DRIP

IRRIGATION
PLANNING & INSTALLATION GUIDE
CONTENTS
BASICS OF DRIP IRRIGATION 3 RESTARTING YOUR DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM 27
27

PLANNING AND DESIGNING A SYSTEM 5 WINTERIZING YOUR SYSTEM 28

Basic Questions to Ask
Making a Sketch
Simple Rules to Keep in Mind

SOIL TYPES 7 MAINTENANCE 30

COMPONENTS OF DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM 8 TROUBLESHOOTING DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM 31

Head Assembly Parts
Mainline Tubing
Micro-Tubing
Fittings
Watering Devices
Pressurizing a System

DRIP IRRIGATION KITS 20 STARTING YOUR SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME 32
BASICS OF DRIP IRRIGATION
A question we receive often from potential customers is: “Why
should I use drip irrigation?” Listed below are the benefits of using
a drip irrigation system.

Save Water : Drip irrigation will save you water. With drip irrigation
you are administering water at the root zone of each plant. This
water is absorbed into the soil and then by the plant. This
eliminates “spray” watering devices like sprinklers, which can not
precisely place the water where it is most needed. Overhead
watering practices not only sees a lot of water lost to evaporation
before it even reaches your plants, but also creates more run off
and waters more area than just the plants root zone.

Save Time : After the initial time investment of setting up your drip
irrigation system you will experience the joy of having your plants
watered without you doing so by hand. Any gardener that has had
to water by hand knows what a large time commitment it is. A drip
irrigation system with a timer can take care of your plants water
needs without you being there. This means that you can go on
vacation without worrying about your plants or if your neighbor will
remember to water them.

Save Money : Since a drip irrigation system will significantly reduce

the amount of water needed to water your plants or garden, it will
save you money. More and more cities are instituting water
restrictions and/or raising the price of water. The sooner you start
using drip irrigation the more money your drip irrigation system will
save you.

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Less Weeds : As mentioned before a drip irrigation system places
water at the root zone of the plant you want watered. The added
benefit to this is that the surrounding area around your plant will
be dry and this will limit weeds from growing there. A sprinkler
would wet the whole area around your plant supplying enough
surplus water for weeds to grow as well. Drip irrigation again saves
you time by not having to pull weeds from your flower beds or
garden.

Increased Crop Yield : Studies have been done showing that drip
irrigation creates ideal growing conditions for plants. This is
accomplished by supplying them with a constant water source at
the roots that results in less stress to the plant and in-turn plants
thrive and produce higher yields.

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PLANNING AND DESIGNING A SYSTEM

BASIC QUESTIONS TO ASK
 MAKING A SKETCH


With any project, the more prepared you are, the more benefits you See example of a diagram below on how to create a sketch. With
will reap when finished. Creating a drip irrigation system is no your sketch in hand and answers to the previous questions, you are
different. A little homework will ensure that you get all the right ready to start planning your system. The rest of the guide gives you
parts needed the first time. The best way to start planning your drip information on the parts you need to complete your system and the
irrigation system is by sketching out the area you wish to install drip options that will suit your needs best.
irrigation in. While doing this pay particular attention to the
following items:

- What is your water source?

- How far is your water source from the last plant you wish to
water?

- What type of plants do you wish to water (vegetables, shrubs,

trees, etc)?

- How many plants do you need to water?

- Also note anywhere you may need to make a turn or tee your
tubing.

www.dripdepot.com 5
SIMPLE RULES TO KEEP IN MIND With this information, Bill knows that he can not use 1/4” tubing as
his mainline but he could use one run of 1/2” or larger tubing.
1/4” Tubing 30/30
What this means is that a single run (length) of 1/4” tubing cannot If you exceed the GPH for the mainline tubing you wish to use, you
exceed 30 ft. and cannot be asked to supply more than 30 gallons have 3 options:
per hour (GPH).

1/2” Tubing 200/200 1. Use less drippers to reduce the total GPH.
This rule says that a single run of 1/2” tubing cannot exceed 200
feet and cannot supply more than 200 GPH. 2. Use drippers with a smaller GPH output (i.e. swap 2 GPH for 0.5
3/4” Tubing 480/480 GPH).
A single run of 3/4” tubing cannot exceed 480 feet and cannot be
asked to deliver more than 480 GPH. 3. Split the system into two or more zones.
1” Tubing 960/960
This rule says that a single run of 1” tubing cannot exceed 960 feet Here are a few tips to Plan the Perfect Drip Irrigation System:
and cannot supply more than 960 GPH. https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/

 11000044426-planning-your-drip-irrigation-system
When planning your system, run length of your tubing is not the
only consideration in this equation. Total gallons per hour (GPH)
must also be considered. Next is quick explanation on how to
calculate gallons per hour (GPH).

