Mainline Tubing Buying Guide

24 Jun.,2024

 

Mainline Tubing Buying Guide

Mainline Tubing Buying Guide

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How do you know which mainline tubing is best for you?

There are several options for tubing in irrigation systems; these options include PVC, Blu Lock, IPS, or LDPE. The most common tubing used for drip systems is low-density poly mainline (LDPE).

The PVC pipe can handle high, constant pressure which makes it ideal for sprinkler irrigation systems. The PVC pipe is buried underground and used to move water from a water source to different locations throughout the system. The PVC pipe is classified as "schedule" or "class". Scheduled PVC is categorized by wall thickness. A schedule 40 PVC pipe will have the same wall thickness for every size from 1/2" to 10" or bigger. The pressure rating for schedule PVC will change with pipe size. We carry PVC Schedule 40 PVC fittings in 1/2", 3/4", and 1" sizes. Additional sizes can be specially ordered. PVC pipes come in 10ft and 20ft length, and the best place to buy them is your neighborhood hardware store.

"Class" PVC pipe is a different labeling system. Rather than categorization by wall thickness, the "class" designation rates the internal pressure that the pipe can take instead. A "class 200" PVC pipe can take 200 psi, no matter what the diameter of pipe is. If you need to move a large amount of water a long distance at a medium pressure, "class" PVC might be the best option for you. If you have high pressure and a low volume of water, then "schedule" PVC could be the better choice.

Blu lock tubing is a type of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) that can be used in place of PVC pipe. Blu Lock tubing offers extreme flexibility and does not require any glue or clamps. The manufacturer of Blu Lock tubing has created a line of reusable compression lock fittings specifically for their tubing which can be installed easily by hand. The benefit of Blu Lock tubing is the increased flexibility and ease of installation. This tubing can handle a higher pressure than our traditional low-density poly tubing. Blu lock tubing must be placed after a shut-off valve or timer as it cannot handle constant pressure. We carry Blu Lock tubing in 1/2", 3/4", and 1" sizes. Additional sizes can be specially ordered.

IPS tubing is another type of HDPE tubing that can be used in place of PVC pipe for areas that require more flexibility. IPS tubing must be placed after a valve or timer. The IPS tubing will use standard PVC fittings and will require PVC glue to create a seal. We carry IPS tubing in 1/2" and 3/4" sizes. Additional sizes can be in special order.

DripWorks has several size options of low-density (LDPE) tubing to fit your irrigation needs.

Use this chart as a guide to begin narrowing down your search for the right size mainline:

Tubing Size (ID-OD)

Maximum Flow Rate

Pressure Loss per 100'

Maximum row length

Maximum PSI

1/4" Micro Tubing

1/4" 0.17" ID-0.25" OD

0.5 GPM or 30 GPH

N/A

30'

30 PSI

1/2" Mainline

1/2" 0.60" ID-0.70" OD

4 GPM or 240 GPH

Approximately 7 PSI

Roughly 400'

50 PSI

3/4" Mainline

3/4" 0.83" ID-0.94" OD

8 GPM or 480 GPH

3-4 PSI

Roughly 800'

50 PSI

Let's go over this information in more depth.

First, every manufacturer of poly tubing has a different standard for sizing their tubing. Unlike PVC, there is no industry standard for poly tubing sizing. You will see that our 1/2" tubing is technically closer to a true 3/4" and the 3/4" is closer to a true 1". It is very important when buying poly tubing and fittings that you pay close attention to the ID and OD listed to ensure your tubing and fittings are compatible. We suggest you purchase your fittings and tubing from the same source. Poly tubing is a great choice for a drip irrigation system because it offers more flexibility than PVC pipe and poly tubing does not require glue, just some simple fittings.

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Here is a guide to help you determine which size tubing you currently have:

The first step to selecting the right size mainline tubing for your system is to check your available flow rate. To check your flow rate, use our flow calculator online and follow the instructions in our video.

You will want to pick a tubing that gives you access to as much of your flow rate as possible, without being too large. If you have 5 GPM available from your source, your mainline choice would be between 1/2" polyethylene and 3/4" polyethylene. The 1/2" poly tubing has a flow capacity of 4 GPM which is close to the available flow rate from your water source, which makes it an ideal choice. The 3/4" poly tubing has a flow capacity of 8 GPM, which is higher than the 1/2" poly tubing.

