Questions and Answers

Important AQUAMISER and most other brands of fittings for 0.5" (13mm i/d) hose are of the push-fit ("barbed") type. If your main water pressure is higher than 28lb/in (2 bar or 2kg/cm), barbed joints in hoses made from certain materials may not be strong enough to withstand it. Regulate the pressure at the tap and/or secure the hose fittings with jubilee-type hose clips.

Water pressure? Performance of the system depends on both the main pressure and the number of units installed on one supply. The only way to assess this is to install the system progressively and add units accordingly. Take care not to run Sprays at too high a pressure or the spray heads will be forced out of their feeder Tubes. Drips run best at low pressure or they will jet and/or the adjusters will be blown out. To make best use of available water pressure the supply tube needs to be installed as a "ring main". Take the supply from the tap to the start of the area to be watered then attach a T-junction and run the system supply tube from and back to this.

Water supply? Ideally you will use a water tank to recycle domestic grey water (from bathing or washing up etc) or collect rainwater, and use this with a pump to supply your system (see Saving Water). With very few exceptions, you will need to pressurise the supply. For guidance please see our Installation Guides. In the UK you must use an anti-siphon valve to prevent contamination of your domestic water supply when connecting a hose to a garden tap supplied by mains water. The valve is often incorporated into the tap connector and these are widely available at garden shops. If using a water tank fed from the mains there must be a proper air gap, again to prevent contamination. We suggest you contact your main water supplier about regulations applicable to your area.

How to make holes in the Supply Tube? The pointed end of the ground spike of any Assembly or of Tube Support code 587 makes the right hole in our Supply Tube. Alternatively use a small pointed instrument to make a pilot hole, then a crosshead screwdriver or similar to enlarge it to 4mm maximum.

How to make watertight connections? Soften the tube end or point of connection with very hot water. The Connectors will push into place more easily and the tube will shrink around the barb as it cools, thus creating a better joint. Make each joint smartly and do not move the Connector whilst the tube is cooling down.

How to adjust Drips (screw type)? Gently turn the Adjuster and at the same time pull out (to increase flow) or push in (to decrease). The thread on the Adjuster is to conduct the water, not to act as a screw. When pushed fully in, the Adjuster releases the minimum amount of water (ie it does not turn the water off). Note that Drips work best on a dedicated section supplied through a Stop/Control Valve code 875, thus allowing the flow to be restricted. They need low pressure and will work in small applications by gravity feed only given a suitable head of water.

How to use the Extender Kit code 584? Contains extra Ground Spikes to lift Sprays to clear foliage (although watering at soil level is always best) and extra Feeder Tubes to move them further from the supply. Push the spiked end of the Spray assembly through the aperture at the top of the Extender Support until firmly located. Connect the Extender Tube to the supply, push the Spray Feeder Connector into the other (open) end and position the assembly for watering.