads have given me a feeling of confidence that I never had before with sprays," said Bruce Mohan of Central Texas Lawn Sprinklers in Waco. "The wiper seal and the stainless steel spring ensure that all the heads retract when the water shuts off."

The wiper seal features a unique pressure activated design that grips the riser when operating and keeps debris from entering the seal when retracted. Its zero flush seal ensures dependable operation without excessive "flow-by," and will allow the installation of more spray heads on the same zone. Each seal can also be field-replaced without having to replace the body cap.

Then again, not everything that contractors are raving about has to do with strength, brawn and toughness.

"It may sound simple and rather low tech, but the directional flush plug is a wonderful feature," said Phil Machut of JM Irrigation of Rockford, Illinois. "It’s a real pleasure to be able to go out and service a landscape with spray heads and not get water sprayed all over you."

Pro-Spray’s “Pull-Ring” Flush Cap

The most compelling feature of the Pro-Spray is its "pull-ring" flush cap. A convenient ring allows easy pull up of the riser, making installation quicker and service calls cleaner. During flushing operations the flush plug is designed for positive riser pop-up, as water pressure opens the flap to permit controlled directional flushing that cleans the system. The plug then closes and, while in the retracted position, the spring loaded, self-sealing mechanism prevents debris from entering the riser.

The Pro-Spray is also compatible with all industry standard female nozzles, including Hunter’s own complete line-up of adjustable, fixed and specialty nozzles. "We primarily use adjustable arcs, but the fact that it does accept a wide variety of nozzles is a prime reason why the Pro-Spray has become the only spray head we use," said Charles Hebel of Hebel Lawn & Landscapes in Prospect, Kentucky.

Institutional Spray’s Built-in Pressure Regulator

The feature that truly sets the Institutional Spray apart from any other spray head is its built-in in-stem pressure regulator. It’s the comprehensive solution for long pipe runs with wide variations in available pressure, large elevation changes that make design difficult, or high and variable pressure situations that create nozzle performance problems. The pressure regulator eliminates misting, fogging and unwanted variation while providing controlled, reliable pressure at a true 30 psi to Hunter’s wide array of available nozzles.

"The Institutional Spray has made it simpler to deal with high water pressure," said Lance Sweeney, an irrigation consultant in Murrieta, California. His company, Sweeney & Associates, recently specified a sizable number of the Hunter sprays at multiple commercial projects in the Temecula Valley. "The pressure regulator provides a constant nozzle pressure of 30 psi which optimizes nozzle performance and can handle pressure extremes up to 100 psi."

With the regulator allowing nozzle performance to always be at maximum efficiency regardless of inlet pressure, the Institutional Spray provides substantial water savings. Just how much? In most instances, the cost of upgrading to these spray heads can be paid back in a matter of months (see your Hunter distributor for a complete cost analysis).

The pressure regulator is also dirt tolerant and will control flow rates by 70% if the nozzle is damaged or removed. And, because the spray head is part of the Institutional Series of irrigation products, it comes with Hunter’s unsurpassed 5-year warranty.

Tested Tough

What’s made this pair of new products so rugged and reliable? The answer is simple: testing. And what’s made these spray heads such a hit with contractors? That answer is simple, too: feedback.

"All the testing that we have done in the harshest environments shows how reliable these products are," said Steve Hoveln, Hunter Product Manager. "We have simulated the most extreme conditions – desert-like heat, freezing cold, rain, wind, brutal UV rays – in our test facilities to ensure that we were producing sprinklers that could truly be called ‘rugged.’ Then, we field-tested these spray heads with selected contractors in order to gain their feedback before these heads were ready to hit the market.

"Today, we continue to seek out comments from the thousands who have bought and installed these two products. This valuable input will help us to continually improve these sprinklers and make good products even better."