Bill had 100 drippers on his drip irrigation

mainline. He has forty 0.5 GPH drippers, forty 1
GPH drippers, and twenty 2 GPH drippers.

How many GPH (Gallons per Hour) is Bill using?

40 x 0.5 GPH = 20 GPH

40 x 1.0 GPH = 40 GPH
20 x 2.0 GPH = 40 GPH
————————————————-
Total = 100 GPH

www.dripdepot.com 6
SOIL TYPES

When putting together your drip irrigation system, it is useful to Loamy Soil is more dense than
know what type of soil you have in your planting area. You do not sandy soil so water will travel
need to be a soil expert, but you should be aware that water moves slower allowing it to spread
differently and creates different wetting patterns through the more evenly through the soil
different types of soil: sand, loam, and clay. The term wetting both vertically and horizontally. Mid-range drip emitters may be a
pattern refers to the way that water is distributed below the surface good choice and you can space drippers farther apart since the
of the soil both vertically, through the force of gravity, and wetting pattern will be larger.
horizontally, through the capillary properties within the soil.
Clay Soil is very dense, which causes water to be absorbed very
slowly. Drippers with the slowest flow rate are a good choice to
prevent the water from pooling on the surface of the soil near the
plant. Any water at the surface of the soil could eventually be lost to
evaporation or runoff to areas you don’t wish to water. With lower
flow rate drippers, you should water for longer durations to ensure
your plants receive enough water.

How do you determine your soil type? For most people an

adequate way to get you in the ballpark would be to grab a handful
of dry soil from the area or areas you wish to drip irrigate. Make a
fist while holding the dry soil in your hand, then open your fist. If
you have sandy soil the soil in your had will crumble without

Sandy Soil : Water moves quickly through sandy soil which doesn’t hesitation. If the soil holds together but slowly falls apart then you
allow water to travel far from the dripper. The wetting pattern is have loamy soil. Lastly, if the soil holds it shape after being molded
much more vertical than horizontal in this type of soil. If your soil is into a ball, then you have clay soil. This is not scientific but works

sandy then you may want to use higher flow drippers and drippers well for most people. If you need or want a more detailed result,

that are spaced closer together to ensure your plants receive there are agencies that can test your soil for you.

enough water. With a higher flow, you may also want to water for
shorter durations, but more often.
www.dripdepot.com 7
COMPONENTS OF A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Any drip irrigation system begins at the water source. For the Back-flow Preventer also known as a vacuum breaker, works to
majority of our customers this is a faucet outside their home. There block water in your drip irrigation system from flowing back into
are other water sources like rain barrels and ponds. This guide is your drinking water. Many municipalities require that a back-flow
based on starting a drip irrigation system from a standard garden preventer be used when installing a drip irrigation system. A back-
hose threaded connection. If you can get your rain barrel or pump flow preventer is not designed to be used under
to standard garden hose threads then you can follow the constant pressure, which means that you can not
information outlined below. run you drip irrigation system 24 hours a day.
This is the first item attached to your faucet
when a timer is not used. If timer is used in
your drip irrigation system then the back-flow
preventer follows the timer.

Filter is recommended even for “clean” water sources as there is

HEAD ASSEMBLY PARTS

still small debris that if left to run through your drip system can
The following parts make up what is referred to as the head
cause blockage in drip emitters. Our filters come with a screen that
assembly. Parts are listed in order of assembly:
is removable for cleaning. Drip systems are like everything else in

Timer (optional) is recommended as it truly makes your drip that they do require maintenance from time to time. We highly

irrigation system hands free and efficient. Also during the heat of recommend taking the screen out of your filter to check for build

the summer, it is best to water plants early in the morning and after up and give it a cleaning if needed. The regularity

the sun goes down. You can set your timer to do this while of inspection will depend on your water source

you are sleeping. Timers save you water and money by (i.e. the dirtier the water the more often you

eliminating human error. Manually turning your system should check your filter).

on and off may work for some but there will

undoubtedly be a time that you either forget to turn
the water on or off. A timer eliminates human error
which results in happier plants and less water wasted.
www.dripdepot.com 8
Pressure Regulator : Most drip irrigation parts are designed to Head Assembly For 1/4” Tubing
work optimally at 25 PSI. Some items like drip tape require less
Faucet > Timer (optional) > Back-flow Preventer (Vacuum Breaker) >
pressure and operate best at 15 PSI or less. Pressure regulators
Filter > Pressure Regulator > Tubing Adapter with 1/4” Barb
regulate the pressure in your system to help all the watering
devices throughout the system work without
issue. Drippers tend to spray instead of drip
when the pressure in a drip irrigation
system is too high. Pressure regulators
also keep drippers and barbed fittings
from blowing off your mainline, which can
happen if you have too much pressure. Not
to mention that drip tape will rupture with too Head Assembly
much pressure. with Inline filter