The other factor that will help you determine what size tubing is right for your system is the amount of flow your system will require. For instance, if you are only watering three small garden beds but have 8 GPM available from your water source, what mainline size is going to be the best option? Our small garden bed kit, which can water three garden beds, uses approximately 1.3 GPM, so the 1/2" mainline is more than enough to supply those garden beds with water. Using the larger 3/4" mainline tubing because your available flow rate is higher, would increase the cost of your irrigation system and not offer much benefit.

The small tubing that is commonly referred to as "spaghetti tubing" comes in either a poly or vinyl option. The vinyl tubing has a slightly thicker wall than the poly tubing, but they will both use the same 1/4" fittings. While both the poly and vinyl options are pliable and can be circled or snaked throughout your plants, the vinyl is a much softer tubing. This is great when you need something extremely flexible, but it does have its downside. Vinyl tubing does not handle heat well. As the tubing gets warmer, it gets softer. If you live in a warm climate area where it often reaches 80 degrees during your growing season, vinyl tubing is not going to be your best choice as fittings could become loose and pop-off when the tubing becomes soft in warm weather. You will want to stick with the slightly more rigid 1/4" poly tubing for a worry-free system.

Choosing the mainline size should be easy once you know your flow rate and flow rate usage requirements of your drip system. At DripWorks, we carry the best products from some of the biggest names in the irrigation industry, such as Netafim, Rain Bird, and Irritec, to ensure that the products you purchase from us will be of the highest quality.

What Material Is Best For Storm Sewer Pipes?

Storm sewer drainage systems are crucial in the prevention of flooding. They help to divert excess rain and groundwater which runs off impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roofs, paved streets, and sidewalks into nearby waterways through a system of drains and underground pipes. 

Storm sewer systems can range in design from simple residential drainage to complex municipal drains.

Different piping materials are used in the construction of storm sewers. The best pipe material for the project depends on the type of system being designed, the depth of installation, and the loads being exerted on the pipe.

4 Types of Storm Sewer Pipes

  1. Reinforced Concrete Pipe

  2. HDPP &#; High Density Polypropylene Smooth Interior

  3. PVC &#; Polyvinyl Chloride

  4. HDPE &#; High-Density Polyethylene Smooth Interior

Here are the common types of storm sewer piping and their applications:

1. Reinforced Concrete Pipe

Reinforced concrete pipes are one of the strongest and most heavy duty options for storm sewer piping. They are heavy and quite challenging to install. Large equipment must be used to move, lift, and lay them. They have shorter lay lengths than other types of pipe, typically 8 feet.

RCP is best for use in projects where very shallow installations are a must. In shallow installations, there is not much cover on top of a sewer pipe, and this makes it more susceptible to damage by heavy traffic. 

With RCP, large machinery can drive on it without damaging the pipe below. 

Reinforced concrete pipe prices vary depending on the diameter, wall thickness, design, lay length, among other factors. 

2.

High Density Polypropylene Smooth Interior

This is the second pipe among the four options we have listed here. 

It&#;s a great choice for sewer drainage system projects due to the ease of installation and the longer lay length. The typical lay length for this pipe is 20 feet, meaning there are fewer joints compared to RCP or PVC.

The pipe is lightweight, which makes it simpler to install than reinforced concrete pipes. And with a long service life, these pipes guarantee you value for your money.

3. PVC

PVC pipes are the 3rd material to consider. It is a good storm sewer drainage material because it is less costly to purchase, but typically costs more than HDPP or HDPE, but less than RCP. It has a typical lay length of 14 feet.

PVC pipe often needs to have more backfill to ensure the performance of the pipe once final backfill is complete. 

4. High-Density Polyethylene Smooth Interior

This material is the last of the 4 listed options. It is manufactured using application-specific high-density polyethylene and offers high abrasion and corrosion resistance. 

Just like PVC, it&#;s lightweight which makes it cost-effective to install. It also requires a minimum coverage depth to use. 

Also, like PVC, without backfill above the pipe is needed to ensure performance of the pipe. Excessive pressure can egg shape the pipe after installation without the proper backfill &#; causing damage or deformation.

Talk to Your Contractor

A trustworthy contractor can walk you through what&#;s best for your storm sewer piping needs and give you estimates for each scenario in your project.

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