Convert Your Sprinkler System to Drip Irrigation

It can be daunting to make the switch to drip irrigation if you've already invested in a sprinkler system. However, making the change may be one of the best things you can do for your garden. Drip irrigation systems have many advantages over traditional sprinklers, though sprinklers like K-Rain offer an affordable and functioning way to irrigate plants for those just getting started. Drip irrigation brings water directly to the roots of your plants, minimizing runoff and potential for disease from damp leaves. Fortunately, converting your sprinkler system to drip irrigation simply requires a conversion kit and some basic know-how.

Converting Your Sprinkler to Drip Irrigation

If you've decided to convert from a sprinkler system to drip irrigation, then the good news is that all of the hard work has already been accomplished. With the original sprinkler installation and piping complete, you only need a few conversion materials to transition the sprinkler head to a drip irrigation emitter. Be sure that the sprinkler heads you are converting are not in the same zone as other sprinklers meant to be used for watering grass. Because of the differences in water output and time required for each to run, both sprinkler heads and drip emitters running off the same valve will lead to decreased function for each.

Practical First Steps

To get started, you'll need to first turn off the water and remove the sprinkler heads you are converting. The sprinkler head is often attached to a PVC riser that might be buried, requiring a bit of digging to find the base. The riser will be either ½" or ¾" male pipe thread, and it's essential you determine the correct size. If the riser is ¾", you will need a threaded reducing coupler to convert the size to ½".

From here, connect the conversion fitting to each riser. After this has been added, you are all set to begin connecting your drip irrigation system. This will involve utilizing the PVC fittings and poly-tubing that come with your conversion kit. Blu Lock fittings can be an excellent choice for your system as well because they utilize push-lock technology, avoiding the frustration of ill-fitting connectors and PVC glue. If you didn't include a filter or a pressure regulator on your sprinkler system, then it is recommended you connect both to your new drip irrigation line. These will ensure your system won't get clogged and continues to work properly through water pressure changes.

At DripWorks, we offer two different conversion kits depending on your specific needs. The 8-way Sprinkler to Drip Conversion Kit offers a way to water a wide variety of plants in the ground, raised beds or containers. The ½" Sprinkler to Drip Conversion Kit is best for a specific area of garden beds or isolated planting areas. Once you've finally made the conversion, you can go ahead and enjoy all the benefits that drip irrigation brings to your garden.