Tubing Connection : The final piece in your head assembly is

going to be your tubing adapter. This fitting allows you to connect
your mainline tubing to your water source. We sell various sizes of
mainline tubing to fit different needs. The three most commonly
used sizes of tubing are: 1/4” , 1/2”, and 3/4”. You need to select the
adapter that matches with your choice for mainline tubing. The next
section goes more in depth about tubing sizes and limits.

www.dripdepot.com 9
 Head Assembly for 1/2” Tubing 2 Zone Head Assembly For 1/4”, 1/2”, and 3/4” Tubing

Faucet > Timer (optional) > Back-flow Preventer (Vacuum Breaker) > Faucet > Timer (optional) > Faucet Y Connector with Double Shut-
Filter > Pressure Regulator > Tubing Adapter with 1/2” Barb off > 2 Back-flow Preventers (Vacuum Breaker) > 2 Filters > 2
Pressure Regulators > 2 Tubing Adapters

2 Zone
Assembly with Y
connector
Head Assembly
with Inline filter
Head Assembly
with Hose filter 

If you need help setting up a two zone head assembly, here is our
video on “How to Install a 2-zone Head Assembly”

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Head Assembly https://youtu.be/LzS0c1hRiYA
with T filter

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10
 MAINLINE TUBING So what does max run length mean? It means that when planning
your drip system it is imperative to know what the distance is from
Tubing Size Specifications your water source to your last plant. If the distance from your water
source to last watered plant is 50 feet. Then you could not use 1⁄4”
Drip Depot carries several different sizes of tubing (1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”,
tubing as your main line. You could use 1/2” or larger. This also
1”). All can be used as your supply or mainline tubing. So how do
means that if you really want to water all you plants from one run of
you decide on which size to use? This is where the home work you
tubing and the distance spans 350 ft. Then your only option is 3/4”
did in the beginning of the guide helps. Each size of tubing has
or larger tubing.
limitations.

1” Poly 3/4” Poly 1/2” Poly 1/4” Poly 1/4” Vinyl

Actual
Size

Outside
1.200” 0.940” 0.700” 0.250” 0.245”
Diameter

Inside
1.060” 0.820” 0.600” 0.170” 0.156”
Diameter

Below is a chart showing the limitations which are run length and
maximum Gallons Per Hour for each tubing size.

Tubing Size Max Run Length Max Gallons per Hour

1/4” 30 feet 30 GPH

1/2” 200 feet 200 GPH

3/4” 480 feet 480 GPH

1” 960 feet 960 GPH

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When choosing a supply line, one also has to consider how many
What about a 325 ft. single run of tubing?
gallons per hour you will run through your system. To figure this out
you will need to do a little math. The first place to start will be to If Jim wants to have a single run length of 325
take into account how many plants you wish to water. Generally, ft. Then he must use 3/4” mainline tubing as it
each plant represents a drip point, i.e. a spot where you may place is the only tubing that allows for a run length of
a dripper. For larger plants you may need to place multiple this distance.
drippers at each plant.

Let’s look at an example that is similar to the example given earlier

If you know the total distance that you want a single run of tubing to
in the section: Rules to Remember.
be along with the total GPH you wish to run through your system
then selecting your supply line tubing is easy.
What is the total GPH that will be used?

20 x 0.5 GPH = 10 GPH

40 x 1.0 GPH = 40 GPH
40 x 2.0 GPH = 80 GPH
————————————————
Total = 130 GPH

Can Jim use 1/4” tubing as his mainline?

Jim cannot use 1/4” tubing as his mainline

because his gallons per hour (130) is greater
Two things to keep in mind when selecting mainline tubing:
than the maximum allowed for 1/4” tubing,
which is 30 GPH.
1. The overall distance from water source to last plant.

If Jim needs a single run of tubing to span 2. The total flow (GPH) your system requires.
180 ft, what mainline tubing can he use?

Jim could use either 1/2” mainline tubing or 3/4”

mainline tubing as both have maximum run lengths
greater than 180 ft. www.dripdepot.com
12
MICRO-TUBING How To Connect Micro-tubing Into Mainline Tubing

Micro-tubing is a name given to tubing that is 1/4” or smaller. We Punch a hole in your 1/2” or larger mainline tubing with one of our
sell 1/4” and 1/8” micro-tubing. However, 1/8” tubing is rarely used punches specially designed to ensure an accurate size hole.
for anything other than commercial nursery applications and
Insert one end of the 1/4” barbed fitting into the end of the 1/4”
conversion drip manifolds when retrofitting existing sprinkler risers.
micro-tubing.
When using micro-tubing, we recommend 1/4” and it is what we
include in our kits. Why use micro tubing? It is useful for running
Once complete, insert the other barbed end of the fitting into the
lines away from your mainline tubing to plants that are too far away
punched hole in the 1/2” mainline tubing.
to be watered directly from the supply line tubing. This is
sometimes referred to as feeder line. Mainline tubing can be used When you hear the ‘snap’, you are done! Click the video to view
for this but micro-tubing is less expensive and works great as long how.
as the run is not over 30 feet in length. To attach micro-tubing to
your mainline tubing, you will need a 1/4” hole punch and 1/4”
barbed connectors. After punching a hole in your mainline, you can
insert the connector into your mainline tubing. The remaining end
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of your connector will be covered up with your micro-tubing
section that will be cut to the length needed to reach your plant. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
https://youtu.be/Zmg-KlzOQYQ

