Use the equation in our Water Flow Rate Guide to calculate the flow rate from your tap. Then, use the below calculation to check if your water flow rate is sufficient to run your required length of drip line.

(Required length ÷ Dripper Spacing) x L/h Output from Each Emitter = Total Water Output Overall

Working Example: (50m ÷ 0.33) x 2 L/h = 303 L/h

If your required length is to water a 50-metre hedge row and your dripper spacing is 33cm emitting 2 litres per hour from each emitter, you would need a minimum flow rate from your tap of around 300 - 350 litres per hour.

Pressure Compensating Drip Line is ideal for vegetable patches, garden beds, hedges, and nature strips across varying terrains. Pressure-compensated emitters ensure consistent water delivery along the entire length regardless of the location or elevation of each dripper within the system.

HydroSure 17mm Drip Line is ideal when running longer lengths of pipe. Ideal for larger garden beds, hedges, and nature strips, the larger diameter reduces pipe friction reducing pressure loss allowing more efficient watering across longer distances.

We recommend choosing HydroSure13/14mm Anti-Siphon Drip Line.

The in-built drippers feature anti-siphon mechanisms which compensate for and balance differential pressure. The vacuum within the pipe prevents the aspiration of soil and sand particles through the dripper outlet. 

Common Drip Line Problems

Dry spots and some drippers not working: Over time emitters can become clogged with insects or dirt. Flush the system by removing the end caps and switching on the water flow to flush out any debris.

Structural Damage: Digging in the garden can pierce the pipe wall and affect emitter performance. Walk along the length of your drip line whilst the system is switched on to see if there is any visible damage. For drip line that has been buried, check for areas where water is pooling which might indicate a split pipe. Damaged irrigation pipe is easily replaced by cutting out the damaged pipe using Pipe Cutters and connecting the drip line back together using a Barbed/Nut Lock Joiner.

Pressure Loss: Make sure any open end of the drip line is plugged using an End Cap. This maintains water pressure at the correct level for emitters to function.

For easy connection between your hose pipe and drip line, use an Accessory Adaptor to join the Hose End Connector from your garden hose to a Barbed Tap Connector or Nut Lock Tap Connector compatible with your drip line. 

You can also use LDPE Irrigation Pipe to take water to your drip line system, simply join each length using a Barbed or Nut Lock Joiner that fits the diameter of your pipe. Top Tip: Use a Reducing Joiner if you are using a supply pipe and drip line of different sizes.

Connect a small drip line system from a Water Butt. We recommend using 4mm drip line or a short length of up to 15 metres of 14mm Non-Pressure Compensated Drip Line or Micro Drip Line. Top Tip: Irrigation systems fed directly from a water butt rely completely on the pressure generated from gravity. To increase the pressure, raise the height of your water butt by installing it on a Water Butt Stand. For more information, visit our Water Butt Irrigation System Guide.

HydroSure Drip Line is manufactured from high-quality weather-resistant materials and can remain in place without uplifting at the end of the watering season. To further prolong the life of the pipe structure and emitter outlets, flush the system throughout the watering season and at the time of final watering before the winter months. To flush a drip line, remove the End Caps and switch the system on for 2-3 minutes to allow any internal debris to wash out. Switch the system off and allow the pipe to drain before replacing the end caps to ensure there is no sitting water. Once the system has finished draining, replace the end caps to prevent insects from crawling in and blocking emitter outlets.

Top Tip: A Flushing Valve or Adjustable Valve can be installed instead of an end cap for dual-functioning flushing and draining capabilities without cutting the pipe and purchasing new end caps each time. 

Both Soaker Hose and Dripline are effective watering methods as they deliver water directly to the plant's roots. Drip line, however, delivers a uniform application of water with much longer run lengths up to 200 metres that are both consistent and easily measurable by litre per hour output. Dripline is also available with built-in Pressure Compensation ideal for sloped terrain and Anti-Siphon varieties for reliable protection against debris-clogging the emitters when installed sub-surface.

A soaker hose is a more flexible irrigation method as water seeps through the porous layers along the length rather than at individually spaced outlets where the drip line is concerned. Whilst the soaker hose is easier to set up as it is compatible with connectors that fit a regular garden hose pipe, it is limited to run lengths of up to 30 metres when using a 13mm Soaker Hose and up to 80 metres when using a 16mm Soaker Hose.

The accurate and reliable delivery of water from drip line requires initial expense and maintenance in terms of additional Filters and system flushing to minimise emitter blockages. Soaker hose, however, tends not to block so requires minimal planning when building a soaker hose system.