Systems Guide - Assembly - Emitters

Shop related parts: Emitters

Once the lines are in place and flushed, the emitters (dripers) can be installed. There are two basic types, or styles, of emitters available; compensating and non-compensating. Most installations will require non-compensating emitters. The only time that you’ll need to consider installing compensating emitters is if you have drastic elevation changes of 10 feet or more.

There are basically three ways that an emitter can be installed. The most common way is to make a hole on the top side of the hose with a hole punch, not a nail or sharp object, and insert or “pop” the barbed end of the emitter into the hole. If a hole is punched by mistake or in the wrong place, it can be fixed with a “goof” plug. Another way is to install a 1/4” barbed connector into supply hose, run 1/4” tubing from it to the location you wish to place an emitter, and insert an emitter into the end of the 1/4” tubing. A third way is to place the emitter into the poly hose and attach 1/4” tubing to the area to be watered. For control purposes, it is far better to have the emitter at the end of the 1/4” tubing if the distance from the supply hose to the emitter is over 10 feet.