How to Install a Rain Bird Drip Irrigation System
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- In this DIY I will show you step-by-step how to install a Rain Bird drip irrigation system.
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Materials:
Rain Bird Drip Irrigation Repair and Expansion Kit - amzn.to/3kxWkJb
Rain Bird 25psi Pressure Regulator - www.homedepot....
Rain Bird Backflow Preventer - www.homedepot....
Rain Bird 1/4" Drip Tube Adapter - www.homedepot....
Orbit Programmable Hose Timer - amzn.to/3IEyfbA
Rain Bird Extra 1/4" Tubing (250ft) - amzn.to/3Y7xGwE
Rain Bird 2GPH Emitters - amzn.to/3kD4wI7
Rain Bird 1GPH Emitters - amzn.to/3ZnHgww
Rain Bird 0.5GPH Emitters - amzn.to/3xXvwF9
Rain Bird Tubing Stakes - amzn.to/3mce7Gm
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Tools:
I used a pair of tin snips to cut the tubing, but any pair of heavy duty scissors would work fine.
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Thanks for actually showing the steps and not pointing to something you already did. That helps
Sure thing - glad it helped!
Nicely done, thanks. I especially like that you don’t have an extended intro to your video. As entertaining as they may be, they waste my time! You definitely do not.
Thank you! And I completely understand where you’re coming from about the long intro videos!
Thank you. We get freezing temps and most years, some snow. The irrigation system for my lawn must be winterized. Wondering if water must be removed from tubes or if tubes must be taken indoors.
Thank you for this video, I like the step by step and actually showing what's being done. I'm going to order the kit now.
Glad it helped!
Hi, great instructions thanks! Question, how are you going to get the gutter water out of that area?
What do you do at the very end of the line? Is there a plug that's supposed to go in there? One didn't come in the package. Won't leaving it unplugged affect the amount of water coming out of the emitters?
At the end of your line you could either put in an emitter and put that on your last plant, or you could have a circular system where the end just ties back into the main line with a tee and forms one big circle.
@@hanoveroak Great idea! I will put my last emitter at the end. This video was so helpful. Thank you!
@@booch221 glad it helped!
A simple explanation to a simple system.. but I could not find the same on Rain Birds site- thanks. Most illustrations use a larger distribution tube, and imbed the emitter. Then, the 1/4" line runs to the destination. I plan on using your method, but I would assume the 1/4" line will limit the number of destinations due to its small diameter. I have four zones and will feed individually so I expect no problems? You also did not use the "bug" cap? I also plan to include the "Emitter" tubing in the system.... waiting for all the materials now.
Yeah as long as you don’t run the 1/4” for super long runs you will be fine! I didn’t use the big caps and have no issues so far! Thanks :)
I have a much larger area to cover. I'm going to use the black 1/2 " delivery tubing, then run the 1/4 brown tubing,each with an emtter to each plant or group of smaller plants. I think it would be easier to just punch the 1/4" tube into the main tube, rather than cutting the main tubing and using a T connector for each plant emmiter.
@@maryannferencak3799 your plan is right on target! And yes punching the 1/4” tubing into the 1/2” tubing will be much easier!
Very helpful! I have two questions at this time. Can I cover the tubing with shredded mulch? Are any measures needed for Zone 5 winters? Thank you.
Yes you can cover it in mulch. I’m not sure on the zone 5 winter though!
Excellent very clear information and instructions.
Thanks! Glad it helped!
My flower bed is about 50 feet from my faucet. Will this system work?
That is pretty far away. I would suggest using 1/2” tubing for your supply to get over to the flower bed and then branch off of that with 1/4” tubing.
@hanoveroak Thanks...Sounds complicated...I may just stick with my sprinkler and auto timer.
Do I need a backflow preventer if I’m attatching to my irrigation line and not my house water line?
No you do not as long as your irrigation system has a backflow preventer installed and it should!
thanks for uploading this helpful video.
just wondering, did you leave the tube outside during the winter time?
Sure thing! We covered the tubes with mulch but we are in Florida so we don’t typically have freeze issues. Would probably be a good idea to cover them up a bit if you’re up north.
Question! I set it up exactly how you did. But when I go back and watch the video from RainBird, it looks like they use a 1/2in tube then use this system to tap into it. Have you had any issues with this setup? thanks for the video!
I would have used 1/2” tubing if my hose bibb was far away from what I was watering and then tap into that with the 1/4” tubing. If your water source is more than about 10 feet away from the furthest plant, it would be a better idea to use 1/2” tubing as your main trunk and then branch off with the smaller tube for each plant. Hope this helps!
Gotcha. Yeah my hose bib is quite a ways away from my last plant. Trying to decide if I should re do it now! 😂
Seems to be working fine but I might have to run the water a bit longer? Thoughts?
@@Butch.Ernesta honestly if it’s working great I would leave it! Keep an eye on your plants and make sure they are getting enough water. If you need to change it to 1/2” tube it’s an easy fix!
@@hanoveroak Thanks man Ill keep you posted!
@@Butch.Ernesta sure thing! Feel free to shoot me an email (it’s in my TH-cam profile) if you want to bounce any ideas off me or show pics of your setup. Happy to help!
HI thanks for the video. Question: I ordered everything you described, but the Rain Bird Backflow Preventer that I got from Amazon is impossible to screw onto the Orbit timer as you directed. It almost looks like the mesh is to big for the opening. I know I ordered the correct one though. Question is: is the backflow preventer crucial? What is the possible risk? I am about to install it without it because I am in a rush. Thank you.
