It’s almost like a great heavyweight prize fight. Two great competitors — each carefully developed to deliver outstanding performance, each ready to go toe-to-toe.
You could call it Ali-Frazier. Or if it were a Super Bowl, it might look a lot like Super Bowl XXV–Giants, Bills.
Today, however, the battle is between two great sprinkler systems: Hunter and Rainbird.
Hunter or Rainbird? Rainbird or Hunter? It’s the question homeowners across southern New Jersey ask themselves every spring when making decisions about their new lawn sprinkler system.
Sure, there are other types of lawn sprinkler systems. But for homeowners who want a sprinkler system that is well-built, reliable and relatively affordable, Rainbird and Hunter sprinkler systems represent the gold standards, the best of the best, the right way to water your lawn.
But which is better?
The answer to that question depends on what you value and what your lawn looks like. Does saving a few dollars on the front end matter more than making sure the droplets of water land in just the right areas of your lawn? Are you comfortable with the warranty? Can the system reach the right areas of your yard?
These are the questions you’ll want to answer with your lawn sprinkler company. But before you have that conversation, you should have at least a high-level familiarity of both Rainbird and Hunter sprinkler systems.
Hunter Sprinkler System
If you make the decision to go with a Hunter sprinkler system, you will be able to rest assured that your lawn will be well-watered, day-in, day-out, for a lot of years.
Put simply, they are built to last — but it’s never that simple, is it? Read on for more about Hunter, how it matches up against Rainbird and which is best for your lawn .
A Complex System Made Simple
At the end of the day, you’re not necessarily going to remember the complex system of rotors, controllers, valves, sensors, pipes and nozzles that make your Hunter sprinkler system work. The only thing you’ll know when you step out the front door and see your well-watered, green lawn is that your system is working properly.
And that’s the way it should be.
You shouldn’t have to worry about leaks, broken heads and valves or malfunctioning timers. And with a Hunter sprinkler system, you won’t have to.
Hunter has been around for decades, and they’ve risen to prominence in the world of home and commercial irrigation systems by manufacturing top-of-the-line sprinkler systems that work together — and work together well. Every component has been designed with the next component in mind. Depending on the size of your yard and your needs, your Hunter sprinkler system could have dozens of different parts, each relying on each other to ensure the entire system is working properly.
And make no mistake about it: A Hunter sprinkler system almost always functions properly.
But if it doesn’t, the company’s warranty program is second-to-none, meaning any problems will be taken care of quickly and without causing you to miss too many waterings.
Rainbird Sprinkler Systems
Rainbird sprinkler systems offer many of the same advantages as Hunter sprinkler systems.
The company manufactures a complete line of products and components that are well-built and reliable.
The warranty offered through the company is comparable to that of Hunter’s.
And, at the end of the day, you’ll be able sleep at night knowing that your system will function well and water your lawn the way you want it watered.
Rainbird Sprinkler Systems vs. Hunter Sprinkler Systems
So what’s the difference between Hunter and Rainbird?
The answer lies in durability.
In general, Hunter components — the tubes and pipes, heads and rotors and the sensors — are just a little bit more durable. That’s not to say that Rainbird sprinkler systems won’t last a long time. It’s just to say that Hunter systems last just a little bit longer and stand up better to the many different types of landscaping designs and hazards that homes in Burlington County frequently require.
Rocks flung from beneath lawnmowers, children playing, inattentive visitors all wreak havoc on sprinkler systems. So does southern NJ’s often rocky soil and small lots with challenging angles. For these situations, the Hunter systems have, over time, proven to be a little bit more durable.
Cost
Now that you have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both Rainbird and Hunter sprinkler systems, there’s one last thing to consider: cost.
Cost is always a consideration–no one wants to spend more money than they have to.
The good news here is that both Hunter and Rainbird offer low, mid-range and high-end options for both homeowners and businesses. The options at each price point from both companies will give you quality and reliability — although some of the features you’ll get at the higher-end price point won’t be available with the low-cost options.
So at the end of the day, both Hunter and Rainbird offer high-quality, affordable home and commercial irrigation systems. However, Hunter systems consistently outperform the competition — all of it — when it comes to durability.
So in this round of “Which Sprinkler System is Better,” Hunter wins — much like the way the Giants took home the championship against the Bills in Super Bowl XXV, 20 to 19. And just like that great game, this competition was that close.
Images Courtesy of Hunter Industries.