The Top 10 Most Common Drip Irrigation Mistakes

Drip irrigation is a fantastic way to water your plants, but it's not foolproof like any system. Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes. Some try to take shortcuts, while some may overlook important details. Unfortunately, these small mistakes can create big headaches later in the form of wasted water, unhealthy plants, and costly repairs. The good news is that most of these mistakes are easy to avoid with a bit of knowledge and planning.

So, what are these common drip irrigation mistakes, and how can they damage your system? Read on to learn.

1. No Research and Planning

Many gardeners rush into installing drip irrigation without proper planning and research. They need help understanding their plants' water requirements, their garden layout, or the flow rate of their water source. This lack of knowledge can result in serious issues, such as uneven watering, system overloading, or using the wrong irrigation products.

Taking a little time to plan makes all the difference. Learn how much water your plants need, check your water pressure vs. flow rate, and sketch your garden's layout. Then, pick the right tubing, emitters, and fittings.

If you're looking for professional tips on setting up a drip irrigation system, check out our Gallery of Plans and DripWorks Drip Planning Guide.

2. Ignoring Pressure Issues

One of the common drip irrigation mistakes is not checking the water pressure. Even most gardeners don't know their spigot's pressure and don't bother to measure it.

Drip irrigation systems installed in vegetable gardens and backyards are mostly low-pressure and work best at less than 30 PSI. If the pressure is too high, emitters might squirt rather than drip, tubing can burst, or fittings may pop off. On the other hand, if the pressure is too low, water will not flow evenly, leaving some plants underwater.

How can you avoid water pressure issues?

We have a simple solution! Use a pressure gauge and a pressure regulator. The pressure gauge will help you check and monitor your PSI, and the pressure regulator maintains consistent pressure across your system. Pressure is the force pushing the water through your drip tubing, so make sure you have sufficient pressure to run your system.

3. Not Checking Flow Rate

Just like water pressure, not checking the flow rate is a common drip irrigation mistake. Water flow issues can happen due to kinked drip lines, leaks, root intrusion, or problems with your water source. If your system demands more water than your source can supply, your system will not work properly, and plants may not get enough water.

Therefore, before starting drip irrigation, calculate how much water your system needs and make sure your source can meet that demand. For example, if you have 100 emitters rated at 1 GPH, your system will need at least 100 GPH water flow to work effectively. If your system has a lower flow, you can reduce the number of emitters, use lower-flow drippers, or split your system into multiple zones to reduce demand.

But how can you monitor the water flow?

It is very easy! Consider adding a water meter to your drip system, whether you're installing a new one or upgrading an existing one. You can also use the DripWorks Flow Rate Calculator.

4. Skipping Filters

Many gardeners assume that water from a clean source can be okay without filtration. Unfortunately, they're wrong. Even if you're using clean, potable water, your drip system can run into trouble.

Municipal water systems, wells, or tanks can introduce debris into your irrigation lines, and using organic fertilizers can worsen the situation by leaving residues. This debris can clog emitters and reduce or even stop the water flow.

Therefore, installing a filter is an easy and effective way to protect your system. At a minimum, you must install a basic screen filter. For in-depth filtration, sand media and disc filters most effectively remove organic particles. Drip systems typically require filtration of at least 120 mesh (125 microns) to prevent clogs.

Make sure you clean or replace filters regularly for optimal performance and longevity of your drip irrigation.

Also Read: What are the Different Types of Filters For Your Irrigation System?

5. Not Using Proper Fittings

Gardening with drip irrigation is fantastic, but kinked tubing can mess up your system.

All tubing can experience some kinking. Tubing with a large inside diameter (ID) is more prone to kinking, especially when bent sharply or twisted. Kinks can block water flow, causing uneven watering and leaving your plants thirsty.

Kinks usually happen when you try to make sharp turns without using proper fittings like elbows. Therefore, when buying connectors and fittings, you should double-check the compatibility of your tubing. The dimensions of the tubing should match those of adapters, connectors, and fittings to prevent potential kinks.

