I made a 3d printable eReader case for my wife. Wanted to test what would happen if we water logged them and left them in the sun to dry.
Two of the cases are made from PLA while the other is made from PETG. They are all held together by thread and leather.
The test here is to see if moving from PLA to PETG was the right move since the last time I did this, the case turned into a banana.
My eventual plan once I’ve finished with my testing is to sell these cases and make their designs available for others to print.
I think it depends on the usage. If the size/shape doesn’t matter or is mated to metal, then PLA is more than fine in colder climates (i.e. not Texas), but as soon as the average temp of it’s operating environment is within the Glass Temp range then PLA isn’t good.
In your sprinkler’s case, the water is chilling it bellow glass temp when operating.