Connect
tubing using a
1/4” connector

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FITTINGS Elbows are used to make 90 degree turns in runs of tubing when
needed. They can also be used to repair tubing or to attach a
Fittings are used to connect pieces of tubing together whether that smaller size of tubing to a large one.
be like sizes or 2 different sizes of tubing. The most common fittings
and their uses are described below:

Couplings are used to connect 2 pieces of tubing together. This

could be to extend a run of tubing or repair a damaged section of
tubing by cutting out the bad spot and joining the two good 1/4”
Perma-loc
sections together with a connector. Barbed
Elbow
Elbow

Crosses are used to create 4 separate lines of tubing. They can also
be used to repair tubing or to attach a smaller size of tubing to a
1/4”
Perma-loc large one.
Barbed
Coupling
Coupling



Tees are used to create two runs of tubing in opposite directions.
They can also be used to repair tubing or to attach a smaller size of
1/4”
tubing to a large one. Perma-loc
Barbed Cross
Cross

Perma-loc
1/4”
Tee
Barbed Tee

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14
TYPE OF FITTINGS Compression Fittings are a one time use fitting. In some cases they
are less expensive than Perma-loc fittings but the draw back is that
Perma-Loc Fittings are very durable and once the tubing is pushed into the fitting it can not be removed.
reusable. Most fittings are not reusable and Compression fittings require a fair amount of muscle to get the
because of this, we highly recommend tubing inside the fitting.
the Perma-loc fittings as configurations
of systems do change over time. Perma-
loc fittings are available for 1/2” and
larger tubing. Every Drip Depot kit that
has 1/2” or 3/4” tubing includes Perma-loc
Perma-loc
fittings to ensure maximum flexibility when Connector

putting together your system. Compression

Tee

Click here for How To Extend or Repair a Section of Drip Irrigation

Tubing.
Barbed Fittings are the least expensive fitting. They work well but
they are a one time use fitting like compression fittings. This limits
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA system flexibly in the future.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA



 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Barbed

 Connector

 https://youtu.be/8FuBM5r33NA



 For more tips for selecting the right fittings for your project, check

 out our Fitting Buying Guide to find more.

www.dripdepot.com
15
WATERING DEVICES

There are many types of watering devices to incorporate into your Pressure Compensating vs. Non-Pressure Compensating
drip irrigation system. We will briefly describe each type along with Pressure compensating or PC is a term used to describe an emitter
its common uses. that maintains the same output at varying water inlet pressures.
Therefore PC drip emitters compensate for uneven terrain, length
Button Drippers are the most common and most of supply tube and varying inlet flows to ensure each drippers is
widely used watering device in drip irrigation. dripping at the stated GPH output. All of our drip irrigation kits that
These are easy to install. The drippers come receive button drippers come with pressure compensating
with a 1/4” barb that can be inserted directly drippers. A non-compensating drip emitter will have a small
into the ends of 1/4” tubing (no tubing punch is variance of output flow. Therefore the flow will vary along uneven
needed for this). Or they can be inserted directly terrain, and each dripper will emit a different amount of water albeit
into 1/2” or larger tubing with the help of a tubing a small difference depending on its location on the supply line. The
punch. pressure to a drip emitter can vary due to the slope of the land and
the length of the supply tube. If an irrigation system is installed
Button drippers offer a single water point, which means that they
down a slope, there will be higher water pressure at the bottom of
are designed to water a single plant. Often each plant gets their
the slope than at the top, and non-compensating drippers at the
own button dripper. If the plant is large or water hungry then
bottom will emit more water than those at the top. PC drip emitters
multiple drippers may be needed. Button drippers come in an array
will emit the same amount of water all the way down the slope,
of GPH ratings.
providing more even watering on uneven terrain.
Some button drippers are cleanable. This means that the cap can
be screwed off and any debris that is clogging the dripper can be
cleaned out.

