{"id":3508,"date":"2018-05-11T05:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2022-03-18T07:44:27","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T14:44:27","slug":"drip-irrigation-troubleshooting-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/drip-irrigation-troubleshooting-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation troubleshooting guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some say drip irrigation is the best. I half agree. I&#8217;d modify it to say that drip, including its cousin the micro-sprinkler, is better than other methods of irrigation for many situations, but that it does come with its own set of downsides and challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Yet I use it in most of my own yard, have for many years, on vegetables and fruit trees and, at least for me, its positives outweigh its negatives. The main reason I see drip irrigation in such a positive light is that I&#8217;ve learned to work around its weaknesses. That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m hoping to help you do in this troubleshooting guide.<\/p>\n<p>I teach workshops on using drip irrigation from time to time &#8212; in fact, I&#8217;ll be doing one tomorrow down at the <a href=\"http:\/\/rcdsandiego.org\/tijuana_river_valley_community_garden.aspx\">Tijuana River Valley Community Garden<\/a> &#8212; and I use this guide as a handout. In it, I try to be both brief and clear, but I recognize that many terms may not be familiar, so in this digital version I&#8217;ve linked to some images and descriptions (in blue). Here we go . . .<\/p>\n<p><strong>Installing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Warmth makes materials easier to work with so lay materials in sun, or<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Fill mug with hot water; dip tube end into, or<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Heat tube with match or lighter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8211;Tools can make work much easier: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B01GFVQM36\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01GFVQM36&amp;linkId=916d7cada9d71c22954aa93fa16b38a6\">a gun puncher<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B01GHERRH6\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01GHERRH6&amp;linkId=75f1b0c3f238b1dcf6bafaad36d35874\">a barb insertion tool<\/a> might be worth the money<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3546\" style=\"width: 408px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3546\" class=\" wp-image-3546\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-300x189.jpg\" alt=\"gun puncher tool and barb insertion tool for drip irrigation\" width=\"398\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-600x378.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-1024x645.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_20180510_212756-1080x681.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gun puncher and barb insertion tool.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Clogging<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B007AUDQXG\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B007AUDQXG&amp;linkId=73ea16ac25fec9171fac07f8d6ec276c\">Filters<\/a> are first line of defense<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B01986M5HM\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01986M5HM&amp;linkId=c537172831524e894b20e8468227d356\">Micro-sprinklers<\/a>: run at high pressure briefly to blast out debris; poke with toothpick; use large orifice models, as they clog less often<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Last emitter on line often clogs first; cut off and connect new segment with emitter<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Flush lines periodically by opening end, especially after repairing or adding new emitters\/lines<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Set automatic timer to run system while you are normally around to observe (not the middle of the night)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Larger \u201chalf inch\u201d tubing (thick as a carrot) clogs less often than smaller \u201cquarter inch&#8221; tubing (as thick as a pencil)<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3523\" style=\"width: 395px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3523\" class=\"wp-image-3523\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"half-inch drip line compared to quarter-inch drip line\" width=\"385\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line-1080x810.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/half-inch-drip-line-compared-to-quarter-inch-drip-line.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3523\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Half-inch drip line on left (with &#8220;flag&#8221; emitters), quarter-inch on right (with &#8220;inline&#8221; emitters)<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Watering Plants with Different Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Using emitters or micro-sprinklers with different water volume outputs allows plants with different water needs to be watered on same schedule (i.e. same valve\/station), or<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Use multiple emitters or micro-sprinklers on bigger\/thirstier plants<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;New vegetable or tree added? Handwater to supplement if necessary; vegetable will grow roots into surrounding soil after one or two weeks; tree will take one or two months; be sure emitter is directly over rootball at first (yet best to not touch stem)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Be not beholden to your drip system: For example, overhead water for carrot seed germination; occasionally spray potato foliage with hose to clean and prevent mites<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B01986AZA6\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01986AZA6&amp;linkId=a82ad1a82af6f76ca86e1d2e3d084f5c\">inline shut-off valves<\/a> gives increased flexibility; can add one to a line that serves one plant only or a line that serves multiple plants, and then adjust to control water flow<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3520\" style=\"width: 379px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-micro-sprinkler-for-fruit-tree.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3520\" class=\"wp-image-3520\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-micro-sprinkler-for-fruit-tree-287x300.jpg\" alt=\"inline shut-off valve on micro-sprinkler for fruit tree\" width=\"369\" height=\"386\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3520\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inline shut-off valve on micro-sprinkler for fruit tree.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3524\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3524\" class=\"wp-image-3524\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"inline shut-off valve on drip line for vegetables\" width=\"310\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-768x959.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-820x1024.jpg 820w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables-1080x1349.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/inline-shut-off-valve-on-drip-line-for-vegetables.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3524\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inline shut-off valve on drip line for vegetables.