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How to Connect PVC Pipe to Drip Lines in Raised Beds
How to Connect PVC Pipe to Drip Lines in Raised Beds. Drip irrigation tubing can be buried and used as a water supply line, but PVC is stronger, more stable and comes in more sizes. Connecting PVC pipe to flexible drip lines is easy using simple, inexpensive PVC fittings. The water line does have to be reduced to 1/2 inch for barbed end fitting....
Drip irrigation tubing can be buried and used as a water supply line, but PVC is stronger, more stable and comes in more sizes. Connecting PVC pipe to flexible drip lines is easy using simple, inexpensive PVC fittings. The water line does have to be reduced to 1/2 inch for barbed end fitting. Also, if PVC pipe is buried you will have to add other fittings and cut risers to bring the water supply to the ground level of raised beds.
Things You'll Need
PVC cutter
Hacksaw
Coarse sandpaper
Clean rag
PVC fittings
PVC glue/cement
1/2 inch schedule 80 PVC pipe
1/2 inch drip irrigation tubing
Rustproof clamp
Screwdriver
Make the PVC to Tubing Assembly and Attach Tubing
Note the size of the PVC water supply line. You will need fittings to reduce it to 1/2 inch to accept the PVC to tubing adapter because it only comes to fit 1/2 inch PVC pipe.
Use a PVC cutter or hacksaw to cut a small length of 1/2 inch schedule 80 PVC pipe just long enough to fit inside the slip connections of a 1/2 inch PVC 90 degree elbow (if connecting to a riser) or a reducer (if the PVC is already above ground) and a 1/2 inch slip connection to 1/2 inch barbed PVC adapter.
Remove any rough edges or stray plastic particles with coarse sandpaper and wipe all with a clean cloth.
Glue these pieces together with PVC cement by coating the pipe and the fittings to be joined together and quickly twisting and pressing them together.
Slip a rustproof clamp over the trimmed end of 1/2 inch drip irrigation tubing.
Push the barbed end of the assembly you just made into the tubing and tighten the clamp around the tubing and the fitting.
Added Steps if the PVC is Buried
Buy a 90 degree elbow if you are working with a terminal end of the water supply or or similar fitting if you are going to connect other beds to the same water supply. Buy fittings with slip connections on all sides and get them so that one side or sides fit the supply pipe but the remaining one for the riser is 1/2 inch. Buy reducing sleeves if necessary.
Measure the distance between the buried pipe and the surface of the raised beds and cut risers this length from schedule 80 PVC pipe. Clean the cuts.
Glue the risers into the fittings.
Connect the PVC to the Drip Irrigation System
Cut the PVC water supply line where you want to connect it to drip irrigation tubing.
Glue the fittings with the risers to PVC supply line so that the risers point straight up.
Glue whichever assembly you built for the drip tubing conversion to the top of the PVC riser or the above ground PVC pipe using PVC cement.
Tips & Warnings
You can glue everything together and then attach the drip irrigation tubing, but you will not have the leverage you get with the PVC to barbed fitting free and not connected.
Flush out the irrigation lines before sealing the system.