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Adjustable Drippers are emitters that Spray Jets are normally used in landscape situations that call for
allow for the flow rate of the dripper to overhead watering like flowerbeds, shrubs or groundcovers. Spray
be adjusted. These drippers are great jets consume a lot of water and it is best to limit the number in your
in potted plants and near young system. Spray Jets come in a variety of spray patterns including 90,
plants. As a young plant grows the 180 and 360 degrees. Match the spray pattern to the area that you
water output of the dripper can be wish to water. The 180 and 90 degree pattern are useful around
increased to fit the plant. Adjustable fences, up against houses or at the edge of flower beds. You can
drippers are good for areas where you purchase spray jets already on risers or without risers. We
may need to adjust flow rate often or recommend installing spray jets at least 6 inches of the ground.
an area that needs a lot of water. Spray jets differ from micro-sprinklers in that they provide a finer
These drippers are used in hanging spray than the large drops of water provided by micro-sprinklers.
baskets and containers. A special note to consider when planning a
system and using adjustable drippers is that it does not take many
drippers at 10 GPH or 20 GPH each to over tax a system.
Mirco-sprinklers spray water in a 360
pattern and are useful in landscapes and
overhead watering situations such as:
Flag Drippers function much like a button dripper. They can be flowerbeds, shrubs, or groundcovers.
inserted into 1/2” or larger tubing with the help of a tubing punch. Micro-sprinklers deliver larger drops of
The flag dripper can water a plant directly from the mainline tubing. water and can provide higher flow rates
You would just attach a section of 1/4” tubing on the last remaining (GPH) than spray jets.
orifice and run the 1/4” tubing away from the flag dripper to the
Note: micro-sprinklers can eat up a lot of
plant to be watered. The flag dripper in this setup is used to control
the gallons per hour at the plant being GPH in your system so it is best to limit the
number that are installed in your drip
watered from the mainline tubing. Flag
irrigation system. If you wish to run a lot of
drippers are cleanable and come in
micro-sprinklers, we recommend using 3⁄4”
various GPH ratings.
tubing.

www.dripdepot.com 17
Drip Tape has built-in emitters available in various flow rates and Choosing the right drip tape for your project can be overwhelming.
emitter spacings. The tape comes flat but when pressurized the Here is a link to our Drip Tape Buying Guide that will help you
tape becomes round. Drip tape choose the right one to fit your needs.
is easy to use and work with
Drip Line Tubing also has built-in emitters and is available in 1/4”
and is highly recommended
for anyone who has a garden and 1/2” tubing sizes. The same rules apply to drip tubing as
regular solid 1/4” and 1/2” tubing. 1/4” tubing should not exceed
planted in straight rows. Drip
30 ft runs or 30 GPH total flow and 1/2” drip line should not exceed
tape needs to be used in
200 ft. runs or 200 GPH total flow. 1/4” drip line can be used to
straight runs as it can not be
create tree rings to water trees or large shrubs. 1/2” and 1/4” drip
bent or made into an “S”
shape. line can also be incorporated into raised beds and vegetable
gardens.

Drip line is also available in a variety of emitter spacings to meet all

your needs. Durable poly drip line is a great choice in vineyard and
blueberry farm applications.
How to Install a Row of Drip Tape? Here is a video showing the
basics of installing a drip tape system.

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https://youtu.be/8fnK_1VKnjk

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18
PRESSURIZING A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM To cap a run of 3/4” or 1” tubing:

Use the following items:

Pressurizing a drip irrigation system sounds complicated but in
- Perma Loc 3/4” End cap (reusable)
reality you just need to make sure you cap the end of your tubing. - 3/4” or 1” Figure 8 (reusable)
Below are examples of how to cap a system when using 1/4” , 1/2” ,
3/4”, or 1” tubing.

To cap a run of 1/4” tubing:

Use a goof plug.

Click here to check out How to Cap Off a Run of Poly Tubing.

To cap a run of 1/2” tubing:

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Use the following items:
- Perma Loc 1/2” End cap (reusable)
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
- 1/2” Figure 8 (reusable)
- Compression 1/2” End cap (one-time use) RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
https://youtu.be/CL2RnLEbbKk

www.dripdepot.com
19
DRIP IRRIGATION KITS

Drip Depot began creating pre-made kits that are complete for our
most popular drip irrigation system requests over the years. Our
thinking behind creating our families of kits was to offer our
customers a quick and easy solution to their watering needs while
eliminating the guess work of making sure they ordered everything
to complete their system. We realize that we can not make the
perfect kit for everyone but with the knowledge gained in the first
part of this guide one can either tailor any of kits to fit their watering
needs or create their own kit. Below is a brief description of each of
our kit families.

Container Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to be used to

water potted plants on patios or porches. Vegetable Garden Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to be very
flexible and adapt to many garden configurations beyond straight
Container Kit Guide 

rows. If your garden is planted in straight rows you may want to
https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
look at our row crop kits.
11000044498-container-kit-selection-guides

Vegetable Garden Kit Selections


Container Kit Selections

https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-
https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-container-
vegetable-gardens-gardens
gardening

www.dripdepot.com
20
Gravity Drip Irrigation Kits We offer two types of gravity feed
kits based on cleanliness of the water source. Clean water kits use
standard drippers whereas dirty water kits use 1/4” inline shut-off
valves as drippers because they have larger orifices that are less
likely to clog than standard drippers with dirty water running
through them.

