DIY drip irrigation

spereira · March 15, 2015

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[However I am in the process of changing over to 1/2 drip line. I no longer feel comfortable with using PVC exposed for long periods of time to heat and sun. It may be safe but for now I am switching to polyethylene drip line.

I see more advantages than disadvantages. Polyethylene drip line is cheaper than PVC. 500 feet of 1/2 inch drip line is about $100. 500 feet of 3/4 PVC is a little more $ but a lot more $ if I have to use 1 inch pipe. I can use much longer runs and water a larger garden all at once. I feel more confident that polyethylene is a safer plastic for the garden]

I never thought about the toxic effects of pvc exposed to sunlight. I had planned on burying or covering with black plastic mulch.

The 1/2 poly tube is a tad more expensive but perhaps worth it for ease of use etc.

zeuspaul · March 16, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by spereira

The 1/2 poly tube is a tad more expensive but perhaps worth it for ease of use etc.

If you are going to install drippers in the PVC similar to the ones Worth linked then I don't see the cost savings. The drippers are about 25 cents each. You can find 1/2 inch drip line for that price and it has the drippers built in.

Rags linked drip tubing which is cheaper yet, however drip tubing does not have the drippers built in.

Cole_Robbie · March 16, 2015

I agree. I use drip tape. I have a fertilizer injector, but have only put very soluble ferts in it. I have considered building a pipe and dripper system so that I can have easier access to the emitters to see if they are clogging up. That would let me run organic ferts through the injector, a lot of which tend to be goopy and cause clogs. If I clog up my drip tape under black plastic, I'm not going to realize it until the plants start to wither.

March 15, 2015	#1
spereira Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: northern MN Posts: 26	. [However I am in the process of changing over to 1/2 drip line. I no longer feel comfortable with using PVC exposed for long periods of time to heat and sun. It may be safe but for now I am switching to polyethylene drip line. I see more advantages than disadvantages. Polyethylene drip line is cheaper than PVC. 500 feet of 1/2 inch drip line is about $100. 500 feet of 3/4 PVC is a little more $ but a lot more $ if I have to use 1 inch pipe. I can use much longer runs and water a larger garden all at once. I feel more confident that polyethylene is a safer plastic for the garden] I never thought about the toxic effects of pvc exposed to sunlight. I had planned on burying or covering with black plastic mulch. The 1/2 poly tube is a tad more expensive but perhaps worth it for ease of use etc.

March 16, 2015	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I agree. I use drip tape. I have a fertilizer injector, but have only put very soluble ferts in it. I have considered building a pipe and dripper system so that I can have easier access to the emitters to see if they are clogging up. That would let me run organic ferts through the injector, a lot of which tend to be goopy and cause clogs. If I clog up my drip tape under black plastic, I'm not going to realize it until the plants start to wither.