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Run Times and Frequencies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Most common error is not running system long enough at any one time<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Variables that affect how long and often to run system include: emitter output (higher output = less time needed); number of emitters per plant (more emitters = less time needed); soil type (sandier soil = less time needed, but needed more often because of less water-holding capacity); season (summer = more often, and winter = less often, but note that run time need not change); plants (avocados need more water than grapes); weather (heat wave makes plants thirstier); climate (plants inland need more water than plants near beach)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Because of numerous variables, always observe and adjust; dig to discover truth of soil moisture where the roots are<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Don\u2019t water again if soil still wet; don\u2019t water so much that penetrates far below roots<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;But for reference: Drip on vegetables for me have done well running system for approximately 45 minutes each time; in summer, at highest frequency, about every other day, but every two weeks in winter; my drip lines are 0.5 gallon per hour emitters spaced nine inches apart; soil is sandy loam; location is Ramona, twenty miles from ocean <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;And for reference: Micro-sprinklers on fruit trees for me have done well running system for approximately two to four hours each time; in summer, at highest frequency, it\u2019s about every 2-3 days for avocados, 3-5 days for citrus, 7-10 days for deciduous fruit trees<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Note that trees less than one year in ground need water more often than above<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Use tuna cans to estimate sprinkler output in inches; use a bucket (place sprinkler inside) to measure output in gallons<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3522\" style=\"width: 299px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3522\" class=\"wp-image-3522\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"tuna cans measuring micro-sprinkler output under fruit tree\" width=\"289\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/tuna-cans-measuring-micro-sprinkler-output-under-fruit-tree.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3522\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tuna cans measuring micro-sprinkler output under fruit tree. A tuna can is about an inch deep. Note how the sprinkler has filled the middle cans first.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Miscellaneous Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Changing where water is applied is easiest on plants if done in late winter through early spring; plants may die if done in summer or early fall<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Slopes and uneven output: use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B01G0YI0J2\/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=greald-20&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01G0YI0J2&amp;linkId=ae19963e31a17e2d448f9e68be63d649\">pressure-compensating emitters<\/a>, or; plant thirstier plants lower; water as infrequently but deeply as possible; install backflow prevention valve<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Slopes and runoff: first moisten soil surface with 1-3 minute pre-irrigation; slightly bury dripline; locate emitters and sprinklers uphill from plants; add coarse wood-chip mulch<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Sandy soil and raised beds: emitters must be spaced no farther than 12 inches to avoid \u201cchimneys\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Can test lateral spread of water in your soil by filling milkjug with water, poking hole near bottom, then after a day, digging to discover<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Fittings come apart: pressure might be too high; install regulator or manually keep low at faucet<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;Tripping hazard: bury tube; stake to prevent snaking and rising; insert wooden stake beside sprinkler<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3521\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3521\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3521\" src=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-300x215.jpg\" alt=\"wood stake to protect micro-sprinkler on fruit tree\" width=\"300\" height=\"215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-600x431.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-768x551.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree-1080x775.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/wood-stake-to-protect-micro-sprinkler-on-fruit-tree.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3521\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wood stake to indicate and protect micro-sprinkler on fruit tree. Stake has ancillary benefit of preventing the trunk from getting soaked, which helps prevent certain diseases.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There&#8217;s a lot more to drip irrigation, of course, but those are the most commonly challenging topics as far as my experience goes.<\/p>\n<p>Would you like a copy? Click on this link for a pdf download of the handout version: <a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Drip-Irrigation-Troubleshooting-Guide-by-Greg-Alder-at-The-Yard-Posts-1.pdf\">&#8220;Drip Irrigation Troubleshooting Guide.&#8221;<\/a> This version is two pages long and doesn&#8217;t include the introduction or any photos. It&#8217;s just the meat. But feel free to keep it on your computer or phone, print it and post it in your shed, photocopy it and give it to a gardener friend.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>You might also like to read my other posts:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/how-long-to-run-drip-irrigation-on-vegetables\/\">How long to run drip irrigation on vegetables<\/a><\/h1>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/how-to-water-a-newly-planted-avocado-tree\/\">How to water a newly planted avocado tree<\/a><\/h1>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/get-your-hands-dirty-discover-the-truth-about-your-irrigation-practices\/\">Get your hands dirty: discover the truth about your irrigation practices<\/a><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some say drip irrigation is the best. I half agree. I&#8217;d modify it to say that drip, including its cousin the micro-sprinkler, is better than other methods of irrigation for many situations, but that it does come with its own set of downsides and challenges. Yet I use it in most of my own yard, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-3508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-water-and-irrigation","tag-drip-irrigation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation troubleshooting guide - Greg Alder&#039;s Yard Posts: Southern California food gardening<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My best solutions to problems with drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation, including inserting fittings, clogging, slopes, plants with different needs, design for vegetables and fruit trees, and run times and frequencies.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/drip-irrigation-troubleshooting-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation troubleshooting guide - 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