Gravity Kit Guide 


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044541-gravity-feed-kit-selection-guide

Gravity Kit Selections


Clean Water Kits

https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-gravity-
irrigation-clean-water-kits
 Greenhouse Drip Irrigation Kits include all the parts necessary
Dirty Water Kits
 to create a functional and efficient greenhouse drip irrigation
https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-gravity- system. The kits are designed to run mainline tubing around the
irrigation-dirty-water-kits base of each wall in the greenhouse, which allows for easy access
from your mainline tubing to all the plants throughout your
greenhouse.

Greenhouse Kit Guide


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044542-greenhouse-kit-selection-guide

Greenhouse Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-
greenhouse-gardening

www.dripdepot.com 21
Hanging Basket Drip Irrigation Kits are specially designed to
set up a drip system that matches the special needs of hanging
baskets.

Hanging Basket Kit Guide 


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044545-hanging-basket-kit-selection-guide

Hanging Basket Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-hanging-
baskets

Landscape Drip Irrigation Kits Landscapes are often a melting

pot of plant types which results in various watering needs. Our
landscape kits contain a variety of button drippers in several flow
rates and overhead watering devices like spray jets on stakes and
micro-sprinklers in order to give you all the tools you need to
properly water your landscape.

Landscape Kit Guide


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044501-landscape-kit-selection-guide

Landscape Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-
landscaping

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22
Raised Bed Drip Irrigation Kits are designed with the special
needs of raised beds in mind. The raised bed kits have more 1/2”
elbows to accommodate getting the water to the top of the beds
and the kits contain more 1/4” dripline than any other kit family. We
have found that we are able to get a much more uniform saturation
than with drippers when the beds are densely planted by using the
dripline. The raised bed kits also include drip emitters for the beds
that contain only a few plants and/or to help those plants that may
require more water. Please keep in mind, any Drip Depot kit is not
limited to a specific use, although it may have been designed for a
specific use.

Raised Bed Kit Guide 


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/ Row Crop Drip Irrigation Kits utilize drip tape. Drip tape is a flat
11000044494-raised-bed-kit-selection-guide tubing that becomes round when filled with water and has drip
emitters built into the tape. Drip tape is easy to work with and
Raised Bed Kit Selections

economical. The limitation of drip tape is that the tape must be
https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-raised-
used in straight lines, which means drip tape is a great option in
bed
situations where gardens or plants are planted in straight rows.

Row Crop Kit Guide


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044539-row-crop-kit-selection-guide

Row Crop Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-row-crops

www.dripdepot.com 23
Small Farm Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to water more area
and longer straight rows of crops than our row crop kits. The small
farm kits come with tape that has emitters built in and 3/4” mainline
tubing, which allow for longer runs.

Small Farm Kit Guide 


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044495-small-farm-kit-selection-guide

Small Farm Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-small-
farms

Tree Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to create “drip rings” using
1/4” drip-line which are put around the base of the tree. The rings
are easy to create and simple to install. We realize that there is no
need for “fancy” parts for customers who want to drip irrigate trees.
Our tree kits are simple and to the point.

Tree Kit Guide


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044503-tree-kit-selection-guide

Tree Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-trees


www.dripdepot.com
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Vacation Watering Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to take
care of your plants when you are not there. We offer not only
traditional drip irrigation solutions, kits with timers, but we also
have innovative watering products that are for indoor plants as well.

Vacation Watering Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-vacation-
watering

Vineyard Drip Irrigation Kits are designed to water grape vines

with tubing hanging on the vine wires. Grape vines are planted in
straight rows and the kit sizes are based on the number of rows
each can water.

Vineyard Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-vineyard-
drip-kits

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Window Box Drip Irrigation Kits utilize 1/4” dripline with built-
in emitters. Dripline is flexible and easy to work with, which makes
it ideal for any size of a window box.

Window Box Kit Guide


https://help.dripdepot.com/support/solutions/articles/
11000044504-window-box-kit-selection-guide

Window Box Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-window-
boxes

Maintenance Kit include some of the most popular items needed

to repair and/or expand your existing drip irrigation systems.

Maintenance Kit Selections


https://www.dripdepot.com/category/drip-irrigation-kits-
maintenance

www.dripdepot.com
26
STARTING YOUR SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME
Once you have laid out and installed you drip irrigation system we
recommend taking a minute to look everything over before starting
it up for the first time. The first step is to double check that the
sequence of your head assembly is correct. Listed below are the
head assembly parts.

