If you plan to purchase a misting system, you should know as much about it as possible. While many people are aware of such things as the pipes, the fans and/or pumps required, they pay little attention to one of the most important components. This is the misting nozzle. Without it, the delivery system may not operate at peak efficiency. If the wrong one is selected, the system you want may not be the system you get.
What Is a Misting Nozzle?
A nozzle is the device you find at the end of most water hoses. It is attached to the end of a water line. The water flows through it to reach its final destination. When you water the lawn, you use a length of hose with a nozzle. Some of them are adjustable; others are fixed.
A misting nozzle imitates this arrangement. Like the common water hose nozzle, it may or may not be adjustable. In general, however, it features a variety of holes on its surface. This controls the water as it passes creating a very specific spray pattern. The holes are referred to as orifices or openings. The resultant spray pattern is generally characterized as:
- Light
- Medium
- Heavy
This pattern, which also determines how precise the water or water droplets will flow is one that is affected by the power of the water.
Water power or pressure helps to determine the flow rate of the misting nozzle. In general, water pressure is described or defined as being:
- Low
- Medium
- High
Depending upon what effect you are looking for, you will look for nozzles that work with different water pressures. A misting nozzle may only be designed to handle and control low pressure. Others can work with both low and high types of water pressure effectively.
Materials Used in the Construction of a Misting Nozzle
While hard and durable plastics are often used in the construction of simple garden hose nozzles, a misting nozzle is usually constructed of some type of metal. Two of the more common ones are brass and copper. However, a preferred metal for construction is not brass or copper but stainless steel. This creates a nozzle that is more capable of withstanding the elemental forces. A stainless steel misting nozzle can withstand the twin debilitating forces of wear and tear.
Common Types of Misting Nozzles
Essentially, misting nozzles are classified into two types:
- Impellar: The most common used in both residential and commercial applications.
- Impingement: A more specialized type of nozzle often reserved for specific, often industrial, applications.
Both can prove to be effective. It is important to talk to a professional company to decide which one will deliver what you need.
The Misting Nozzle
If you plan to install a misting system, do not neglect to look at the quality and type of the nozzle. While it is easy enough to ignore, or to simply believe it is the right one for your use, this is the wrong assumption to make. A misting nozzle needs to be looked at and chosen with care if you want the task it is to perform delivered efficiently and correctly the first time.