Many gardeners prefer elbow fittings for smooth 90-degree turns in pipes, tubing, or hoses. Mainline tubing may kink on corners, so every turn must have an elbow fitting.

How can you fix kinks?

It may be possible to fix kinks by simply untwisting the tubing, laying it in the sun to soften it, or running water through the system to pressurize and smooth out minor kinks. However, severe kinks may require cutting out the damaged section and reconnecting the tubing with a coupler. Additionally, regularly inspect tubing for wear, kinks, or damage.

6. Incorrect Emitter Placement

Many gardeners assume that all emitters provide uniform coverage regardless of placement. Unfortunately, they're wrong.

Emitters are designed to deliver water directly to the plant's root zone. However, if the emitters' placements and spacing don't cover the root zone, the plant can dry out.

How can you address this problem?

Check the spacing and placement of emitters and adjust them to cover your plants' root zones. For example, row crops may require emitters spaced closely to cover a strip of soil, while large plants often need multiple emitters spaced farther apart to cover their wider root zones.

Consider using adjustable emitters such as shrubblers to customize water distribution according to your plant needs.

7. Using the Wrong Emitters

Another common drip irrigation mistake is using the wrong type of emitter. This often happens when gardeners don't fully understand the flow rates or use the same type of emitters for all plants.

To avoid this mistake, you need to choose emitters with the right flow rate for each plant type. There are two main types of emitters: pressure-sensitive and non-pressure-compensating. Pressure-compensating emitters are better because they deliver a steady flow even if the water pressure changes.

Emitters also come at different flow rates and are usually color-coded. Since color codes vary between brands, it is best to buy all emitters from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility.

8. Overloading Your System

Many gardeners add too many drippers/emitters to a single drip line to water more plants. While this seems like a good idea, it can overload your drip system. When too many drippers are on one line, the water pressure drops, and the drippers may not work properly. This will also result in uneven water distribution. Plants at the far end of the line may get little or no water, while those closer to the water source might get overwatered.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Calculate how many emitters your system can handle based on its flow rate. For example, if your system has a flow rate of 240 GPH and you use 1 GPH emitter, the system can support approximately 240 emitters.

For individuals with large gardens or fields, split your system into multiple zones and water each zone separately.

9. Wrong Mainline Size

Using an overly large mainline is a common mistake that can reduce the efficiency of your drip irrigation system. If the mainline is too small, it creates bottlenecks, reducing water flow to the emitters. On the other hand, using a mainline that is too large can increase costs without offering any benefits.

How to avoid it?

The mainline size should accommodate the maximum expected flow rate without excessive friction loss. For example, ½-inch tubing is ideal for smaller gardens, while ¾-inch tubing is better for larger setups with higher water demands. Keep the total length of your mainline under 200 feet in a single zone. Use a tee fitting for smooth water distribution.

10. Failing to Winterize the System

Lastly, many people, especially those living in mild climates, assume that winterizing their drip irrigation system isn't necessary. But that's not true. Even in areas where freezing temperatures are rare, a sudden cold snap can cause water left in tubing, emitters, or fittings to freeze.

When water freezes, it expands, leading to broken emitters and damaged fittings. These issues can result in costly repairs and replacements.

How to cope with this issue?

1. Always prepare your system before the first frost.
2. Drain all the water from the system to prevent freezing, and disconnect components like timers, filters, and pressure regulators to store them indoors.
3. Any irrigation that cannot be removed should be completely drained and covered to protect it from the cold.

Also Read: Winterizing an Irrigation System

The Bottom Line

You've made it, and now you have a list of 10 common drip irrigation mistakes and how to avoid them. Get the right mainline to maintain good pressure and even water distribution. Plan carefully and use the right elbow fittings to keep your tubing kink-free. Don't ignore installing proper filters to prevent clogs, especially if you're adding organic fertilizers.

Lastly, give your system a winter check to avoid damage. Watch out for these mistakes, and your drip irrigation system will thank you later in the form of excellent crops.