Timer (Optional) - Backflow Preventer - Filter - Pressure Regulator -

Tubing Adapter

Before pressurizing your system we recommend flushing your new

system. To do this leave any end caps open at the end of each run
of mainline tubing. Turn your water on and let it run for a minute or
two. By flushing your system you are
Once you are convinced that everything is installed correctly go
ensuring that any debris that may
ahead and turn on your water. We recommend letting the water run
be in the system is expelled before
initially for 10 minutes before checking for problems. When you first
starting. This will prevent clogging
turn on the water you may hear a hissing sound and see drippers
of drippers and help your system
that spit and sputter. This is normal and is due to air being expelled
perform correctly from the start.
from your system as it fills with water. It takes a bit to flush the air
After flushing close your end caps.
out and pressurize the system with water.

Next, walk the length of the system

After 10 minutes of run time go ahead and walk the length of your
paying close attention to anywhere
system and check to see that all of your watering devices are
there is a fitting or an end cap. You
working correctly. Hopefully everything is working without an issue.
are checking to make sure that each
If you experience any problems please read the next section on
fitting or end cap is securely
troubleshooting drip systems.
attached and that no holes are left
open or unplugged.

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27
 TROUBLESHOOTING DRIP SYSTEM
Below is a list of common problems we hear
from our customers and the potential causes
followed by possible solutions.

My pressure regulator is leaking!

1) The washer may be missing. Remove and check for a

washer. If no washer is found in the pressure regulator


check the packaging that the drip parts came in as the
washer can fall out during shipment.
2) The pressure regulator is installed in a constant pressure
situation. Pressure regulators cannot be under constant
pressure, meaning that they must be installed after a
timer or on a faucet that is not left on 24/7.

Drippers and fittings are popping out of the poly tubing!

My back-flow preventer is leaking!
1) The pressure in the system is too high. You will need
Make sure that the back-flow preventer is not under a pressure regulator of 25 psi or less. If you have a
constant pressure meaning it is installed after the timer if pressure regulator installed it may be defective and
you have a timer incorporated into your drip irrigation needs to be replaced.
system. If no timer is used in your system then make sure 2) The tubing punch used may have been worn or
your faucet is not running 24/7. defective and created holes that were not clean
enough or too big which would cause the fittings or
drippers not to seal correctly and be easily pushed
My timer is not working! out of the tubing.
3) Never reinsert a dripper into a hole where a dripper
Before ruling your timer defective try replacing the was removed. When removing a dripper or 1/4”
battery with a new one. Each timer comes with a manual fitting, always fill the hole with a goof plug and punch
and a trouble shooting guide. In addition, each a new hole.
manufacturer offers great customer support.

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28
Drippers are spraying instead of dripping! My drippers, mirco-sprinklers and/or spray jets have uneven flow
or no water coming out of them!
A trick is to hold your finger over the dripper and block
the water flow for a count of 20. This can “reset” the 1) You may have a section of your tubing that is leaking and not
dripper and usually fixes drippers that don’t want to allowing the system to become properly pressurized. Walk the
cooperate. If this doesn’t work then the pressure may be system and look for anywhere that water is exiting your system
too high. that is not at a drip point. If a leak is found replace that section
of tubing.
2) Filter is clogged: Remove you filter and take out the screen
Drippers, micro-sprinklers and spray jets have a white build up on inside and look for excessive build up. Clean the screen and
them! return the filter into your drip irrigation system.
3) Drippers, mirco-sprinklers or Spray Jets may be clogged. Look
This stems from hard water that contains calcium in it.
at each watering device that is not preforming correctly. Try to
This can block the water flow out of your watering
see if any build up is blocking the orifice. If build up is seen and
devices and reduce performance. For those with hard
the watering device is cleanable take apart and clean. If the
water, we recommend using cleanable watering devices
watering device is not cleanable, replace it.
so that when a build up does occur the watering device
4) Pressure too Low: This may be as simple as making sure your
in question can be easily removed and cleaned.
faucet is completely open. Do not barely crack open the faucet
that runs your drip irrigation system. Make sure that it is
completely open when you drip irrigation system is operating.
Plants look stressed, weak, or wilting!
5) This may be the result of exceeding the flow rate of the mainline
1) First inspect the drippers or other watering devices tubing that you selected. You may need to break you system
immediately around the plant or plants in question. It into 2 separate zones if you have exceeded the capacity for one
is possible that the watering devices may be clogged. run of tubing. Below is a reminder of length and GPH capacity
If clogged remove and clean or replace. for each type of tubing. 