The backflow preventer keeps contaminated water from flowing back into your water pipes. With a small drip system you could maybe get away without one but I would recommend installing it to be on the safe side. Try removing the screen piece from the backflow preventer.
Just built my first garden this spring. I’m looking at adding this style of drip irrigation system. I just have a couple questions though and hopefully someone can help.
If I leave for a week or two for work and keep my water turned on, will this burst my pipes or irrigation system?
Also, does it run up a water bill leaving your water spigot turned on all day?
The spigot's turned on but water is only flowing when you set the timer to open so no reason it should run up the water bill. No reason it would burst your pipes unless it freezes. As for the irrigation system, whether you're on vacation or not it's just operating the way it's supposed to. Eventually it will fail, like everything else.
@@dandavis8300
Thanks for the response! I live in SW Louisiana and our yards don’t come with a sprinkler system so this irrigation system will be perfect!
Thanks, your video helps me to clarify a lot of questions!
Can I skip the pressure regulator?
Glad the video helped! You could try without it but I wouldn’t! They are pretty inexpensive so I would put one on to be safe.
Awesome video man it's so helpful! What did we do before we had TH-cam?lol thanks so much!
Thanks! So glad it helped! Yep TH-cam has really changed everything especially when it comes to DIY projects.
I currently use garden hoses on a similar timer for my lawn irrigation, and I might eventually add on a drip irrigation hose for my plants to help save water. Do you know if I want a backflow preventer on the garden hoses or just the drip irrigation hose?
You should still have a backflow preventer on the garden hose.
So if you buy the kit, you alsoneed to buy the other materials you have listed?
If you buy the kit, yes you will still need to buy the 25psi Pressure Regulator as well as the backflow preventer. The 1/4" drip tube adapter is included in the kit. Everything else I listed is in case you need extras after you've used up what's in the kit. Hope this helps!
@hanoveroak it does help and thank you for answering.
Great video. A few questions, the back flow preventer, it doesn't make sense to me, there's lots of water pressure going out compared to a sewage line where there isn't much. Also, all the soil between plants that doesn't get any water does it got very dry and hard? Thanks a lot.
A backflow preventer is required due to the potential for backsiphonage which is a reversal of flow caused by negative pressure in the supply line. You don’t want to have the potential for bacteria, fungus, fertilizer, etc that may be present in the soil, getting into your water supply. The soil between the plants still stays pretty moist because the water kinda saturates the whole area. If the plants were far apart, then yes, you may have some dry spots in between. But the main goal is to keep the area surrounding the plants and roots moist. Hope this helps!
@@hanoveroak Hi, thanks for this. I do have one last question, I see another guy asked the same thing, if I got a lot of footage to cover you're suggesting to use the 1/2 " tubings main trunk, but in the kit you got it says 250 ft 1/4" tubing, what's the point to have so much if you can't use it as far as 50' or 100' for the main tubing? Thanks!
@@lunama151 yes the kit only comes with the 1/4” tubing but if you buy everything separately you will probably end up spending more than just getting the kit even if you don’t end up using much of the 1/4”. You could easily use all that they give you if you have a large project with a lot of plants because you are still branching off the main 1/2” line and running 1/4” to each plant. Hope this helps!
Thank you.
Great job explaining your drip irrigation system installation and video! Just wondering, Rainbird makes an irrigation timer, is there a reason you chose an Orbit timer?
Thank you! I actually had the timer before I bought any of the drip supplies, so I used the Orbit. I’m sure the Rain Bird timer works great as well!
@otiswinters3674 - Rain Bird makes only a one-outlet hose timer (all their others are for in-ground installations). It's overpriced, too.
Howdy! In regard to garden timers, two years ago Home Depot had a "B-Hyve" four station timer on a clearance rack. I am about as computer literate as a friggin' CARROT, but I was able to set up FOUR stations... three for our garden drippers and one for a general purpose garden hose. And it's PROGRAMMABLE and can be controlled via manual OR Bluetooth. LOVE it!
PS... Has ANYONE figured out a reasonably easy way to REMOVE erroneously placed drip emitters from 1/2" plastic tubing? I need to 'fix' a couple of sections that my goofy brother-in-law tried to install while I was out of town for a few days.
@@PapasAnimals rain bird makes "goof plugs"
Can you install this underground for subsurface foundation watering?
The tubing could be buried but the emitters wouldn’t hold up and would get clogged with dirt and roots. If you could figure out something else to release the water, I think you would be fine to bury the tubes and fittings.
Nothing said about how many 1 gal emitters can a 1/4 line handle. That is the whole problem with drip systems, I have never seen any scaling
Good point here! However, I built a drip system 3 times this size in my backyard and I don’t have any flow issues. I think it’s just a trial and error thing. If you find you’re not getting enough flow you just create a second zone and water after the first zone is done.
How many feet are your main 1/4 inch tubes running?
No more than about 10-12 feet.
Just wondering why you used a pressure regulator? The Rain Drip system I'm looking at doesn't say a regulator is necessary.
The press fittings in this system could come off if the pressure is too high. It is recommended that you use a pressure regulators to keep the pressure at 25psi.
@@hanoveroak Ok thanks. I'll consider that.
How relliable this is?
Very reliable - we haven’t had any issues with it.
What about the pressure reducer? What was the psi?
You will want to install a 25psi pressure reducer. That way the press fitting for the drip system won’t pop off from pressure.
Nice!!
Thanks!
You're really limiting your flow by starting with a quarter inch line.
Yes but I don’t need a ton of flow for this project. If it was a bigger area I definitely would have used a larger main line.
can you mix the heads with drip and sprayers ?
Absolutely!