Save water and retrofit your existing sprinklers with drip

 

Option 1 - Threaded Bubblers and Emitters

 

Replace each sprinkler with pressure compensating drip bubblers or emitters and run 1/4” tubing from the riser to your plants. Single-outlet emitters allow you to run 1/4" drip tubing to individual plants. With a 6-outlet bubbler on top of a 1/2” riser, you can run up to 6 1/4” drip tubes from the bubbler.

 

The emitters and bubblers operate at 10 psi - 40 psi. Check your water pressure before installing. If your pressure is 40 psi or less, you are good to go. If not, you will need to install a pressure regulator.

 

Pressure Compensating Emitters

Option 1 - Threaded Bubblers and Emitters

Replace each sprinkler with pressure compensating drip bubblers or emitters and run 1/4” tubing from the riser to your plants. Single-outlet emitters allow you to run 1/4" drip tubing to individual plants. With a 6-outlet bubbler on top of a 1/2” riser, you can run up to 6 1/4” drip tubes from the bubbler.

The emitters and bubblers operate at 10 psi - 40 psi. Check your water pressure before installing. If your pressure is 40 psi or less, you are good to go. If not, you will need to install a pressure regulator.

There are three emitters available:  1/2 gph (red inside), 1 gph (black inside), and 2 gph (green inside). The barbed tip accepts 1/4" drip micro tubing. To install, simply remove the sprinkler from the 1/2" threaded riser. You can screw the emitter directly onto the riser or add a Marlex elbow as described below.

 

Installation Tip: Use a Marlex Elbow for 90 degree turn

 

To run the 1/4" tubing parallel to the ground rather than straight up off of the riser, use a Marlex Elbow. This allows the tubing to run flat on the ground and avoids a trip hazard.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP ONE: Thread Marlex Elbow onto cut off riser. 

Use Teflon tape on pipe threads.

 

STEP TWO: Thread Emitter onto Marlex Elbow. 

 

STEP THREE: Push 1/4" drip micro tubing onto barbed end of Pressure Compensating Emitter

 

COMPLETED ASSEMBLY: 1/4" tubing can now be staked next to plant

 

Pressure Compensating Bubblers

There are up to 6 outlets available on each bubbler. Each small outlet distributes 6 gph (black), 10 gph (red), or 20 gph (green). They ship with one outlet open. Cut the tip off of outlets as you need them (see below). To install, simply remove the sprinkler from the 1/2" threaded riser. You can screw the bubbler directly onto the riser or add a Marlex elbow as described below.

 

 

Installing a Marlex elbow and bubbler

Insert filter (included)

Install Bubbler and attach 1/4" micro tubing

Cut tip off of the outlets you want to use (see below). Run tubing to plants and stake into place.

Installation Tip: Use a utility knife to open bubbler outlets 

 

 

  Use only the outlets you need.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEP ONE: Cut off the outlet tip.

It may be safer to screw the bubbler onto a 1/2" threaded riser for cutting.

1. Hold the bubbler against a hard surface and away from your body.

2. Place the blade against the outlet that you want to open.

3. Wiggle the blade back-and-forth while applying firm pressure.

 

STEP TWO: The tip of the outlet will cut off cleanly and is now ready for 1/4" drip tubing. 

Option 2 - Micro Jet Sprayers

Replace sprinklers with drip micro spray fittings. Swap out the sprinkler with a micro spray adapter. The adapter will accept threaded micro spray fittings. 

Micro Spray Adapter

 

Option 2 - Micro Jet Sprayers

Replace sprinklers with drip micro spray fittings. Swap out the sprinkler with a micro spray adapter. The adapter will accept threaded micro spray fittings.

 

The adapter threads directly onto a 1/2" riser. Micro jet fittings thread into the top.

 

Micro Jet/Spray fittings operate best between 10 psi - 30 psi. Check your water pressure before installing. If your pressure is 30 psi or less, you are good to go. If not, you will need to install a pressure regulator.

 

These spray fittings come in a variety of configurations from fixed patterns and outputs to adjustable spray and stream options. Click on any of the micro sprays below for product details.

 

Micro Spray Adapter Threads onto 1/2" Riser

 

 

Micro Sprays Thread into Adapter

 

One-Piece Micro Spray / Adjustable Stream Spray / Adjustable Micro Spray / Adjustable Rotary Spray

Option 3 - Cap Sprinklers & Add Drip Regulator to the Supply Line

 

Adding Drip Tubing Supply Line

 

Option 3 - Cap Sprinklers & Add Drip Regulator to the Supply Line

 

Cap off all of the sprinklers and add a standard drip system with 1/2” drip tubing and drip emitters. You can leave your irrigation valve in place. Just add a drip regulator, filter and swivel adaptor to the existing PVC line. From there your can add drip mainline tubing and drippers or emitter tubing. We carry a selction of adapter fittings (like the one below) that will help with most connections. 

An MH9 adapter elbow (with male hose threads) is glued onto 3/4" PVC pipe. The inline filter, drip regulator, and swivel adapter are then attached.  

 

Here's a list of all the parts discussed in this tutorial.

For a complete listing of all our irrigation products, Irrigation Direct