2) Walk your system and look for any leaks or holes in 

your mainline tubing. A hole would limit or NOTE: When flow rate has been exceeded, strange things
completely prevent water from being delivered to happen and nothing is predictable.
your plants.
Tubing Size Max Run Length Max GPH
3) The system run time is too short. Run time can
1/4” 30 ft 30 GPH
change based on temperature and humidity. It is
possible that as the summer goes on you may need 1/2” 200 ft 200 GPH
to increase the run time of your drip irrigation system 3/4” 480 ft 480 GPH
to match the increasing temperatures. Increase run
1” 960 ft 960 GPH
time until plants look healthy again.

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MAINTENANCE

Invariably, there will be issues that arise with your drip irrigation
system. Many of the problems can be avoided or prevented by
simple maintenance.

One recommendation that we strongly urge everyone to do

regularly is to clean your filter. No matter how clean your water
source is there will be particles in your water that could over time
find their way to your drippers and possibly clog them. By keeping
your filter clean you are ensuring that the water running through
your system is debris free which eliminates the majority of the
problems your drip irrigation system may face.

It is also a good rule of thumb to periodically walk your drip 


irrigation system when it is running. This helps to locate any trouble
spots such as: clogged drippers, breaks in the tubing, or fittings “An ounce of prevention is worth
that may have separated from your system. Locating these early will
save you money and help keep your plants happy and healthy. a pound of care”
Click Here to check out 

our article about 

drip system maintenance.

www.dripdepot.com
30
WINTERIZING
Drip Irrigation systems are very durable and will last a longtime
when cared for properly. The most important factor in helping your
drip irrigation last a long time is preparing it for winter or freezing
temperatures. Below is what what we recommend for drip systems
that are used in areas that experience freezing temperatures during
parts of the year.
plug the threaded end of the female swivel adapter (at the place
Before freezing weather occurs you should winterize your drip where the head assembly was removed). Doing this will keep

irrigation system by doing the following. bugs from entering your system throughout the winter.

1. Drain the Timer and Head Assembly : Turn off the main water For Those with Valve/ Manifold Systems : Steps 2 and 3 will be

supply for the irrigation system. Remove the timer and head the same, but you will need to run the timer/controller through its

assembly (back-flow preventer, filter and pressure regulator) normal watering cycle after the main water supply is turned off. This
from the water source. Drain and store these components allows each valve to open and relieves water pressure on the main

indoors. Don’t forget to remove the batteries from the timer. If line and valves. Once the controller has run through its cycles, set it

you have a dedicated storage box, you can keep all these to the “off” position. Manually open all valves to reduce the chance

system parts together and locate them easily in the spring. of standing water freezing and cracking your manifold components.

2. Drain Tubing Lines : Open end caps on drip lines so that water Using an Air Compressor to Clear Lines : Some of our customers
can drain out. We recommend that you walk your mainlines and also like to use an air compressor. Air pressure and water pressure

lift lines and fittings at low spots. This will help in removing any are very different. Wear protective gear and keep the air pressure

excess water and aid in drainage out the open ends. Tubing can regulator set as low as possible to get the job done, as pressures

survive some freezing, but fittings will crack if standing water above 30 PSI can cause harm to skin and eyes. We recommend that

freezes inside them. you always have the ends of the line open and always protect your
hands if using as a coupler between the poly tubing and the nozzle
3. Replace End Caps After Draining Tubing : Once you are sure of the air compressor. By following these simple rules, it will help to
that all excess water has been removed from your mainlines, you ensure that you do not damage your system with too much air
can replace the caps. We also recommend that you cap off or pressure.


www.dripdepot.com 31
RESTARTING YOUR SYSTEM If you want some tips before getting your drip system ready for
another bountiful growing season, click here to check out our
When starting up a drip irrigation system for the first time after
article: Time to Tune Up Your System.
sitting all winter the process is much like when a drip irrigation
system is run for the first time. Before starting you want to
reassemble the head assembly components, that you stored inside
out of the weather, in the correct order. This is a good time to put
fresh batteries into your timer and replace the rubber washers in
the female hose threaded connections. Check your filter to make
sure that it is clean before hooking up your system.

Before running water through your drippers. You will want to flush
out your system by opening up end caps at the end of each run of
mainline tubing and letting your water run for a few minutes. This is
especially important for systems that sat outside all winter as you
never know what might have been living inside your tubing. By
giving the mainline a good flush you will avoid clogging your
drippers with any debris that may have accumulated in your tubing
over the winter.

Once the system is flushed, attach end caps again and turn on your
water. You may again hear hissing and notice drippers spitting and
sputtering. Don’t worry. It is just the air in the system being
expelled. Allow to run for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes walk the
length of your system looking for drippers that may not be working GOT SUGGESTIONS?

properly. Also check your tubing for any leaks that may have been We value your opinion! Please let us know what you think about our
caused by cracks or rodents chewing on the tubing. Once your installation guide. For feedback or suggestions, or any questions, please email
system passes your inspection you are ready for another year of us at support@dripdepot.com . We are here to help.
trouble free watering. 


www.dripdepot.com 32