Drip Irrigation System Buying Guide – Hardware Store

Buy components from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility or buy an entire-system kit and work your way up to your own customized system.

Soaker hoses are the simplest way to create drip irrigation. These garden hoses have tiny holes along its length to allow water to drip out. While cost effective initially, this option uses more water than a drip system.

Kits combine the components you need for specific applications. You can find kits to create systems for vegetable gardens, flower beds, container plants and landscape plants such as trees and shrubs. Some kits allow you to expand the system as your irrigation needs grow. Other kits provide repair parts or let you convert pop-up sprinklers to drip irrigation.

Backflow preventers or anti-siphon devices prevent the irrigation system's water from re-entering your water supply and contaminating your drinking water when the system is turned off, and a requirement in most areas.

Pressure regulators or reducers make home water pressure compatible with the drip irrigation system. Without these devices the typical home water supply has too much pressure for a drip irrigation system.

Filters prevent debris from clogging the tubing and emitters. Some pressure regulators have built-in filters.

Flexible tubing transports the water. Black or brown coloring allows the tubing to blend in with soil and mulch. Ultraviolet (UV) resistance protects the tubing fromdeterioration caused by the sun.

Fittings connect system components.

Stakes secure tubing and support emitters to prevent clogging by soil, debris or bugs. Some stakes have built-in emitters.

Riserselevate emitters above the tops of the plants.

Timers turn the water on and off at times you set. Timers can prevent overwatering, minimize wasted water and allow your system to function as an automatic watering system. Some can connect to home automation systems for control from a computer or smart device. Certain smart devices can even regulate watering schedules based on weather activity and provide reports on water usage, making them ideal smart home solutions.

Hole punches create insertion points in the tubing to connect emitters or smaller-diameter tubing.

Cuttersmake clean cuts in different size tubing. Some cutters can also function as hole punches.

Plugs securely stop up holes you punched by mistake. Plugs also allow you to move emitters without replacing the tubing.

Emitters insert into the tubing and discharge the water into the soil or onto plants. A gallons per hour (GPH) rating indicates the flow rate. The flow rate you need will vary depending on the type of plants you're watering and your soil type. Emitters have a rating for the maximum water pressure they can accept, noted in pounds per square inch (PSI). Pressure compensating emitters deliver a constant flow rate even if the water pressure varies. Turbulent flow emitters feature a design that helps prevent clogging. Drip irrigation systems can include drippers, bubblers and misters.

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Drip Irrigation System Buying Guide - Hardware Store